Friday, March 29, 2024

Zambians toast Chipolopolo victory

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 Football fans  celebrating
Football fans celebrating

Zambians all over the country went into a frenzy of excitement early this morning when the Chipolopolo (Copper bullets) boys ‘shot’ right in the hearts of the Elephants of Ivory Coast to lift the Africa cup for the first time in the country’s history.

In Lusaka,the soccer frenzy has caught up with the business community as business in the capital was literally halted.

Most shops in the central business district and second class trading area were closed although a few shops have been cashing in on products in line with the mood.

Most corporate entities like schools and others reduced working hours as they closed around midday.

A check by MUVI TV business around Lusaka found entities closed while scores of people closed down to join the victory celebrations at the showgrounds.

In Kabwe, like in many other towns in the country, hundreds of people clad in Zambian soccer team replica jerseys and national colours went into the streets to celebrate the victory as they blew vuvuzelas.

People from all walks of life went round shouting “don’t Kubeba’ the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) slogan while praising the team for emerging African football champions and lifting the trophy that had eluded Zambia for a long time.

A group of youths including school going children from various schools in uniforms with their school bags strapped on their backs went round in town chanting and singing Chipolopolo praises.

The group led by Lackson Chinyingi, stormed Provincial Administration offices which houses offices for Central Province Minister Philip Kosamu and the Permanent Secretary Edwin Zumbunu as they chanted “Ivory alala’ slogan (Ivory has been defeated).

There was nobody to address them.

Chinyingi said the youths could not hold back their excitement that was why they decided to show it by going round chanting and singing.

He said it was good that Zambia at last managed to win the cup after several attempts which saw the nation reach finals three times.

Another soccer fan Sandra Mwafi said she could not believe that Zambia had this time around won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship.

“I wish I had something to give each player for the hard work they put up. The game was not easy as we saw it on television. Well done Zambia,” she said.

[pullquote]“I wish I had something to give each player for the hard work they put up. The game was not easy as we saw it on television. Well done Zambia,” she said.[/pullquote]

Biven Mulenga, who also expressed his happiness, urged the team to focus on qualifying for the World cup that will take place in Brazil in 2014.

Alice Chifunda said God had given the cup to Zambia this time especially that the tournament took place in Gabon where the entire national soccer team en-route to Senegal for the World Cup qualifier perished in 1993.

Another soccer fan, Charity Sambilishi, said she could not explain how happy she was for Zambia to win the cup.

Zambia beat Ivory coast 8-7 on post-match penalty shoot out during the AFCON finals in Gabon after the game ended in a 0-0 draw in the normal fulltime regulation time and 30 minutes added time in the early hours of Monday.

Meanwhile, Stephan Mabena said although he was happy about the victory, it was sad that the trophy would only be in Zambia for one year following the change of the calendar of the tournament.

Mabena described the whole situation as unfortunate.

Meanwile, several youths, children, women and elderly people in Luwingu district in Northern Province stormed the streets to celebrate the Zambia national football team’s victory in last night’s Africa cup of nations (AFCON) final.

A check by ZANIS on the streets of Luwingu found scores of residents chanting Zambia! Zambia! Zambia!, while others were rushed to the hospital after their blood pressure shot up following a wonderful victory by the Chipolopolo boys.

Teachers at Luwingu high school had a tough time to control pupils who nearly abandoned school premises to join their colleagues celebrating in the township following the national team’s triumph over the Elephants of Ivory Coast

[pullquote]calm has returned to Luwingu high school and lessons have resumed despite pupils demanding to have a free day so that they could have a chance to celebrate the victory with the rest of the country.[/pullquote]

Luwingu residents, most whom were youths, sung Chipolopolo songs throughout the night after watching the superb performance displayed by Chipolopolo boys in yesterday’s game.

The celebrations were incident free in the night and continued this morning.

Most of the residents spoken to, said they thought Zambia national football players would be jittery to face the giant elephants of Ivory Coast especially that most of the Ivorian players plays for overseas clubs.

They said it was exciting that the team went to the AFCON widely rated as underdogs but have proved to the whole world that they were the best team in the African continent as at now.

Meanwhile, calm has returned to Luwingu high school and lessons have resumed despite pupils demanding to have a free day so that they could have a chance to celebrate the victory with the rest of the country.

