Zambia U23 side made two steps forward on the road to Beijing in their
opening 2008 Olympic Games football tournament Group B qualifier after
beating Cote D’Ivoire U23 2-0 at Nchanga stadium in Chingola.
Two goals in a space of two minutes midway through the first half gave
Zambia victory to emulate their senior counterparts who just 24 hours
early when defeated Congo-Brazzaville 3-0 in the 2008 Africa Cup
Group 11 qualifier up the road at Konkola stadium in Chililabombwe.
However, the Under 23’s victory has been overshadowed by the tragedy
at Konkola on early on Saturday night when 12 fans died in a stampede
as they attempted to exit via a locked access-way at the stadium at
the end of the senior squads victory.
A minute of silence was observed just before Sunday’s kickoff.
Kaumba’s side got down to the business of winning to try and put
a hard smile during a dark weekend for Zambian football.
And in the game, new boy and Red Arrows midfielder Timothy Mbewe got
Zambia off to a flying start with the opener in the 28th minute.
Striker Given Singuluma of South African division 2 club Bay United
stretched Zambia’s lead with the hosts final goal in the 31st minute.
Zambia’s next match will be away to Mali in Bamako during the second
weekend of August.
Mali meanwhile were in action today away to Senegal in the other Group B match.
Its sad to learn of the death of the 12 victims,my heart goes to the family of the deceased.Young kids dieing like that,oh lord zambia has shed alot of blood when it comes to football,when will it end?
THANK YOU TO THE NATIONAL TEAMS as you have proved yet to be great! Thanks thou i cry in my heart for the dead.
My question is,’why was that gate closed?’
My heartfelt condolences to the familiies who lost their beloved ones.To say the least,FAZ should learn from this sad loss and make sure the safety of the pipo of Zambia are put first nat just the monetary gains.
Very sad for the people who died. Congratulations for under 23
May the lord God almighty receive the souls of our beloved ones and give comfort to their families in these trying moments.Its high time government,should hurry in building a modern stadium ,rather than putting people’s lives at risk in that small, rackage Chililabombwe stadium. This is the sign of how small that stadium is, to accormodate such a large number of people. May the souls of our beloved ones rest in peace.
Kaumba has done a good job by progressing the u-23. This is a future team who will play in the world cup 2010.The u-20 also i know will do wonders in Cananda. Let FAZ help compasate the families of those fans in Bankroft on Sat.What is FIFA going to do about this?Kalu is on the FIFA committee on Safety they should know better.Can LPM please ensure the building of the stadias with more spacious gates to help save lives of the people in the future.
it is sad that main lifes have been lost like this. my qwestoing is. why do the close the gates? faz is to blam for tthe lose of the lifes
.
Who the hell closed the gates and why?? This beats me
Congrats to Chipolopolo boys and Under-23 for job well done.But allow me to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of 12 local fans who died yes.day.Having grown up in Chilis,I know how tight the gates at Konkola stadium are.One would only wonder why certain gates were closed.Of course,FAZ must be blamed for this sad event.Hope positive measures will be taken before the game against Chad.Please open more outings at this splendid stadium to avoid such situations.Anyway,may their souls rest in peace.
GO Z GO!!!!
My thoughts and prayers to those who have lost love ones and those who have sustained injuries. May God give them courage and strengh during this difficult and trying time. may their loving ans caring souls rest in peace.Congratulations chipolopolo boys, You make us have a smile on our faces. The govt and FAZ must do more not to have the same incident in future especially ensuring the management of fans becomes priority before money.
May the souls of our departed brothers and sisters rest in peace.
We do not need this in our football. Please those involved should be made to account for this loss. Why close the gate for, heaven’s sake?
Justice Kafusha, we are together in mourning and it was a very sas day for Zambia but all this goes back to the type of leadership our country has.
Surely, 43 years post independence, we have failed to come up with a single decent structure for a staduim. It is sad indeed to lose lives like this. I hope we will learn something from this. But do we ever learn? I hope fifa does not order us to play our next home match in an empty stadium (without fans).
However, our chances of qualifying are very high as I have hope that we can beat and shame the boys-boys (bafana-bafana) at their own home grand to show them that boys will be boys.
Now iwe Justice bushe ba Jack Kafusha formerly of Nkana ni ba bululu bobe? Twebe.
Otherwise enjoy day mates.
When 10 people died at Independence Stadium on June 16, 1996 – in very similar circumstances, an inquiry was instituted and the recommendations are well known: Zambia needs 21st century modern stadia not pre-1964 stuff! The latest inquiry (with due respect to our dead) is just a waste of time. It’s about time that the negligent lot, FAZ/GRZ, are sued skin-deep to jilt them to take correctional measures about the state of our sports facilities. Them shedding crocodile tears time and again after such tragedies take place does not help at all!
I totally agree with MK (#12). The parties concerned seem to be paying lip service to this important matter and continue shedding those crocodile tears.
As soccer fans we need good facilities to watch sport from!!
The problem is that we have quacks in govt. Their role is just to talk without implementing issues of national interest, such building ultra modern stadia and other sports facilities. A few years ago there was mention of building three ultra modern stadia in L/stone, Lusaka and Ndola. If this was implemented we could have atleast one stadium ready. May be we need someone from plot one to die in a stampede only then are we going to see seriousness on the part of govt. Please Zambia wake up and do something. You ve been talking and talking for a long time without fruits being seen. Look at countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, DRC (war torn), Congo Brazza, Angola (war torn)etc, these have even got decent stadia. What have we been doing? Anyway we dont know whose gonna save this country.
My sincere condolence to the supporter who died. May your souls rest in everlasting peace.
Again, my sincere condolences to the suppoters whom I consider to have given their live for Zambian football.May your souls rest in peace in the hope of meeting you again.
Kemps you are right, ubuteko, ala bwafya. About Ba Jack Kafusha, no relationship.
What about the new stadium in Ndola, is it not underway???