By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga has urged the current generation of footballers to be ambitious enough to achieve what the Gabon Air disaster heroes died for.
And soccer icon Kalusha Bwalya in his tribute said the fallen heroes’ dreams remains everyone dreams as they showed the way to what Zambia has achieved so far.
Speaking after leading some members of FAZ to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Gabon disaster which claimed the lives of 18 players, technical staff, a FAZ chairman, crew members and a journalist at Heroes Acre in Lusaka, Kamanga said players should be determined to fight for a World Cup qualification when the qualifiers resumes.
Kamanga said the feat the fallen heroes were about to attain remains elusive because 27 years after the disaster, Zambia has failed to secure World Cup qualification.
“We were on a journey to participate in the World Cup and we are yet to achieve that but it remains our hope that for the 2022 we could repay the fallen heroes with a World Cup qualification as you know the draws are out once we get back to our football programmes we can have this at the back of our minds.
“It is today, 27 years ago, that fateful day that my beloved teammates perished off the coast of Gabon, whilst serving Mother Zambia, selflessly.
“Their dreams are our dreams #KK11 #KKEleven #Chipolopolo,You guys showed the way, #Dedication #Passion #discipline #talent #Legends. Gone but never to be forgotten,” posted Kalusha on his Facebook page.
The KK Eleven team as it was fondly known by the public died off the coast of Gabon in Libreville on their way to fulfilling a USA 1994 World Cup fixture against Senegal in Dakar.
Meanwhile, Zambia national team coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevich said Zambia has enough talent and quality players with potential to achieve greatness like the fallen heroes.
Micho said there is need for players to be inspired by the fallen heroes who died trying to create a footballing image respected world over.
Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo said the fallen heroes will always be celebrated for the strong foundation they laid for the Zambian game.
‘Be Ambitious’
