Icons

Emmy Musonda is not the only former sporting icon to miss out on Zambia’s first international tournament. The Chipolopolo are one of only two AFCON winners never to have hosted the senior event. Until today Zambia had never hosted any AFCON. Legends and legends in the making, who were robbed of the careers they should have had were not included as they had hoped to be.

A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia filled a gap. It wasn’t just about Musonda, terrible as his plight was. Just over two years ago football united around three young Zambian footballers. While on national team duty a crash left them seriously injured, robbing two of them of their playing careers. Zesco United’s Nyambe Mulenga still hopes to play again, but time is running out for him. Green Eagles’ goalkeeper Satchmo Chakawa came back too soon in 2015. A hip injury related to the crash sidelined the young keeper again. He made a full recovery, returning to action in 2016. Mulenga is still out of football.

Zesco want Mulenga to take another job with them, but he still hopes to play – time ticks on his playing career – he was in Zambia’s AFCON winning squad in 2012, but both are fortunate, if that is the right word, compared to Chipolopolo team-mate, Changwe Kalale of Power Dynamos.

He will certainly never play again. He was paralysed by the accident near Green Restaurant in Kabwe, on December 14th 2014, which resulted in the death of the bus driver and three people in the other vehicle, which had lost control. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter sent them a message of support at the time, but all three need support and assistance still, especially Kalale.

Priorities
Despite focusing on his task of winning the Under-20 AFCON, Zambia’s coach, Beston Chambeshi, found time to show support, not just to former team-mate Musonda, but to Chakawa, Kalale and Mulenga (see his message here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubqxUE0z7c&feature=youtu.be).

But Chambeshi has more to add. As with Musonda, Chambeshi believes that these young players still have important gifts to give to football – a treasure trove of football knowledge. See his call for them to be involved in Zambian football here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gos5ozXKRCI&feature=youtu.be).

Chambeshi led his Under-20 Zambia team to glory. They clearly were the team of the tournament. They defeated Thabo Senong’s Bafana Bafana in the semi-final to reach the final. Despite the disappointment, Senong found time to send a message of support to the three young Zambians whose careers were cruelly cut short. See his message here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5JhHJ_ycSA&feature=youtu.be).

Legends Rally to Musonda

Chelsea’s first black player and icon of English football, Paul Canoville, whose struggles against racism, including from his own team’s fans, are well known, led black stars at Football’s Blacklist celebrations last night, in offering support and hope to former Zambian captain Emmy Musonda.

The Chipolopolo legend’s plight has touched football. Musonda lost his fledgling coaching career to a tragic accident in 1993. Things deteriorated in 2015 when diabetes resulted in his left leg being amputated above the knee. Canoville not only sent his support, but made a heart-felt plea for Musonda to receive the help and support that he needs (see his message here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA9EXUORumM&feature=youtu.be).

The first footballer to score 5 goals in a Premier League match, former Manchester United and Newcastle United star, Andy Cole, joined Canoville in supporting and encouraging Musonda. Cole notched 187 gaols in 414 appearances in the Premier League – only Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer have scored more (see his message to Musonda here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLbxlDztHtc).

Former Spurs and Republic of Ireland defender Chris Hughton is the longest serving black manager in English football – a career Musonda was set to enjoy in his native Zambia. The current Brighton and Hove Albion manager is once again hovering on the brink of promotion to the Premier League. He took time out to record a message of support for Musonda (see it here https://youtu.be/XMSNKXMnFsY).

Further Support

Former Queen’s Park Rangers manager and Tottenham Hotspur youth team coach, Chris Ramsey played in all four divisions and an FA Cup Final before going into coaching. He also had a message for Musonda (see it here https://youtu.be/cOO8yqERlqU).

Former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender, Ugo Ehiogu, had 4 England caps. He currently coaches Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-21 team. Ehiogu sent the following message to Musonda which can be seen here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOD8-40kREY).

By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (March 27th 2017)

Nigerian footballers showed that they really are Super-Eagles. After hearing of the plight of Zambian legend and former captain, Emmy Musonda, left-back, Elderson Echiejile, winger Kayode Olanrewaju along with Nigeria’s captain Ogenyi Onazi and coach Gernot Rohr sent messages of encouragement to Musonda.

