Zambia: A sombre atmosphere bathed Heroes Acre in Lusaka on Friday as the nation commemorated the 30th Gabon disaster anniversary.
Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary Chama Fumba and FAZ president Andrew Kamanga led the procession that saw the families of the fallen heroes and football families converge.
With the government pronouncing that the ceremony will be celebrated every five years officially, it was up to the state to organize the event. The Zambia Air Force brass band provided some solemn music as the nation honoured its heroes.
On 28th April 1993, a Zambia Air Force plane carrying 18 players, coaches, technical staff, FAZ officials, a journalist and crew members crashed off the coast of Gabon en route to fulfilling a USA 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Dakar.
Full List of Fallen Heroes
(GOALKEEPERS)
EFFORD CHABALA (MUFULIRA WANDERERS)
RICHARD MWANZA (KABWE WARRIORS)
(DEFENDERS)
JOHN SOKO (NKANA)
ESTON MULENGA (NKANA)
WHITESON CHANGWE (KABWE WARRIORS)
WINTER MUMBA (POWER DYNAMOS)
ROBERT WATIYAKENI (DYNAMOS FC-RSA)
SAMUEL CHOMBA (DYNAMOS-RSA)
(MIDFIELDERS)
DERBY MAKINKA (El TIFFAQF-SAUDI ARABIA)
MOSES CHIKWALAKWALA (NKANA)
MWILA NUMBA (NKANA)
WISDOM CHANSA (DYNAMOS FC-SA)
GODFREY KANGWA (OLYMPIC CASABLANCA-MOROCCO)
(STRIKERS)
KELVIN ‘MALAZA’ MUTALE (EL-TIFFAQ-SAUDI ARABIA)
TIMOTHY MWITWA (NKANA)
MOSES MASUWA (KABWE WARRIORS)
KENAN SIMAMBE (NKANA)
PATRICK ‘BOMBER’ BANDA (PROFUND WARRIORS)
TECHNICAL STAFF
GODFREY “UCAR” CHITALU (HEAD COACH)
ALEX CHOLA (ASSISTANT COACH)
WILSON MTONGA (TEAM DOCTOR)
MICHAEL MWAPE (FAZ CHAIRMAN)
NELSON ZIMBA (PUBLIC SERVANT)
JOSEPH SALIM BWALYA (JOURNALIST)
CREW
COLONEL FENTON MHONE (PILOT)
LT COLONEL VICTOR MUBANGA (PILOT)
LT COLONEL JAMES SACHIKA (PILOT)
WARRANT OFFICER EDWARD NAMBOTE (FITTER)
TOMSON SAKALA (STEWARD)
