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It is sixteen years since the cream of Zambian football was lost in a terrible plane crash - one of the worst disasters ever to affect a football team. 30 lives were lost including 18 national players and coaches too. The pilot was knackered. The Zambian FA was too broke to afford a proper flight, so the Air Force stepped in, but the plane was not flight worthy.
Despite work on it and test flights it required running repairs both in Brazzaville and again in Libreville. The left engine burst into flames and the right was switched off in error, but was faulty to. The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Gabon. All were killed. Kalusha Bwalya was due to fly to Dakar for the World Cup qualifier from the Netherlands, so he survived to become President of the Zambian FA now.
In death they were treated as heroes; a plane was chartered and greeted at the airport. There was a huge procession before a memorial in Lusaka's Independence Stadium. Promises were made to look after the families and mainytain a memorial, none of which were kept by the government of the corrupt former President Frederick Chiluba. There were investigations into the causes of the crash which still have not been published.
Meanwhile, Chiluba was indicted for massive corruption and embezzlement. He says he is too ill to stand trial. Zambia, led by Bwalya, miraculously recovered from the disaster to reach the final of the African Cup of Nations, which they lost 2-1 to Nigeria and missed out on going to the World Cup in 1994 due in part to a poor refereeing decision in the decisive match.
The crash was 16 years ago today.
Despite work on it and test flights it required running repairs both in Brazzaville and again in Libreville. The left engine burst into flames and the right was switched off in error, but was faulty to. The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Gabon. All were killed. Kalusha Bwalya was due to fly to Dakar for the World Cup qualifier from the Netherlands, so he survived to become President of the Zambian FA now.
In death they were treated as heroes; a plane was chartered and greeted at the airport. There was a huge procession before a memorial in Lusaka's Independence Stadium. Promises were made to look after the families and mainytain a memorial, none of which were kept by the government of the corrupt former President Frederick Chiluba. There were investigations into the causes of the crash which still have not been published.
Meanwhile, Chiluba was indicted for massive corruption and embezzlement. He says he is too ill to stand trial. Zambia, led by Bwalya, miraculously recovered from the disaster to reach the final of the African Cup of Nations, which they lost 2-1 to Nigeria and missed out on going to the World Cup in 1994 due in part to a poor refereeing decision in the decisive match.
The crash was 16 years ago today.
