By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (March 15th 2017)
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
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