Chipolopolo has been challenged to qualify for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup to honour the 1993 Gabon crush team.
18 players, crew and officials perished on April 28, 1993 off the coast of Gabon in an air crush en route to Senegal to play a 1994 World Cup qualifier.
Sports minister Vincent Mwale said on Thursday at the heroes acre in Lusaka to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the event that the onus was on George Lwandamina’s team to make their debut World Cup appearance in two years time.
“Chipolopolo should keep in mind as they play that they have an opportunity to honour the fallen heroes,” Mwale said.
“If we qualified to that World Cup it would be the best gift to the fallen heroes, They died fighting to go to the World Cup, they were a team that could have taken us to the World Cup.
“For us to achieve that dream, it will make them happy wherever they are.”
Zambia will know their opponents when the group draws for the Africa zone qualifiers are made on June 24 in Cairo.
20 teams will be place in five groups of four sides to battle for Africa’s five World Cup slots.
Man, pull your skirt up!
How many times can you honor dead people! The win in Gabon was honor enough. Kateye iwe wine ka Mwale.
Ka Vincent mwale, when kalusha was treating FAZ like his ATM machine you were quiet even when allegations of rampant fraud surfaced, we heard not one word from you to reassure the fans. Usless.
First of all it is not CRUSH but CRASH. Second, You cant qualify with Chicken George. How many African coaches have taken their teams to the World Cup? Since 1930 only two. You have to be realistic and give George three attempts before he can make it. So if you want to go in 2018 get a coach from the footballing nations
This is a dream. I always wonder why people to not face the reality. Our current crop of players are mediocre. Even the UNZA team of the 90 could easily beat them. The boys are useless apart from Kalengo.
I can already see the quotes in Zambia in 2017
The boys tried their best
Luck was not with us
Next time we will qualify
The referee was bad
Other soccer fans can add to these clichéd excuses
@5 YOU FORGOT TO INCLUDE DROUGHT CAUSED BY ECL, LOAD SHEDDING ALSO CAUSED BY ECL, SHORTAGE OF MEALIE MEAL WHICH CAUSED THE PRICES OF MEALIE MEAL TO SKY ROCKET WHICH CHIPOLOPOLO COULD NOT AFFORD, ETC
We were robbed
We relied on old players
honor them by releasing the report. We deserve to know the truth.
IS QUALIFYING THE ONLY ACHIEVEMENT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? WHAT ABOUT WINNING THE WORLD CUP? OVERSEAS TEAMS ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR TAKING THE WORLD CUP. IF ZAMBIA IS PREPARING ONLY TO REACH THE WORLD CUP, THEN, HARD LUCKY. THEY WILL NEVER GO A LONG WAY.
period.
1993. lets let go off the souls of our fallen heroes.lets move on, i think its time we did.
GOOD LUCKY GUYS.