Four accident victims from Solwezi Queens Academy who were seriously injured have been evacuated to Lusaka for further medical attention at the University Teaching Hospital.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said other players and technical staff that had minor injuries were discharged from Mkushi District Hospital and taken back to Solwezi.
Kamanga disclosed that the victims that were evacuated aboard a Zambia Air Force plane are Emeriana Melitu, Mwandu Musonda, Regina Sanduke, and Ruth Chinyama.
Kamanga has thanked government through the Ministry of Youth, Art and Sports and the ministry of health for facilitating the evacuation of the patients.
“The four players have been flown to Lusaka on recommendation from the medics and we are grateful that government has made this possible through the ministry of sports and their health counterparts,” he said.
Kamanaga added that the association’s General Secretary Adrian Kashala travelled to Mkushi to coordinate the dispatch of the bodies to Solwezi and also the survivors who are out of danger back to their bases.
“FAZ will take up the costs for the burial of the deceased but will work closely with families and the provincial leadership,” he said.
The Solwezi Queens Academy bus was involved in a road traffic accident on Saturday morning along the Serenje-Mpika road whilst the team was heading to Mpika for a Week Four fixture with Mpika Doves.
This was according to a statement issued to THE MEDIA in Lusaka today by FAZ communications Manager Sydney Mungala.
Over the weekend, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced that it had received with deep shock news of the death of four Solwezi Academy Queens players and a coach.
FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala said the Solwezi Academy Queens were on their way to Mpika for a FAZ Women’s National League when their bus got involved in an accident.
Mr Mungala noted that the injured players and coaches had been rushed to Mkushi General Hospital.
He said FAZ President Andrew Kamanga has sympathized with the North Western Province leadership and the families of the injured and deceased.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of some players and a coach who were on club duty. While it is still too early to get the full picture, we are in touch with the people on the ground to provide a detailed report,” Kamanga says.
Mr Mungala further said that FAZ will liaise with the health authorities and families on the status of the injured persons and explore the possibilities of making the burden lighter.
He said the office of the General Secretary is working with the provincial leadership to provide necessary support to the victims.
The accident happened along the Great North Road (Mkushi-Mpika) around 04:00 hours when Solwezi Queens were on their way to play Mpika Doves in a FAZ women’s National League fixture.
Let’s pray for our youth, let’s pray for our children. They are under vicious attack. Let’s pray all the time. Ephesians 6:18.
And more sad because they are girls.
I think government must strengthen the oversight functions of the National Sports Council of Zambia. These youths died on national duty possibly out of a reckless decision by those that manage them. Unless government steps in they’re likely to go without any compensation. FAZ takes so much from government yet it doesn’t want to be supervised. Let’s amend the NSCZ Act and make it compulsory for sports teams and associations to insure there sportsmen & women. Let it compulsory for NSCZ to inspect all sports facilities and conditions under which athletes are engaged. There must be sanity and the time to do it is now. Condolences to the bereaved families and a quick recovery to the injured