HOUSES FOR AFCON CHAMPS

Talk to thank’ Chipolopolo

WHEN former US president JF Kennedy said:

“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, he might well have been inspiring 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners, Zambia.

And to the pronouncement of these famous words the Zambian president might have added:

“… and you shall be richly rewarded” to conclude JFK’S prophetic clarion call.

Zambia Football Association president Kalusha Bwalya says his organisation has welcomed the Zambian government’s idea of building each player of the national team a brand new house.

For the now famous Chipolopolo, who did the country proud by winning the championship in which they were barely considered to be contenders, and who have had varying fortunes in their personal lives, a house each would be most welcome.

In the build-up to the tournament, some nations were touted as favourites and potential winners. Zambia was not one of them.

But the Zambians doubted themselves.

In hindsight, they were perhaps the best bet to win because theirs was a mission higher than just a quest to win a trophy.

They had dedicated their participation in this year’s tournament to their famously ill-fated squad that perished in a tragic air crash during the 1994 Afcon tournament.

Fate dealt Bwalya, the captain of the ill-fated team, a fantastic hand as he miraculously escaped the tragedy due to a flight

never scheduling arrangement. He was flying in from Holland at the time after doing duty for PSV Eindhoven.

Today, Bwalya is the head of the entire Zambian football fraternity. In this position, he has always maintained confidence in his team’s ability and determination to win the championship they had vowed to dedicate to their dead countrymen.

If Bwalya’s dream for his charges becomes a reality, some of the Chipolopolo players who were either squatting at friends’ places or living in shacks could soon be snuggling up in the comfort of new homes should their government go ahead with the proposal.

Bwalya tells Sunday World: “The government is looking at the possibility of buying houses for the players, but nothing has been confirmed.

“There has been such talk after our national team conquered the African continent with their magnificent win of the Afcon tourney.

“It will be a great ‘ thank you’ gift for the players who deserve this unusual gesture. I am proud of the boys who showed a thirst and hunger for success to win this tournament. They made us proud,” says the clearly elated Bwalya.