Sports

 Real won’t be put off by incrediBale price tag 

REAL MADRID will not be put off paying £60million for Gareth Bale, according to sporting director Zinedine Zidane.

The France legend hailed Bale as “unique” earlier this month, fuelling talk Real are set to bid for the Tottenham megastar this summer.

And Zidane has been talking up the Welshman again, labelling the winger as “the best player in Europe this season”.

The Real chief said: “After the season he has just had — and still being so young of course Gareth Bale is going to be one of the most expensive players in the world if he decides to move.

“Tottenham could command £40m, £50m, maybe even £60m for him. It is a lot of money — but there are maybe three or four teams in the world that can pay that sort of transfer fee — and it won’t put them off.

“They would be getting the best player in Europe this season — and he is at an age where he can still play at the top for another 10 years.

“What I like about him is that he has this electric pace — but also a big footballing brain to go with it. That is very rare.

“A player like Bale can be the difference between a big club winning the league or Champions League.”

Bale is desperate to qualify in the Champions League this season and could leave if Spurs fail to finish in the top four.

 Saints to axe Mayuka 

April 23---ENGLISH side Southampton is set to offload their flop Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka during the summer transfer window.
The Premiership outfit is planning to dump up to 15 players with the Zambian and a Japanese international expected to be the first out.
The mirror.co.uk reported on Sunday that Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to offload as many as 15 players this summer, including Billy Sharp, flop Zambia striker Mayuka and Japan international Tadanari Lee.
Pochettino will listen to offers for Sharp, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, Mayuka and Lee, who cost a combined £6 million.
Brazilian striker Guly do Prado is also in danger of the axe after falling out of favour since Pochettino replaced Nigel Adkins.
Dutch winger Steve de Ridder, midfielder Richard Chaplow and defender Danny Butterfield will also be available.
Mayuka, who came on for the Saints in 88th minute during a Premiership match against Swansea City over the weekend, has failed to command a place in the Southampton team having come on as a substitute seven times in his eight appearances since moving to England.
The 2012 Africa Cup Golden Boot winner has played a total 169 minutes since making his move to the Saints for €4 million.
Former Southampton manager Nigel Adkins, now at relegation-threatened Reading FC, signed Mayuka from BSC Young Boys in Switzerland.

Napsa coach explains poor form

 Napsa Stars Coach Peter Kaumba has attributed his team's poor start to the 2013 MTN/FAZ Super League season to his players' inability to take chances in front of goal.
Napsa Stars 2-0 away loss to Zesco United at Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday was their third consecutive defeat since their goalless draw in the season opener against Green Buffaloes.
They are 14th on the standings with one point having scored two goals and conceding seven in the process.
"We are not taking our chances and we are conceding silly goals. I think we have to go back to the drawing board. But it has only been four games, there is still a long way to go and a lot of room for improvement," said Kaumba.
Napsa welcome Lime Hotspurs at Woodlands Stadium in their next fixture and Kaumba reckons his side must put up an above average performance if they are to get out of the relegation zone.
"We must work hard in training so that we get back to winning ways as soon as possible," he said.

Faz to commemorate Gabon crash

In 1994 a Zambian national team perished on the shores of Gabon on their way to a crucial 1994 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Senegal.
In the past the football association has been celebrating the death of the so called dream team every year. But since last year they agreed that the commemoration of the crash victims be celebrated every five years starting with the 20th anniversary.
The Football Association of Zambia is planning to stage a memorial match on the 20th anniversary. Faz president Kalusha Bwalya said that Zambia was looking for a good opponent for such an important match.
He said they will announce the opponent when they have secured the game.
“We would like to play a match but that depends on finding a good opponent. We have to honour our fallen heroes with a great game,” Bwalya said.
The commemoration of the deceased team has always taken the form of wreath-laying at Independence Stadium in Lusaka where the fallen football heroes lie. In 2011 after shunning the 18th memorial anniversary Faz announced that it would start commemorating the Gabon disaster every after five years starting with the 20th anniversary.
In an ironical move last year Chipolopolo won their maiden Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon a country on whose coast the national team perished.
         Zambia Drops on FIFA ranking

ZAMBIA has dropped nine places on the FIFA monthly ranking for April going from 36th place in March on the global chart to 45th and further lost her position in Africa from sixth position they gained in March to Tunisia to seven in April.

