Poignant trophy
February 13, 2012
After finishing as runners-up in 1974 and 1994, Zambia won the football 2012 Africa Cup of Nations championship for the first time. But for many Zambians, the win is symbolic because of its location. In April 1993, Zambia lost most of its football team in an air crash off the coast of Gabon. The team was on the way to Senegal for a World Cup qualifier.
The following year, a newly formed squad made it to the 1994 African Cup of Nations final in Tunisia. Despite an impressive and unexpected run, the Zambian team lost to Nigeria in the final. The championship in Gabon was seen as another opportunity to honor the team that died in 1993.
"We wanted to honor the players that died here, so that the families of the deceased players can feel much better," said Zambian midfielder Rainford Kalaba.
The win was especially poignant for Kalusha Bwalya who is now president of the Football Association of Zambia. He lost most of his team mates in the 1993 plane crash.
Team work on and off the field
Zambia's coach, Frenchman Herve Renard, attributed the win to team spirit.
"I have never spent moments like I spent with the Zambian players," he said.
Pundits had expected Ivory Coast to beat Zambia. The latter has one player in Europe compared to Ivory Coast's 17, six of whom play in the prestigious English premier league. Ivorian Captain Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou play for Chelsea, Gervinho for Arsenal, Yaya Toure for Manchester City, and the list goes on. Zambia's Emmanuel Mayuka plays for the relatively unknown Sport Club Young Boys Bern 1898 in Switzerland.
But the players also think their fans played a significant role.
"I saw the two former presidents of the country here to come and watch the game and this is good for our country," Kalaba said.
The first President of Zambia, 87 year-old Kenneth Kaunda, was with former President Rupiah Banda and Vice-President Guy Scott to cheer on the team. Kaunda initiated the changes that led to democracy and the end of his 27-year reign over the country in 1991. Last year, Rupiah Banda accepted defeat of the then ruling party, Movement for Multiparty Democracy. This was one of few moments in Africa where power has shifted from the ruling party to the opposition.
After the win, Kenneth Kaunda and current Vice-President Guy Scott joined the players on the field. For a brief moment the first president held the trophy with a white man, whose own father also contributed to Zambia's struggle for independence, Vice-President Guy Scott.
"The whole team will unite behind the team," Kalaba said, referring to the Zambian fans.
Author: Chiponda Chimbelu (Reuters/AFP/dpa)
Editor: Daniel Pelz / rm