Echiejille is on loan from Ligue Un leaders Monaco to Spain’s Sporting de Gijón. See his message to Musonda here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dfIvJ1Ks4c). Olanrewaju burst onto the Nigerian scene in 2011. He was both an Under-17 and Under-20 youth international at the same time. He currently plays for Austria Wien. His message to Musonda can be seen here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74MSiEdS8WY&feature=youtu.be).

During the recent trip to London, Nigeria’s captain, Ogenyi Nnazi, currently playing in Turkey for Trabzonspor recorded this message for Musonda, assuring him that African football loves him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLU2NTtnbk8&feature=youtu.be). The Super-Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr also sent a message to Musonda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8qAh6Fgs-k.

A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia thanks the Nigerian delegation and Nigerian Football Federation for their assistance.

Under-20 AFCON

Zambian defender and gifted on-pitch leader of the Chipolopolo, Emmy Musonda, has falled on terrible times since the halcyon days of leading the Chipolopolo to third place in the 1982 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations – the last time one of the greatest African coaches of all time, Charles Kumi Gyamfi, led Ghana to triumph. Musonda also led Zambia in Egypt the following year at CAF’s 25th anniversary celebration where he faced the best opponent he had ever played against Egypt’s legendary Mahmoud el Khatib. They still admire each other.

Khatib is the greatest African football legend to date to rally round Musonda see his message to Musonda here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC2LW7Gmurc. Musonda’s tale makes for sad reading. Musonda went into coaching as his distinguished playing career for Army owned side Green Buffalos ended. Sadly, he was left unable to work in coaching again after an accident, caused by reckless driving while he was on the team’s bus. In 2015, suffering from diabetes, he had to have his left leg amputated above the knee.

Musonda was disappointed that he and other legends of Zambian football were not included in the competition as ambassadors or even honoured guests. Meanwhile, Africans united to wish him well. Cameroon’s Under-20 coach Ashu Cyprian Besong sent Musonda this message (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQn-hLMBj7k).

In December another crash cost Zambian football dear. While on national team duty a serious crash cost Satchmo Chakawa, Changwe Kalale and Nyambe Mulenga their on-pitch careers. Kalale was paralysed. Despite his own suffering Mulenga thinks of Emmy Musonda (see his message here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTrHIitP64).

Zambian football remembers him and his contribution. Under-20 coach and team-mate in the KK11, as the national team was called then, Beston Chambeshi, reconnected with Emmy during the tournament, thanks to A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia. Chambeshi sent this message to Emmy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKPLAJNULD0

.

Launched

During the recently concluded Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Empower-Sport and The Fitted-In Project took A Sporting Chance of After-care to Zambia. We highlighted the cases of Robins Kilambe, Satchmo Chakawa, Changwe Kalale and Nyambe Mulenga, and former Chipolopolo captain Emmy Musonda.

They had been excluded from the tournament. Zambia’s Sports Ministry and FAZ took up our project, and some tickets were provided. The Football and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZ) under the auspices of former Chipolopolo attacker, Linos Chalwe, and author of the definitive book on Zambian legend Godfrey Ucar Chitalu, Jerry Muchimba, took up the cause too.

Emmy Musonda’s story is a tough one to hear. He was an elite athlete, at the peak of fitness. He captained his country to third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982, the last time the Black Stars won the tournament, and at the celebration of CAF’s quarter century in Egypt a year later. A decade later Musonda’s playing career with Zambia’s Green Buffaloes (a Zambian Army sponsored team) had ended. He went into coaching. The second job he secured would be his last in football.

An ill advised over-taking manoeuvre resulted in a crash, injuring some players and Musonda. Emmy was badly hurt. Brain-damaged, his fledgling career and ability to support himself, especially through football, was over. Musonda relies on the charity of friends and well-wishers. The accident happened just before the biggest catastrophe ever faced by Zambian football, the Gabon Plane Crash.

A Salutary Tale

Musonda, and his immense football abilities, was lost to football, but he still had a wealth of memories and knowledge. He wants to impart that to young players. A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia was adapted. Musonda is an integral part of it. He suffered from diabetes, resulting in his left leg having to be amputated above the knee in 2015.

Zambia, football, especially African football, owes him far better than he has received. He lives in a bad area of Lusaka, one of the few things he received after the crash. Musonda’s medical needs have yet to be met. His metal crutches buckled – he now uses unsuitable wooden ones. We took up his cause last year, and approached FIFPRO, the international organisation for professional footballers. FAWUZ also took up Musonda’s cause. They are working together now.