Herve Renard’s side has largely dropped the points on the table because of the 1-all draw against Lesotho in Maseru on March 24.

Chipolopolo were held 1-all away in a Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia are the only teams from the top seven African sides to have gained at least one and three points while the rest dropped at least one or two points but Zambia were the worst free-falling side with nine negatives.
Ghana and Mali dropped two points but maintain second and third place respectively while Nigeria and Algeria who are in fourth and fifth place in that order dropped a point each with Tunisia leap-frogging Zambia for sixth spot.
Spain remains the top ranked team in the world with Germany, Argentina, Croatia and Portugal completing the top five countries on the global chart.

            
Renard in Kasama for talent search
Zambia National Soccer team Coach Herve Renard has arrived in Kasama on a three-day talent identification programme.

Speaking on arrival at Kasama Airport today, Renard said he is excited to be in Northern Province on national assignment.

He said the talent identification programme in Kasama would give him chance to assess some of the talented footballers from the northern region.

Renard observed that reservoirs of players in provinces needed to be developed so that the technical bench for the Zambia national soccer team could have a wider selection of players to include for national engagements.

He said he was confident that after the talent identification programme in Kasama, some players with good football skills would be considered for national duty.

Renard said Zambia was doing well on the international ranking but needed to reach greater heights.

The Chipolopolo trainer was accompanied to Northern Province by his assistant Patrice Beamulle and National Soccer Team Technical Director Honour Janza.

And Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Regional Coordinator Lisbon Mpande said soccer fans in Kasama were excited to see Herve Renard and his technical bench.

He expressed optimism that the talent identification programme that Renard and his entourage would conduct in Kasama would be a success.      
                  Pacesetters Kalulushi, Nkana clash
A FOOTBALL banquet has been served up this weekend as the 2013 MTN-FAZ Premier Division League season enters Week Three with four sets of matches to be broadcast live across Africa on pay television channel, SuperSport.

Some thirst quenching fixtures have been speckled around the Midlands and Copperbelt but focus will be on surprise early pacesetters, Kalulushi Modern Stars, Nkana and Konkola Blades, who face tests of temperament.

Today will see the weekend’s first double header on display at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, while delectable clashes involving Konkola Blades and Zesco United and Nchanga Rangers engaging Roan United have been lined up at Nchanga tomorrow.

Defending champions, Zanaco, who have just managed a point from two matches, are not available this weekend due to an international commitment and their game against Forest Rangers has been postponed.
Nkana v Kalulushi (15:00 hours on Supersport Channel 209)

Since their return to the Premiership for the first time in 12 years, Kalulushi Modern Stars’ 2013 dream faces probably their real test this afternoon when they clash with Nkana, the 11-time leaguechampions, in Kitwe.

This match-up will also reinvigorate the old rivalry between Nkana and Kalulushi Modern Stars as the two legendary clubs wrestle for the top slot on the Premiership table.

Both teams have not lost a game from the first two and will be eager to maintain their unbeaten run this season.Kalulushi, however, lead the chart on a superior goal difference and will be going to Nkana for the first time since 2001 when the two sides met in the elite league.

The visitors have not won at Nkana Stadium with their best result being a virgin draw eight years ago when they clashed as Division One teams.

Nkana coach, Masautso Mwale predicted an exciting match but that his charges were ready to derail Kalulushi’s surge in the league.“It will be exciting but we’re ready for them (Kalulushi).

We have no injuries to worry about,” Mwale saidFestus Mbewe, who has racked up the net twice so far, and Reynolds Kampamba are Nkana’s top marksmen in this match.

Kalulushi coach, Chabby Chabala will be banking on former Nkana player, William Chinse, currently the league’s top scorer with three goals, to haunt his ex-employers at home.

Both teams have six points alongside Konkola Blades and have the chance to open up a three point lead ahead of the Chililabombwe outfit, who will only return to action tomorrow.
                       
Lime vs. Buffaloes (13:00 hours)

Green Buffaloes under former national coach, Patrick Phiri appear to be a warpath this season and will be targeting their second straight win today against Lime Hotspurs.

In this lunchtime kick-off, Buffaloes will hope to compound more misery on Lime, who has not yet collected a point since their return to the Premiership this term.

With massive support from Ndola Lime Company, Lime coach, Mathews Ndhlovu is under pressure to deliver the first win despite this Week Three home fixture being played at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.

