Zambia remembers Football Heroes
(FAZ)Today marks 32 years since Zambia awoke to the devastating news of losing an entire football team and technical staff off the coast of Gabon while en-route to fulfill a FIFA World Cup fixture in Dakar, Senegal.
Zambia was scheduled to play Senegal in a crucial USA 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Eighteen talented players, dedicated technical staff, the FAZ chairman, crew members, and a journalist perished in the tragic plane crash near Libreville, Gabon.
This catastrophe remains the darkest day in Zambian football history.
Widely acknowledged as the finest talents Zambia has ever produced, the team was poised for a historic debut World Cup appearance. Their untimely departure continues to be one of the most painful memories in Zambian football.
The government has mandated that official commemoration ceremonies will only be held every five years, beginning from 2018.
How do you honor the memory of these fallen heroes?
THE FULL LIST OF OUR FALLEN HEROES
David Efford Chabala (goalkeeper)
John Soko (defender)
Whiteson Changwe (defender)
Robert Watiyakeni (defender)
Eston “King Yellowman” Mulenga (defender)
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 (striker)
Godfrey Kangwa (midfielder)
Winter Mumba (defender)
Patrick “Bomber” Banda (midfielder)
Technical bench
Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu (Head Coach)
Alex Chola (Assistant coach)
Medics
Wilson Mtonga (doctor)
Wilson Sakala
Others
Michael Mwape (FAZ Chairman)
Nelson Zimba (Public Servant)
Joseph Bwalya Salim (Journalist)
CREW
Colonel Fenton Mhone (pilot)
Lt Colonel Victor Mubanga (pilot)
Lt Colonel James Sachika (pilot)
Warrant Officer Edward Nambote (fitter)
Corporal Tomson Sakala ( steward)