Inspiration

Emmy Musonda deserves to feel football’s love. Even after all he has been through he wants to give back to football. He will be an integral part of A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia by sharing his story to young players and in schools on the need to look after themselves and plan for the future. Emmy Musonda had it all, but through no fault of his own, it was taken away.

Among those to wish the Zambian legend well, and appreciate the legendary defender  is Under-20 team boss and playing colleague, Beston Chambeshi (see his message here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKPLAJNULD0).

Cameroon and South Africa’s equivalent Ashu Cyprian Besong and Thabo Senong also sent him messages of support, as did survivor of the December 2014 crash Nyambe Mulenga. Recently, at the request of A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia the Chipolopolo’s coach, Wedson Nyirenda, pledged to invite Musonda and others to be honoured guests of the full Zambian team at National Heroes Stadium.

Former Super-Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyigbeni recently wished Musonda the best, and assured him that African football loves him. Musonda said the best player that he had ever played against was the Egyptian legend on and off the pitch, Mahmoud el Khatib. His message to Emmy can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTrHIitP64

Injustice

Over a quarter of a century ago Michael OʼBrien was wrenched from his family. He suffered a grave miscarriage of justice that robbed him and his family of more than a decade of his life. He always knew that he was innocent of the robbery and murder of Cardiff newspaper vendor, Phillip Saunders – it should have been obvious to others too. During the dark days of his wrongful imprisonment – he was wrongfully convicted along with Ellis Sherwood and Darren Hall – OʼBrien needed an outlet.

He found it in football. He was a Cardiff City and Wales fan. For 90 minutes every weekend he could forget his woes and support his team. In his mind he was on the terraces willing his team on. It helped him cope. OʼBrien was one of the main inspirations for both the Fitted-In Project and Empower-Sport launching our project A Sporting Chance of After-care.

Inspiration

Football had given OʼBrien hope when he needed it most. He survived the miscarriage of justice and he fought tirelessly for others – he still does through the Dylan OʼBrien Foundation.¹ Victims of miscarriages of justice are largely forgotten about by society. The euphoria of their release, even in high profile cases quickly wears off. Support and assistance was hard to come by. Many retreat into their shells again unwilling to engage with people who do not and cannot understand.

But football had helped once. Perhaps it could again. Not only had it helped OʼBrien, but anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela and his comrades on the infamous Robben Island, too.

Football Unites

We decided that perhaps football could help again. We approached the Football Association of Wales to provide the practical support that our project needed. They readily agreed. It was fitting that OʼBrien was the first person to be helped under our scheme. Along with a trusted person – an essential part of the scheme – OʼBrien was provided with seats to support Wales against Cyprus. He enjoyed the experience greatly including the result as Wales beat Cyprus 2-1 to remain top of Group B. It helped him too

“Satish should be commended for setting up this project, which can benefit those who have suffered a miscarriage of justice”, OʼBrien said. “I thoroughly enjoyed the Wales v Cyprus game and I am extremely grateful to Satish and the FAW for taking part in this project and hope they continue to support this in the future”.

1 The Foundation was established in memory of OʼBrienʼs son whose death aged two could and should have been prevented. Together with his wife Claire, they campaign for greater awareness of the condition that Dylan suffered from and to help others. Dylan suffered from a rare, but tragically undiagnosed condition Mucopollysaccharidosis (see www.thedylanobrienfoundation.com for further information on the Dylan OʼBrien Foundation).

The Power of Football

Michael O’Brien suffered one of Wales’ most egregious miscarriages of justice. During the dark days of his wrongful imprisonment for the murder of Cardiff newspaper vendor Phillip Saunders, O’Brien turned to football to help him cope. For ninety minutes every Saturday he was on the terraces supporting his beloved Cardiff City FC. Tonight football once again helps him cope.

Empower-Sport and the Fitted-In Project are grateful to the Football Association of Wales for the practical support they offered to help O’Brien through our project A Sporting Chance of After-care – a project to help victims of miscarriages of injustice recover from the trauma of the injustice they suffered through football. Mr O’Brien and a trusted friend were provided with courtesy tickets for Wales v Cyprus. We hope they enjoy the match and that it helps Mr O’Brien.