Nkwazi vs Power
Despite brimming with some if the finest talent around Zambia, Power Dynamos have been struggling to assert their authority from the first two games despite winning one.
This afternoon, the star-studded Power visits an equally unpredictable Nkwazi at Edwin Imboela Stadium in Lusaka in search for the second victory.

Nkwazi, who have one win and a draw so far, will also be eager to grab their second victory and stake their title ambitions claims.

Warriors v Arrows
After outplaying and beating holders, Zanaco, the skilful Red Arrows will this afternoon attempt to subdue a tough Kabwe Warriors that embarrassed Power Dynamos at home last weekend.

In today’s other game, Barclays Cup holders, Napsa Stars welcome an out of sorts Konkola Mine Police at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

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ZANACO believes in miracles

ZANACO coach Keagan Mumba has named his fully-fit and battle-ready final 18-man squad to face Orlando Pirates in this Saturday’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League first round return leg, scheduled for FNB stadium in Johannesburg.
Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa, left, training with Zanaco players at Sunset Stadium in 

Lusaka yesterday. Zanaco leave today for South Africa to play Orlando Pirates in a CAF

 Champions League tie. 

Mumba’s squad has been boosted by the return of skipper Henry Banda and defence pillar Kunda Mushota, who has been out of the squad since he picked up injury in February.
Banda suffered a knock last week but has recovered, with Mumba optimistic his skipper is fully fit for this Saturday’s clash to be played under floodlights.
Defender Lee Ngoma has also recovered from his injury and is part of the squad, scheduled to leave for Johannesburg this morning.
“We have done everything we are supposed to do. All the players in the final team are fit. The medical staff certified them fit and they are all geared for the game,” Mumba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“I am happy that Kunda is back in the squad and Henry has also fully recovered,” he said.
Mumba took the squad for training under floodlights on Tuesday night and had an afternoon session at Sunset Stadium yesterday.
Mumba said playing under floodlights will not have an adverse effect on his players, as most of them are accustomed to such conditions.
“Modern players are used to almost all environments, be it artificial turf or under floodlights. I do not think we will have a problem playing under floodlights, it is nothing strange,” he said.
Mumba, who declared his squad ready for battle, said the bankers are determined to overturn the 0-1 deficit they suffered in the first leg and progress to the next round.
He admitted the problems in the first leg were caused by his team and that they are traveling to South Africa to rectify the situation.
“What is important is maximum concentration. We will play an offensive game and ensure we correct our mistakes. Now that we have played Pirates before, we know them and we will fight to the bitter end,” he said.
Mumba said the club management has done its best to ensure the team gets adequate preparations and that it is up to the players and the technical bench to deliver.
Final team: 
Goalkeepers: Racha Kola, Allan Chewe.
Defenders: Kunda Mushota, Salulani Phiri, Mwewa Sakala, Lee Ngoma, Ziyo Tembo, Fackson Kapumbu.
Midfielders: Stephen Phiri, Samson Chilupe, Portipher Zulu, Obrey Funga, Henry Banda, Roderick Kabwe.
Strikers: Obrey Zulu, Davis Mwape, Musonda Mwape and Elson Mkandawire.