And Lupososhi Member of Parliament Lazarus Chungu Sunday donated two footballs to youths in Fikokonta village in chief Tungati area and predicted that the Zambia national soccer team would bring the AFCON trophy home.

ZANIS

28 COMMENTS

  1. On behalf of President Sata, I declare today 13th February 2012 a public holiday including and especially for HH and Southern province.

  2. I’m asking if anyone knows of a “real” online tv stream for MuviTV or ZNBC TV? I’ve searched and most sites are advertising magnets.

    Thanks,
    Brian

  3. AKALIMBUSHA KATILE BANE AKATI: PAMUSHI NGA PAFWILE INSOFU, NELYASHI LILANDWAPO LYANSOFU.( If an Elephant is killed in a village, stories told are about the elephant) Zambian prov. The questions is: what, which, who, where is the elephant?

  4. NOT ONLY ZAMBIANS LT??? PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE CELEBRATING ZAMBIAN VICTORY. THEY ARE REALLY HAPPY FOR US & OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING US THIS GIFT. YOU HAVE WIPED OUR TEARS?? AMEN??

  5. Well done Zambia, well done Mr. President, well done FAZ, well done HR, well done everyone!  Please reward these victors generously!  How about a house for each one?  That is not too much from a working government!

  6. ya ya ya well done zambia,its a cup for southern africa, no 6 six dont kubeba song is just the song for the moment and goes down, it can be in any tribe even HHs’,lets deliberatly leave tribe out of progressive issues.Celebrate the one zambia one nation its bigger than HH.Thank you lord for the cup.

  7. I am glad Mweene did not hold long to the cup because my brotherman would have filled it mabisi especially that the season is on. Twalumba no bana Aisha for carrying the day. Bravo to #12 for that breakdown. We will continue to rejoice and praise the Lord and Zambia for sustainability.

  8. Kalusha is just a good footballer he cant adminstrate. Some people think just because you are a great footballer then you can become a good manager. We will form our own national football league. Kalusha has never won any thing. With Kalusha as FAZ chief Zambian football is going nowhere. Look how we dropped on the FIFA ranking it wasn’t like this during Mulonga’s time. The above were some of the numerous comments on Great Kalu…Amishimya bonse bangwele. The great footballer has shown you how to manage a football team to ultimate success. Where are all those blabbermouths. that featured prominently under any football story? Some of them kept reminding us that Renard was just a PE teacher. Well the PE teacher becomes the first man to bring the cup to Lusaka. Ukufuma lelo talaleni!

  9. Chipolopolo the big fans we are proud of u Zambia its our time sourthern africa. Zambia we are happy for u more excited

  10. bushe aya amashina yabu bwalya yaba shashyani?ka father bwalya,kakalusha bwalya and kabwalya mubaba? ha me av given up i wil just support kakalusha bwalya mwe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

  11. Damn! i wish i was home for this. I always knew we would be CAF CHAMPIONS one day. Well deserved! The boys played well and made us immensly proud!

  12. You have put a smile on our hearts and faces, Oh Great ones, mighty Chipolopolo!
    The souls of those who perished in 1993 can now rest in peace through your wonderful victory. Please take this success as a benchmark to plan ahead. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, VERY PROUD.

  13. Amazing! The 1993 team perished on their way to play Senegal. In 2012, we beat Senegal 2-1, first goal in 12th Minute, second in 21st Minute. This defined our destiny. So many things matching up. 18 players dying 18 years after last final, crash in Gabon, Victory in Gabon, 21st January, 12th February, Kalusha survived but spared for a cause, Renard (chosen one) went but came back and the story continues to unfold…
    I can only say BRAVO Chipolopolo, Bravo Zambians. One Zambia, Dont Kubeba..

  14. Now, where is Simaata Simaata and his tandem of loud mouthed cohort? I remember the day the team was announced he cheekily criticised Renard’s leaving out of Singuluma that it was a laughable decision. He said he could not comment further because he was afraid he would be banned from football administration for life if he criticised too much but said it was a mistake to leave him out. I know Singuluma is a perfect striker, but Renard, being with the boys always, knew the strength of each player. I belive Simaata has learnt a lesson or two from this achievement. Dont just criticise. I am happy that he has banned himself from National football Administration. And as the supersport soccer analyst (Mamadou) said some time back, GO FARMING SIMAATA!

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