On Sunday, Zambians will go to church in the morning, pray for the Chipolopolo boys, have their Sunday family lunches, put on their Chipolopolo replica jerseys, and remember the fallen Chipolopolo team that perished off the coast of Gabon in Libreville on that fateful April 1993 day. We will hear the latest Zambian musical tracks playing at loud volumes in praise and support for the copper ammunition; from Chililabombwe to Livingstone, from Mongu to Nakonde, and from Chipata to Solwezi.
The bullets will be cautious and all blazing as they continue on their giant slaying mission. Most likely, the coach will keep his dream team together once again led by Captain Chris Katongo, with the midfield marshalled by Master Kalaba and the defence wall erected by Sunzu and the boys.
Anyway, let us leave the technical issues in the hands of the lady’s man, Renard Herve, who is well able and has the full confidence of the Zambian soccer fans and FAZ for that matter. We know well he will be in his white shirt, and we don’t mind. Sentiment around social media is that perhaps that white nice shirt should be put in the museum after the cup comes to the Lusaka on Monday 13th February, a day before valentines when lovers will not just celebrate in red, but in green, orange, and white.
Ivory Coast is without a doubt the favourites, and that is probably the writing on the wall, “the great shall fall.” As it is written, “cursed is he whose trust is in the arm of flesh.” They will without a doubt have massive support on this Sunday in the Libreville stadium. Sadly for them their support will not be on the field of play. Our fallen heroes will this Sunday truly rest in peace as we wrap up business to their eternal pleasure. More than anyone of us, Kalusha Bwalya understands this more. Gladly he is the FAZ boss and not those other wannabes.
This final is not just an emotional moment for Zambia. We have shed tears, we have cried aloud, but in the end it is more than these powerful emotions. This final is bringing a conclusion to an outstanding matter between the past and the present. Efford Chabala and the team will stand behind our boys and the trophy will keep shaking on its stand because the forces at play are from paradigms separated by 19 years of waiting.
The first game was played on 21st January and Mayuka wearing shirt number 20 scored in the 12th minute. Kalaba score the second goal in the 21st minute. That game between Zambia and Senegal ended 2 : 1 in favour of the copper bullets. Now Zambia is going to play the finals on 12th February, 2012, in the city of serious memories. May those who have gone before us stand in the galleries beyond the river and smile; its Zambia’s time. Numbers do not lie.
When Zambia dispatched Sudan in the knock out stage at the AFCON 2012, they put 3 goals past the Sudan unanswered. Meanwhile later on Ivory Coast also scored 3 unanswered goals in the quarter finals to set up a date with Mali.
Then there arose a favourite black star from the west, Ghana. But bullets are fatal. Mayuka, Kalaba, Sunzu, Chris, Lungu, Chansa, and all the rest on field and at bench, remind you of David when he faced goliath. The bigger the size, the lesser the chance that you would miss that fatal copper shot. Big names disappoint, and as a life coach I will always share that philosophy. Your strength should be from within and not from your title.
Well, Gyan had a penalty on in the 7th minute. But Mweene, who started the competition with a couple of silly mistakes, was taking no nonsense this time around. The penalty was taken and our goal keeper was equal to the task. Gyan did not miss, but Kennedy Mweene saved comfortably.
To cut the long story short, the big gigantic black star was left with a sorry scar when Chansa picked out Mayuka and Emma, my friend on Facebook, but who probably has no idea who I am, didn’t look like he had space, but when your time has come, balls goal through people. And Zambia scored. Chipolopolo 1 : Black Scars 0.
Ivory Coast played later and beat Mali. And so it was not the dice that was cast, it was the games that were won, and the date was made. The truth is when the boys visit the scene where the 1993 crush took place; the bullets will not just be fatal copper ammunition. They will be reinforced with emotion, motivation, and a support from the unseen dimension. And so the cup shall be in Zambia on Monday 13th February 2012.
Who wants to bet against me now?
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