Chelsea v Manchester United: Live Team Sheet
Chelsea v Manchester United: Live Team Sheet Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Hazard, Mata, Oscar; Ba.
Subs: Turnbull, Terry, Bertrand, Benayoun, Moses, Lampard, Torres.
Manchester United: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez. Subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Young, Van Persie, Kagawa, Powell, Vermijl. Wayne Rooney misses today's FA Cup sixth round replay at Stamford Bridge after being sidelined with a groin injury. Kalu unopposed at FAZ polls
THE incumbent Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Kalusha Bwalya is still unopposed for the top job at Football House.
By Press time yesterday, no other nomination was received apart from Kalusha’s ahead of the deadline of March 1.
Former FAZ committee member Henschel Chitembeya and former treasurer Rix Mweemba have openly indicated their intentions to contest the FAZ elections at the association’s annual general meeting on March 31.
Chitembeya is challenging incumbent Boniface Mwamelo for the position of vice-president at the AGM set for Moba Hotel in Kitwe, while Mweemba is standing against current treasurer Kelvin Mutafu.
Chitembeya resigned from the Kalusha-led executive committee in September 2010, alongside Violet Bwalya and Pivoty Simwanza, while Mweemba was in the FAZ break away group led by Lusaka businessexecutive Andrew Kamanga.
Former vice-president Emmanuel Munaile, who is rumoured to be considering to challenge Kalusha, resigned on October 1, citing lack of transparency in the executive among other issues.
FAZ general secretary George Kasengele said apart from Kalusha, his office had not received any other nomination.
Kalusha, whose executive won Zambia’s first ever Africa Cup on February 12 in Gabon during this year’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations tournament co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea, announced on Monday that he was going for another four-year tenure of office.
Zambia won the country her maiden Africa Cup trophy title in 14 previous appearances at the AFCON tournament. T
he 1998 African Footballer-of the-year who became administrator in 2004 as vice-president of FAZ to then association president Teddy Mulonga and defeated him (Mulonga) in the March 31 2008 elective AGM in Kabwe, to lead FAZ successfully.
Kalusha said he had a vision to take Zambian football to a greater dimension, saying his next target was to qualify the Chipolopolo Boys to their first ever World Cup appearance in Brazil in 2014.
And FAZ communications manager, Erick Mwanza said at a Press briefing yesterday that preparations for the March 31 elective AGM were progressing well.
Mwanza assured delegates that there would be no anarchy and that the meeting would be held in a conducive environment at Moba Hotel in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, FAZ has announced that it will not compel national soccer team coach Herve Renard to bring back embattled winger Clifford Mulenga into the team, saying no one was indispensable in the team.
Mwanza said in Lusaka yesterday that the decision to bring back Mulenga, who was sent home from the AFCON tournament on disciplinary grounds, would entirely depend on Renard.
Mwanza said discipline was key adding that it was the major reason for the national soccer team’s triumph at the AFCON because the players were disciplined and committed to the job and nobody should be above the team.
He said FAZ will never compromise on discipline saying the executive committee has heard the people’s cries and concerns on Mulenga but that the decision by Renard was backed by the executive committee.
"Discipline is the key in our team and it was one of the reasons why we won the Cup. We have heard the cries from fans to bring back Clifford but Renard made a decision which the executive committee members have backed because no one should be seen to be above the team," he said.
Mwanza said the association was on a crusade to fight indiscipline in the team just like the way the Government had declared to fight corruption.
During a Soccer Africa sports talk show programme on pay television channel SuperSport last week, Renard, when asked if Mulenga had a chance to play in the national team, simply said ‘Yes but not under Herve Renard’.
In another development, FAZ together with the ministries of Sport, Information and Labour, and Foreign Affairs and Tourism are finalising on the countrywide tour of the AFCON trophy in all the 10 provinces to accord all the fans that rallied behind the Chipolopolo the chance to view the trophy.
Toure: I may quit Ivory Coast for City
IVORY Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has admitted he is considering retiring from international football in order to concentrate on playing for Manchester City.
Toure, 28, was a key member of the Ivory Coast side that lost last week’s African Cup of Nations final on penalties to Zambia but in doing so, was unavailable for almost six weeks for City and says he may not be prepared to do that again.
“We will see whether I carry on. I have to think about what is best for me, for my club and for my country. I love playing for Ivory Coast so it is not an easy thing to think about.
“Maybe if we had won against Zambia things would have been easier for me. The disappointment is big at the moment so I will wait until I have a clear mind before deciding what to do.
“The African Nations is being played again next year and because we have lost the final it is an emotional time for us all. But a decision about playing for Ivory Coast has to be made. I will take my time and think about things, about what I will do.
