|
Eighteen footballers were among 30 people
killed when a Zambian air force plane crashed off the coast of
Gabon, shortly after a refuelling stop on a journey to Dakar,
where Zambia were to play a World Cup qualifying match against
Senegal.
The bulk of the team were experienced internationals, fancied to
emerge top of their final round qualifying group and secure a
first-ever World Cup final appearance at the 1994 tournament in
the United States.
Engine failure after takeoff from Libreville caused the plane to
crash into the sea, killing all on board including the coaches,
support staff and crew.
It was a devastating blow, said captain Kalusha Bwalya, who
watched news of the crash unfold on CNN from his home in the
Netherlands, as one of four players due to fly from bases in
Europe rather than on the plane from Lusaka.
Yet just two months later, Bwalya led a reconstituted team to
victory in a World Cup qualifier against Morocco, curling a
freekick over the wall and into the net to set off ecstatic
celebrations.
“The friends we had lost we had in our thoughts, and we gave
such a wonderful performance for them,” he recalled.
A year after the crash, the team were surprise finalists at the
1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, losing 2-1 to Nigeria.
Friday’s ceremony will commence from a monument in the shadows
of Lusaka’s Independence stadium, where the players who died in
the crash were buried. Those paying tribute will head to the new
National Heroes Stadium built nearby.
Twenty years after the disaster, Zambia finally won the African
title - in Gabon, site of the crash. Just days before the final,
players threw flowers into the sea at the beach where the bodies
had washed up.
“We wanted to honour the dead players and that strengthened us.
The plane crashed in Gabon and we won the final in Gabon. It is
a sign of destiny,” said coach Herve Renard at the time.
(Editing by Peter Graff)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
