Mufulira on Monday said farewell to one of its favorite sons when the late Mighty Mufulira Wanderers coach and ex-Zambia defender Harrison Wawa Chongo was put to rest at Chatulinga Cemetery.
Chongo, 42, died on Thursday at Ronald Ross Hospital in Mufulira where he was admitted on Wednesday for high blood pressure.
A requiem service, attended by thousands of Wanderers fans in the green and white of Mighty, was held at the clubs home ground Shinde Stadium where Wawa first broke into the first team in 1989.
“The club has been doing very well this season under him and he will be difficult to replace,” Wanderers chairman Cleopias Mulenga said.
Wawa, who was in his second season in charge of Wanderers, leaves Mighty unbeaten in their opening eight games in second place on 14 points with a game in hand in the Faz Division One North as they attempt their first top flight return since 2005.
Wanderers are three points less behind leaders Indeni .
And Wawa was put to rest just meters away from his Wanderers and Zambia mentor Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu who died 10 years ago in Mufulira.
Meanwhile, the funeral was attended by five members of the 1994 Africa Cup silver medal winning team that Wawa was a member of.
In attendance from that team were goalkeeper Martin Mwamba, midfielders John Lungu, Joel Bwalya, Linos Makwaza and striker Zed Sailetti.
“He was like my brother and we shared a lot of fun times with him,” Mwamba said.
Sailetti said:”It is a very big loss for the country and I played with him at the national team. He started well for Mufulira Wanderers this season and they are unbeaten.”
Also in attendance were some members of Wanderers last Super Division back-to-back title winning team in 1995 and 1996 namely Bilton Musonda, Nelson Banda, Alex Musungu, Justin Kunda and Allan Kamwanga.
Wawa played for Wanderers from 1988 to 1992 and joined Saudi Arabia club Al Tawuun from 1992 to 2002.
He is survived by a wife and six children.
RIP peace my man my god console and look after your family.
flag kelvin says:
Mon May 16 at 4:18 am
i think FAZ need to start recognize these players who have done great things to the national. Set up a credit union , for all former professional players,who are not financially stable, to assist them with loans , not in terms of cash , but in terms of soccer equipment, so that they can put up soccer academies, to keep them busy and away from drinking too much beer , which make them go off the truck. By so doing it will even boost our soccer standards, not only that, it will also maintain their respectful manners. i knew WAWA to be a very smart guy dressing wise, but not the way he was neglected ,like he was nothing. These are kind of people we should be proud of.
Rest in peace you will be always remember for uplifting the souls of those who died in Gabon aircrash when you came on the scene and played hard in Tunisia Africa cup 1994. May the good lord be with you in eternal life.
Any FAZ officials at the funeral? the reports seems to miss that bit
no FAZ officials i guess, we have not seen any name of any FAZ officials in the report.
Thanks for everything Wawa.
RIP Harrison Chongo Wawa. Incredible talent, great contributor to the pride of a nation. Pa CB tukala mi bukisha bakalamba.
What a wasted talent! Beer cheap pu.ssy! Wa shelefye umutye!!
Great Hero…..rip
“He was neglected” by who and how. He played football and made his money, alot of it for that matter. He never shared it with anyone. The money he made during his playing times, could be more than pension payments for 20 average miners who are still leaving and doing fine. Should we include life pensions for footballers in our national budget? Let this be a lesson to footballers who are still playing, to invest their money wisely. May Wawa’s soul rest in peace. I hope he left a will for his family not debts.
Kitwe Boys. I like your analysis it is spot on. I also wondered when one of the Malitoli brothers indiacted that WAWA was neglected. Surely by who!!!!!! He played football at very high level and made a lot of cash. Playing football in Saud-Arabia for 10 years. He must have been one one of the reachest guys around the Copperbelt. Anyway, let me not talk much he is gone never to come back. I hope he left at least a shelter for his six children and the wife. MHSRP.
Footballers should be given skills that they can use after retirement. African football associations being the worst affected in the riches to rags stories should start running Business skills courses throughout footballers’ playing lives. Players handle big money at their prime which excites them so much in the present they forget the future.Thats when life is seen as cruel. African beliefs in humanism do not help in that our new societies are run by Capitalism which makes most of us individualistic. We just wont help anyone other than very close family.
ba wawa RIP……king Medeija
Zeddy Saileti is still around – he had the potential to become a prolific striker
Do these footballers have unions and provident funds and stuff like that? Its a pity how they become poverty-struck after their playing days.
MHSRP But 6 children at the age of 42 !!!!! thats too much burden u have left to the widow. I wish his employers Mufulira wanderers will take care of those innocent souls. Tulenashako please ukufwala. FAZ why u where no present not even rebel FAZ sure ????
# 10. I agree with you that these guys should invest the money they earn (mostly) weekly. However when things do not work out, the sports fratenity should in and help. This issue is two sided. On the other side, successful players will be turning down requests to play for Zambia where most of the time they’re either not paid for their sweat, when they are its peanuts. Zambians always yell out at them saying they are not patriotic. Remember the Davis Phiri, Moses Sichone allowances issue.Let those people who attended the funeral contribute K1 000 each ot help wawa’s family. It happens in developed countries, where there are REAL fans.
1. James ‘Ringo’ Phiri 2. Mordon Malitoli 3. Aggrey Chiyangi 4. Elijah Litana 5. Harrison’Wawa’ Chongo 6. John ‘Spiderman’ Lungu 7.Jonston Bwalya 8. Kapambwe ‘Gentile’ Mulenga 9. Kenneth ‘Bubble’ Malitoli 10. Zeddy Saileti 11. Kalusha Bwalya. MYSRIP wawa, James Phiri, and Kapambwe Mulenga
Ba Wawa mwalufyanya,condolence to bana chongo,MYSRIP Wawa.Â
:((too bad for us his children. for as a firstborn i will do some thing for him. rest in peace dad.