“City are my club. I have a duty to them because I am a professional, but I also needed to play for my country. I did my duty, but I didn’t like being away from my City at such an important stage of the season,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
One of the fixtures Toure missed was City’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United and the midfielder said it was frustrating not to be able to take part.
“I really wanted to play against United in the FA Cup but could not get permission to be there," he said. "When I left we were in the two cups. When I came back we were out. I am happy that we are still first in the Premier League. That’s the most important thing - the aim is to stay there.”
In Toure’s absence City have failed to maintain the same high standards they set at the start of the season, with the title race becoming a more open affair. - ESPN
Esther's knuckle itching to pound Sibanda
ESTHER Phiri tomorrow (Friday) returns to the ring after a year-long hiatus seeking to defend her Women International Boxing Association (WIBA) and Women International Boxing Organisation (WIBO) titles against Zimbabwean Monalisa Sibanda.
Esther and Sibanda are no new foes having squared off twice with the Zimbabwean winning on both occasions although that was then, when the Zambian heroine was still cutting her teeth on her journey to stardom.
After those two defeats, Esther’s trainer cum manager Anthony Mwamba showed some visionary shrewdness when he quickly roped Sibanda into Exodus International stables to be Esther’s sparring partner.
Sucha backdrop makes today’s fight even more interesting considering it pits two women whose relationship over the years has transformed from foes to friends and now back to foes, although the fight should still retain some camaraderie.
Esther tipped the scale at 64 kg, just 500 grammes more than the required 63.5 kg and was made to shed within two hours of the weigh-in at Southern Sun Ridgeway hotel while Sibanda was well in weight at 63 kg
Esther has clung on to her belts surviving stripping by WIBA and WIBO for not defending them inside the first 10 months but since it was an injury induced absence from the ring, she got away with the prolonged French leave.
“I am not affected in any way by how long it has taken for me to fight because allthis while I have been in the gym training hard. The injury is also gone. My fans can come and see my new Donch Kubeba punch,” Esther said.
Esther and his coach Mwamba will also be confident that heroine year-long sabbatical will not inhibit her from producing a performance to equal Zambia’s Africa Cup of Nations win in Gabon last weekend.
Ironically, Sibanda is also coming from a lengthy lay off having last fought in 2009against South African Queen Shabalala and in the intervening years got married and went into voluntary maternity leave.
“I have great respect for Esther who is also my friend. But gate me right, when I say she is my friend, I don’t mean that I have come here to play games. I hope she will understand losing her belts to her own friend,” she said.
On the undercard, Francis ‘Galagata’ Zulu squares off with Ngandu Mohammed Biselele in a heavyweight non-title fight with the former saying he wanted to win the fight so that he goes for the more illustrious International Boxing Federation (IBF) title.
Zulu who is sponsored by Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) and has a K5 million dangled in his direction should he win, said today’s fight is a stepping stone for him to fight in big money divisions.
“I want to promise my fans that I am the same old Galagata, the only difference is that I am now a better boxer. Let them come and watch real boxing like they have never seen before,” the bear sized boxer bragged.
Other fights on the bill include Anos Temfuma fighting former national cruiserweight champions Masozi ‘Drago’ Kamanga who is returning from retirement with Donald Kampamba facing Sam Chisanga in a light heavyweight contest.
Nelson Banda and Misheck Kondwani face off in the lightweight category while Tom Chisenga and Pathias Chisenga also slug it out in the flyweight We ’ll defend our title – Kalu
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya has said his association will do everything humanly possible to ensure Zambia retains the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in South Africa next year. 
Kalusha said during a luncheon hosted for the victorious squad by First Lady Christine Kaseba at State House in Lusaka yesterday that the Chipolopolo wanted to keep the trophy. 
"Even coach Renard, we told him that he had to do better than in Angola which shows that we are always determined to beat our own records. We promise to defend the trophy in South Africa next year," he said. 
Kalusha said Zambia was given an extra incentive to win the title on Gabonese soil given that it was the same country where the gallant national team perished in 1993 and that the Chipolopolo made sure they pursued their dream.
The FAZ president thanked the Government for its continued support to the team and the cooperating partners who facilitated for soccer fans to travel to Gabon to cheer on the team in the final against Ivory Coast. 
"It made the atmosphere level with our friends the Ivorians who were at home in Gabon. We too felt at home when the supporters came and the Gabonese were very supportive of us. Your Excellency, we are grateful for that," he said.
Kalusha also paid tribute to sponsors Zambian Breweries, MTN, FQM, KCM and others who have been supportive of the national team and other programmes FAZ lines up for the beautiful game in Zambia.
 Renard echoed Kalusha in thanking the Government for its support to the team and particularly the warm reception that was accorded to his team on arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and all the way to the Showgrounds on Monday.
The Frenchman who danced with his players to the "Donchi Kubeba" song as well as to the gospel songs the team sang at matches during the AFCON tournament later presented the trophy to the FAZ patron, President Michael Sata in the company of Kalusha and Chris Katongo.
The luncheon was attended by the crème de la crème of sports administrators including Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) board member Mwamba Kalenga who was donned in Zambia regalia and the FAZ top brass. 
Also in attendance were business executives representing various companies who tried to outdo each other in pledging millions of Kwacha towards the national team.
The players were asked to introduce themselves and not surprisingly goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and defender Stopila Sunzu- the heroes of the penalty shoot-out in the final- drew the loudest cheers, and so did skipper Katongo who introduced himself as Warrant Officer Class One.
Katongo also thanked the President for his support to the team and individually for promoting him to the rank of Warrant Officer Class One in the Zambia Army. Musician Dandy Crazy did not miss out on the fun as he popped in to perform his
"Donchi Kubeba" song and most people in the marquee joined in the dance. Befittingly, the marquee was decorated in national colours as well as the chairs and tables.
THE mood in the country is ecstatic since the start of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in which the Chipolopolo boys have thus far progressed unscathed. Starting as out-of-towners, the boys rolled over favourites Senegal, hosts Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Ghana in the semi-finals, with only one draw against Libya. With this impressive run, all eyes are firmly fixed on the coveted AFCON trophy on Sunday, which at the end of the tournament is expected depart Libreville for Lusaka along with the players, Government officials, and soccer fans. Zambians are expecting nothing but a win bearing in mind that the trophy has eluded this soccer-loving nation for many years. The die is cast! However, the jubilation that erupts each time the team triumphs, is by any measure immense and difficult to hold. When Zambia thumped Ghana on Wednesday night, eight people died in fatal accidents. Jubilant crowds streamed the streets as honking motorists meandered through excited fans and ordinary citizens alike. It was sad that two ‘racing’ motorists blaring horns ploughed into a jubilant crowd, killing three people instantly in Mazabuka while in Lusaka a celebrating fan fell off a moving truck and died on the spot. On the Copperbelt, two men died on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway after they were knocked down by speeding and honking vehicles as a similar incident occurred on the Chingola-Kitwe road where a life was lost. In Kapiri Mposhi, an excited 12-year-old boy met his fate on the Great North Road, effectively ending the celebration in the small but busy Central province town. This was the sad episode which wrapped up the celebrations across the country after the sweet victory over the ‘Black Stars.’ As we recount the fatalities, we wish to remind the soccer-loving citizens not to over-indulge, but celebrate in a sober and humane manner. In the same vein, we appeal to law enforcement officers, in particular traffic and regular police officers to work out best ways of controlling highly exhilarated crowds. Yes, crowd control is a difficult exercise particularly when celebrations are interspersed with hooliganism. Clearly, some people take advantage of the celebrations to snatch valuables from overjoyed fans in the melee. In a confused and tumultuous state, people are not usually security conscious and loosely mingle with unknown elements some of whom are out to make a quick buck through thefts. It is such a scenario that can make the work of law enforcement officers difficult. The police and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) should mount roadblocks throughout this period to ensure that only road worthy vehicles ply the roads and also ensure that motorists observe traffic rules. Regular police officers should also do their work and flush out misfits, who are out to rob others and destroy property. Police Inspector-General Martin Malama and his command should, for now, allow officers mount roadblocks in as many areas as possible. In short, the ban on roadblocks should be lifted. Officers should employ community policing as much as possible because without the involvement of the community, operations cannot be effective. This means therefore that the soccer fans and other people should be conscious of negative elements as they watch the final match on Sunday. They should assist and cooperate with law enforcement officers. Since the officers are not enough to manage crowds the onus is on the general public to avoid acts that could degenerate into fatalities and thefts. They must be on the lookout for trouble-makers. Soccer fans must resist the temptation of watching the Sunday game from bars, restaurants, and other public places. They should instead confine themselves to their homes with their families. After the game, they should not troop to the streets in tumultuous