Zambia Honors Players who Died in a Plane Crash

Zambia prepared for the African Cup of Nations final by laying flowers in honor of players who died in a plane crash.

After arriving in Gabon for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, they visited a beach where in 1993, a Zambian military plane was en route to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal carrying the players when it crashed offshore which killed all 30 people on board, killing 11 players including David Efford Chalba populary known as Efford.

Accompanied by coach Herve Renard,and former international Kalusha Bwalya who had avoided the tragedy, as he was in the Netherlands at the time and had travelled directly to Dakar from Europe, the players laid flowers and paid homage ahead of Zambia’s attempt to win their first Nations Cup trophy against Ivory Coast in Libreville.

Former African Footballer of the Year and president of the Football Association of Zambia, Bwalya was Chipolopolo supporters who can afford the air fare have chartered two planes for their team’s third appearance in a continental final. Bwalya was quoted saying “I’m sure the boys up there will be watching on Sunday”.

Some fans, however, who have found the cost of travel beyond their reach, will settle for watching the final from home while Zambian fans, meanwhile, and are preparing for an emotional occasion on Sunday.

Bwalya, the Zambian players, and Renard, walked along the beach near Libreville’s airport on Thursday, singing a Zambian funeral hymn, before coming to a stop at the nearest point on land to the crash and laying a flower for each person killed, at the water’s edge.

“On behalf of all of us involved in Zambian football, I say here that their dreams are our dreams, they are smiling down on heaven as we take part in this tournament in Gabon,” Bwalya added. “I pray that their souls may forever rest in peace and that God will give us the strength and the courage to fulfill our dreams and theirs.

The president spoke to Zambian captain Christopher Katongo on Wednesday, after his team had beaten fancied Ghana 1-0 in Bata to qualify for their first Nations Cup final appearance since since 1994. Zambia’s President Michael Sata has also urged his countrymen to win the title, as they prepare to take on pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast.