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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.

Eye-opener

It takes more than it did previously to shock or appall me, but my recent trip to Zambia did so. I first met Zambian sporting legend, Emmy Musonda, four years earlier. I interviewed him then unaware of the full extent of what he had gone through then. I wish I had known, as it would have explained a lot. Musonda was the former captain of the Chipolopolo, who led them to the third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1982.

He was understandably proud of that achievement. The interview was not at his home, began with him showing photos of his distinguished playing career. He told tales of his career, of other players, but did not mention something he should have said, or I should have known – the reason he lost it all. Emmy Musonda, one of his country’s greatest footballers, was reduced to quietly begging for food!

At the time, I was surprised, and a bit sceptical. Why was such a successful player, who said he had achieved so much – he had – begging for a meal? Even though the ‘riches’ in football wee nothing like they are today, and certainly not in Africa, this sounded odd. Had he squandered it all away? Absolutely not, it turned out. Emmy Musonda had been an elite level athlete. He had looked after his body, and he had planned for a future off the pitch.

Shameful

It had all been taken away from him through no fault of his own. In his second job as a coach his team’s bus crashed. It was the fault of the driver hired by that team. Musonda was very badly hurt. He was left brain-damaged. I didn’t know any of that when I interviewed him. You wouldn’t. Some of what he said, I thought strange and let it wash over me, but despite the odd views on some subjects, there were still pearls of football wisdom – ones he still wants to pass on.

I didn’t know then that he lived in a bad area of Lusaka – the one thing that team did for him. He was in no condition to look after his interests after the crash, and nobody did it for him. He was not advised to sue, nor could he. Football had been his life, but now, in his time of greatest need, it had deserted him, or so it seemed to Musonda, a man who wanted to make a living through football.

In the four years since we first met, things have got worse for the legendary Zambian defender. Two years ago he had to have his left leg amputated above the knee. Still football, now with great riches in the game, had not provided even for his basic needs. Diabetes is a killer, especially without treatment. Musonda cannot afford even that. He has no wheelchair, despite his obvious disability. The metal crutches he once had buckled, unable to support him. He now uses utterly unsuitable wooden crutches.

The Greater Picture

Still he does not have the ability to support himself. But it could and should be different. He can provide punditry, he can be a motivational speaker – what a story he has to tell – and much more besides. In an era of mega-wealthy and sometimes pampered footballers, let’s remember the other side of the football coin – players who put their bodies on the line, gave their all for meagre rewards, and paid a huge price. Let’s remember the Emmy Musondas of football.

His story is not just what has happened to him, or even how he has been and still is treated, it is what can and must be done for him and by him. He is an integral part of A Sporting Chance of After-care – Zambia. Even after, all he has been through Emmy Musonda wants to give his all to football and his country. He wants to inspire and caution young players and in schools too. He remains an inspiration, and legend, and appreciated beyond Zambia’s borders. See The Times’ Chief Football Writer, Henry Winter’s message of encouragement and appreciation to Musonda here (https://youtu.be/Qa02EICcQik).

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