and wild celebrations as it is uncalled for. Celebrate can be done indoors. We want the nation to celebrate in peace and in an orderly manner. Since Zambians are generally peaceful, we hope that they will remain so even after victory. The pandemonium that characterised the celebrations in the past victories should now be history. Life is precious! As First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda leads the soccer fans to Libreville, Zambians are confident the Chipolopolo will triumph, come Sunday. Peace should prevail. SOCCER’S DARKEST DAY: The loss of a generation of talent When reports filtered through local and international news-wires that a Buffalo military plane and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the ill-famed coast of Libreville, it not only changed the course of Zambian football history. A great football generation was lost, dreams shattered, and a nation wept. The global football family could only moan in distress and horror as shocking and horrifying images flashed across the television screens and newspaper pages relieving the horror of the scenes on the shores of the Gabon coastline as 18 players, two Football Association of Zambia officials, a journalist and the Zambia Air Force crew perished following the DHC-5 Buffalo, AF-319 – plunge into the cold Atlantic. What today is the most horrible tragedy to befall Zambian football still lingers on the face of Zambian football and the campaign for a FIFA World Cup finals appearance continues. FIFA WORLD CUP DREAM What has come to be known as the Gabon Disaster happened April 28 1993 shortly after the Military plane the Zambia national soccer team was using to fly to a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal. Shortly after a refueling stop in Libreville on their way to Senegal for a 1994 World Cup qualifier, the Buffalo went down killing all on board. Zambia’s darkest hour!!! An official report into the 1993 plane crash blamed a mechanical fault in the left engine. The first report, released - 10 years after the national tragedy indicated that then the pilots switched off the still functioning right engine by mistake because of a "poor indicator light bulb" causing the plane to lose all power and crash. The report, released in parliament by then Vice President Nevers Mumba, said that the loss of power and lift indicated the failure of both engines but said the government may have wished to have this confirmed it by experts. THE OFFICIAL REPORT The report also said that the pilot was tired, having just flown back from Mauritius the previous day. The Zambian national football team had to play a World cup qualification match against the Senegal national team. The DHC-5 Buffalo, AF-319, had not been flying from December 21, 1992 to April 21, 1993 so test flights were carried out on April 22 and April 26. The Buffalo departed Lusaka, for Dakar with planned intermediate stops at Brazzaville, Libreville and Abidjan. After refueling at Libreville, the aircraft took-off at 22:44 hours, one hour and 45 minutes late. THE CRASH Shortly afterwards the left engine failed. The plane headed out over sea and lost altitude until it struck the water 500m offshore. An investigation conducted by the Gabonese Ministry of Defence suggested that the pilot shut down the remaining right-hand engine causing the plane to lose all power. The report, released in November 2003, also said that the pilot was tired, having just flown back from Mauritius the previous day. According to Aviation Safety Network, an exclusive service of Flight Safety Foundation, the Buffalo departed Lusaka, for Dakar with planned intermediate stops at Brazzaville, Libreville and Abidjan. After refueling at Libreville, the aircraft took-off at 22:44 hours, one hour and 45 minutes late. Shortly afterwards the left engine failed. The plane headed out over sea and lost altitude until it struck the water 500m offshore. An investigation conducted by the Gabonese Ministry of Defence suggested that the pilot shut down the remaining right-hand engine causing the plane to lose all power. The report, released in November 2003, also said that the pilot was tired, having just flown back from Mauritius the previous day. The Network summarised the crash as follows: Status: Date: 27 APR 1993 Time: 22:45 Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo Operator: Zambia Air Force Registration: AF-319 C/n / msn: 69 First flight: 1975 Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 Passengers: Fatalities: 25 / Occupants: 25 Total: Fatalities: 30 / Occupants: 30 Airplane damage: Written off Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Atlantic Ocean, off Gabon (Gabon) Phase: En route (ENR) Nature: Int'l Non Scheduled Passenger Departure airport: Libreville Airport (LBV/FOOL), Gabon Destination airport: Abidjan-Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport (ABJ/DIAP), Cote d'Ivoire April 28 2008 marked a bitter 15th anniversary of the Gabon air disaster where the entire Chipolopolo squad perished. THE HEROES John Soko (defender) Whiteson Changwe (defender) Robert Watiyakeni (defender) Eston Mulenga (midfielder) Derby Makinka (midfielder) Moses Chikwalakwala (midfielder) Wisdom Mumba Chansa (midfielder) Kelvin "Malaza" Mutale (striker) Timothy Mwitwa (striker) Numba Mwila (midfielder) Richard Mwanza (goalkeeper) Samuel Chomba (defender) ((Moses Masuwa]] (striker) Kenan Simambe (defender) Godfrey Kangwa (midfielder) Winter Mumba (defender) Patrick "Bomber" Banda (striker) The two coaches: Godfrey Chitalu and Alex Chola

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