African Cup of Nations - Zambia coach carries injured player to celebrations
There was hardly a dry eye in the house on Sunday when Zambia won the African Cup of Nations in Gabon, almost 20 years after their national team was killed in an air crash in the country.
But a moment of humanity and thoughtfulness from coach Herve Renard heightened those feelings still further.
Zambia beat Ivory Coast in an epic penalty shoot-out - and in the excitement of the victory the entire squad rushed on to the pitch to celebrate in a huge circle, the players' arms around each other.
One man was left out of those celebrations, however: Joseph Musonda, one of the key members of the team, who had limped off the pitch 11 minutes into the final with an ankle injury. He had been left bandaged up and unable to walk.
Frenchman Renard refused to let one of his chief lieutenants miss out on the fun: he picked up the veteran midfielder and ran on to the pitch to deliver him to his team-mates so that he could revel in his nation's moment of glory.
The heart-warming scene prompted memories of Derek Redmond being helped over the line by his father at the 1992 Olympics, or US gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi carrying Kerri Strug on to the podium to collect gold four years later.
After the match, Renard paid tribute to the players who died in the 1993 disaster which claimed 18 of Zambia's international squad.
Renard called the 18 a "silent force", while victorious players explained the importance of honouring their dead compatriots, whose plane went down not far from the Libreville stadium where Zambia won the African Nations Cup against the much-fancied Ivory Coast side which included Premier League stars such as Didier Drogba.
"It was very emotional and the memory of the players who died here played a big part," said Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa.
"Once they said the final would be held in Gabon, we said 'this is ours this time around'. It was written somewhere, you can see that from the miss of Drogba."
Ivory Coast's captain squandered a penalty 20 minutes from time to allow Zambia to force the game into extra time and go on to win 8-7 on penalties at the end of a thrilling encounter.
"The players who were killed in the plane crash in Gabon were what was behind us and what was driving us through the tournament," said goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
"We did not want to go home empty-handed."
Zambia's victorious squad left in a chartered plane for home on Monday, departing from the same airport where a Zambia air force plane had refuelled on its way to Senegal for a World Cup qualifier in March 1993, and then exploded shortly after take off.
The 18 players killed made up a highly-rated national squad, with high hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, although leading forward Kalusha Bwalya was not on the flight as he was scheduled to join the team in Senegal after travelling directly from his Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
Bwalya subsequently became the symbol of the rebuilding of Zambian football and is now the national football association president. His influence was evident as the players mobbed him on Sunday when he joined them in the post-match celebrations.
"There is no one who feels it more strongly than Kalusha," said Renard. "He has lived through it all these years."
Bwalya had spoken briefly to his players in the dressing-room after Sunday's win but hid his emotion, Chansa said. "But we knew what he was feeling."
Renard said the symbolism of the final in Gabon had proved a powerful spur.
"Perhaps we were lucky in the draw when all our matches were scheduled in Equatorial Guinea," Renard said of the neighbouring country that co-hosted the Nations Cup.
"The only way we could have got to Gabon was to play in the final and this focused the players. They wanted to come and honour their fallen comrades."
Just before leaving Libreville, winger Felix Katongo said: "We wanted to win the trophy to make the Zambian people proud and so those who died may rest in peace. Now their souls are at peace."
Comment 75 - 94 of 94
Prima! Perfekt! toll! Zambyai
Zambia football team showed so much so magnanimity in the final game with Cote'devoir although God almighty had divinely arranged it. And the reason while so many big African teams were missing out in the competition. This is extremely great for African football. And to Coach Renard I just don't know how I felt inside of me for picking up that guy to join the rest team in the celebration. Some coaches would have abandoned him to limp. This is a total show of love and care. I doff my hat for you. And pray to God Almighty to grant you a very successful career in the future. Enjoy the celebrations. And remain blessed.
it is really incredible to see the coach lifting the injured player, it only goes to show the unity in this marvelous team. the coach-player relationship is superb. renard was like a good shepherd who left the 99 sheet to go and search for the "injured" one. good coach who has the heart for all the players.
Marvin T I respect your opinion, but I do not agree with you that the elephants were better. The final game in Gabon is where the under-rated Zambia showed the world what they are REALLY made of. I'm glad Ivory Coast didn't give them an easy game, the Zambians fought to get it & they deserved it. They played very well against a star-studded Ivorian team. Hats off to Herve Renard for the show of love & humanity to one of his wounded soldiers. The reason games are set up is to determine who's the best & in this case like it or not, Zambia are the best on the African continent. Bravo Chipolopolo!!
As a South African I would like to say 'VIVA" Chipolopolo. Aluta Continua.God Bless this great African Team. You were so determine and you believed in yourselves. BAFANA BAFANA has learned what it is to make a Nation proud. Eddy Nkosi SABC
suarez-has-to-go-for-the-good-of-liverpool-football-clu b-and-the-english-game-in-general-racism-has-no-place-i n-football-or-anywhere-else-no-doubt-there-will-be-idio ts-who-will-attempt-to-defend-him-for-the-good-of-the-g ame-he-must-be-booted-out-a-lifelong-red-supporter
As south africa we happy for Zambian team and we wish our safa board can all resing ,without be force beause all safa are politician without football brain
This win teared most people than any win before. It was a joy of long awaiting patience and emotion.
Congrats to all Zambians !!!
i hope suarez learns from this. racism has no place in this world. Congrats Chipolopolo.
As a Zimbabwean well done Zambia .. Hope the young players now have a chance to play in Europe.. Definitely this team will be a team to beat in South Africa
I am very happy for Zambia and congrat. to my friend Mwoila. I have to say this, they're some idiots, who are not given attention in the real world, so they have to look for it on the internet, with stupid and no brainers comments. I recone the best is to ignore them, and not to rate them at all. Well done ZAMBIA
No sooner had the coach put him down and they cooked the coach and ate him! Old African custom dating back to the days of Dr Livingstone.
thank god for that. . . its possibly the worst football tournament anywhere in the world,
To wrap it up.Lifting the player the coach put the icing on the cake. What more do the world of sport want to see?
WELL DONE CHIPOLOPOLO BOYS
Zambia, Proud and Free! We continue showing that ther are better places in the world. Unity, friendship, equal rights, love and most of all... ONE HELL OF A FOOTBALL TEAM.
I LOVE ZAMBIA
as asual a couple of fannys bring up the suarez affair.typical manc scum what has this thread to do with that subject or racism i ask you.well done Zambia and good luck for 2013
Well done to Zambia, but the elephants where the best team in the tournament. The elephants should not lose hope they where just unlucky. As someone aptly put 'they had a date with destiny'.
@Thaddeus, (or whatever your name is), Zambia has a "white" Vice President in the name of Guy Scot (a scotsman). if there is any racist on this forum, it is YOURSELF!
Tell the goons
well this is what the try to tell the people sports are more than anything hells
He aint heavy....he's my brother
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