This year’s Gabon disaster was marked by a low-key informal ceremony at the heroes’ acre at Independence Stadium in Lusaka.
Only five families of the 30 victims attended the memorial with most of the Copperbelt-based relatives chosen to boycott the 18th anniversary over the non-release of the crash report.
Conspicuously missing was the groups spokeswomen Joyce Chabala who on April 20 declared that no families would attend.
And most of those relatives that didn’t attend the memorial were from the Copperbelt.
Late Faz president Michael Mwape’s family including relatives of deceased players Winter Mumba, Samuel Chomba, Robert Watiakeni and Derbie Makinka attended Thursday’s memorial.
ZESCO SWEATING BEFORE FEELING CAIRO HEAT
Zesco United are set to be without key striker Alfred Luputa for their Orange Caf Champions League second round, return leg match against six-time champions Al Ahly.
Luputa suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg played last Saturday in Ndola that ended 0-0 and is reportedly out for three weeks.
Luputa is Zesco’s top scorer in Caf club competition this year with four goals.
However, defender Billy Mwanza has started light training and is expected to make the trip to Cairo next week.
Mwanza together with Luputa were substituted late in the second half of the first leg match on April 23.
Winner over both legs advances to the Champions League group stage while the loser will be relegated to the Orange Confederations Cup pre-group stage that kicks off at the end of May.
SCORECARD
MTN/FAZ Super Division
Week 5
27/04/2011
Zesco United 2(Potipher Zulu 21″, Jackson Mwanza 41″) -Nkana 1(Reynold Kampamba 75″)
TOP SCORERS
27/04/2011
Alfred Luputa (Zesco United):6
Dube Phiri (Red Arrows): 5
Kangwa Chileshe (Zesco): 5
Lewis Macha (Nchanga Rangers): 4
Portipher Zulu (Zesco United): 3
Chipili Mungule (Green Buffaloes): 3
Lottie Phiri (Power Dynamos): 3
Dears Kakunta (Green Buffaloes): 3
Graven Chitalu (Roan United): 3
FAZ Divsion 1
Week 6
27/04/2011
North
Indeni 1- Chambishi 0
Kitwe United 0- Chindwin Sentries 2
Konkola Mine Police 2- Mining Rangers 0
Kalulushi Modern Stars 0- Luanshya United 2
Mufulira Blackpool 2-Lusaka Dynamos 0
Mufulira Police 0- Zesco Luapula 0
Nkwiza 2- Mufulira Wanderers 2
Kabwe United 0- Bresmer United 1
Prison Leopards-Ndola United*
*Not played after Ndola United came late
South
Senanga Leopards 1- Big Roma 2
Lusaka City Council 3- Leuna Buffaloes 1
National Assembly 0- City of Lusaka 1
Kafue Celtic 3- Profund Warriors 0
Riflemen 0- Young Green Eagles 0
Mazabuka United 1- Lusaka Tigers 2
Kalomo Jetters 2- Petauke United 0
Freedom Rangers 1- Livingstone Pirates 2
Nampundwe 2- Paramilitary 0
FAZ president being one of the dream team that perished should have lobbed the family of the victims by pressing govt to release the report. And sports minister could also come up with the report. What are they hiding???
I think the Government of Zambia (MMD – Chiluba Regime) received secret compensation ( a lot of money) from Gabon, and they were told to destroy the real Report and shut up!!
The Gabon Air Disaster Report will only be released when former ZAF commander Ronald Slim Shikapwasha is no longer in government. It was he, who singlehandly, shot down the draft report after then president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa introduced the report for parliamentary approval through then vice president Enock Percy Kavindele. The report seemed to lay the blame on the air crash on ZAF for releasing a “no-fly” plane for the football team to use. Shikapwasha argued that the report was incomplete without addressing issues of a French Military Base in Gabon which MAY have contributed to its crash. Gabon refused to allow investigators in the country. He further argued that should the report be tabled as it was, GRZ would have to pay compensation, something GRZ later conceded was unable to…
PEOPLE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE ELECTION DATE TO GO AND CAST THEIR VOTE FOR THE CHI BWATOOOOO………NOT TO GO AND PARADE BEFORE EMPTY GRAVE SITES TO HEAR THE SAME OLD SPEECHES…………..RELEASE THE GABON AIR CRASH REPORT AND PAY THE CONCERNED FAMILIES THEIR COMPENSATION……..OTHERWISE NI BYE, BYE POLIO…………..