{"id":1839,"date":"2020-03-22T20:31:55","date_gmt":"2020-03-22T20:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/?p=1839"},"modified":"2022-08-11T20:07:27","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T20:07:27","slug":"the-football-heroes-of-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/2020\/03\/22\/the-football-heroes-of-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"The Football Heroes of Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Satish Sekar \u00a9 Satish Sekar (March 2020) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Independence Football<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Within three and a half years of the match in Luanshya in April 1961, independence was achieved. But just before independence, the role of football in the independence struggle was clearly demonstrated. On April 18th<\/sup>1964 future Zambian President, Kenneth Kaunda, led his team, made up of members of his cabinet, out onto the pitch at Kitwe\u2019s Scrivener Stadium (now Nkana Stadium) to play against a Select Team. However, the opponents had not read history\u2019s script, and raced to a four-goal lead. Kaunda\u2019s team made changes at half time. History had to have its say. The Minister of Mines and Labour, Justin Chimba, bagged a hat-trick and Ranken Sikasula a brace to snatch a 5-5 draw from the jaws of a heavy defeat in the making. This match was part of Zambia\u2019s history too, a legacy of the match in Luanshya opening the door for integrated football in the last days of Northern Rhodesia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Roan United\u2019s contribution, and that of Ginger Pensulo were immense, and need to be fully acknowledged. Pensulo not only played in United Roan\u2019s first match, but scored the winner \u2013 the only goal in their inaugural match. Football was an important component of Zambia\u2019s hard-won independence, and its role in the independence struggle should be properly acknowledged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had unified the races through sport and played a vital part in the push to independence. Consequently, these footballers, which included white icons like Tony Castella, a Portuguese international, who was instrumental in Roan United\u2019s success \u2013 they won the inaugural title in the newly formed National Football League in 1962 \u2013 and Jackie Sewelll, a former England international who also played for Zambia, were vitally important in Zambia\u2019s development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sewell also played a huge part in Zambian football and in City of Lusaka\u2019s progress on and off the pitch. Black stars, such as Pensulo, also played their part, as did the late George Sikazwe and many others. Future stars such as Fred Mwila and Joseph Mapulanga also played a part in Liberation Football \u2013 they were at great risk as this was before they had made their names. They were ball-boys, reserve players or even schoolboys who went on to become Zambian greats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Party-Poopers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The nation\u2019s independence celebrations in October 1964 included a football tournament. Nigeria and Ethiopia were replaced by Kenya and Uganda. Ghana\u2019s Black Stars also came to Zambia at then Prime Minister, Kenneth Kaunda\u2019s request for the football celebration of Zambia\u2019s independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July, Malawi\u2019s independence celebrations were pooped by Zambia inflicting a 5-0 drubbing on the newly independent nation. A few months later Zambia\u2019s independence celebration matches met a similar fate, beginning with a poor performance in a 2-0 loss to Uganda, followed by a 3-2 defeat by Kenya. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, as it was their party, Zambia played Ghana, who had walloped Kenya 7-1 in the first match, in the final. This was the important match. The Black Stars were Africa\u2019s champions at the time. They met in the Independence Stadium on October 25th<\/sup> 1964. The newly independent nation lost narrowly, 3-4. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was no disgrace that Zambia could not beat the Black Stars \u2013 they were one of the best teams Africa ever produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of football in the independence celebrations showed how much the sport had contributed in the struggle itself. It was the politicians\u2019 nod to football \u2013 a thank you for the contribution football had made to the country\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being so, this generation of footballers, and also their predecessors in Livingstone, especially, are not just football icons or sporting icons, they are national icons \u2013 heroes of independence \u2013 and they should be treated as befits that status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How the Stars of\nIndependence are Coping Now<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With few exceptions the first generation of Zambian players to put their bodies on the line for their country, fared badly \u2013 most are deceased, dying poor, if not in poverty, with their achievements and contribution to the nation\u2019s independence largely forgotten if not ignored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The few survivors, in their late sixties or older, are faring badly too, but the nation\u2019s debt to them, at least, can be redeemed. Unlike today\u2019s footballers, they were paid a pittance at best to play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they were lucky, they\u2019d get a win bonus as well, but more often than not, the most they could expect was expenses, and perhaps a very small amount on top. After playing, win, lose or draw, it was back to work the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But victory had a dividend for bosses in that city \u2013 the joy it brought saw increased productivity. Even then it paid to invest in football. This continued after independence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequently, the liberation footballers of Zambia made a huge contribution to Northern Rhodesia\u2019s anti-colonial struggle and Zambia\u2019s post-colonial development. Many of them, including perhaps Zambia\u2019s greatest ever local coach, Samuel \u2018Zoom\u2019 Ndhlovu, were not appreciated or cherished as they should have been during their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s different once they pass away. Then, they are cherished, briefly, until they pass back into history, remembered just by family, friends, team-mates, and a few students of both football and Zambian history. The living fare very badly too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 For most of them, their long-term working lives finished many years ago. They have to fend for themselves. If lucky their pensions, too meagre for a lifetime of retirement, must fund other means of survival, particularly difficult in the current economic situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some do better than others. For example, Webster Mwansa had a higher windfall than most as he continued working after leaving the employment of the mines. Ken Banda \u2013 the late Ken Banda \u2013 fared very badly indeed. His football career was short but impactful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ken Banda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He played in the match against Mufulira United in April 1961, and two years later, was the first Zambian, along with his friend, Pensulo, to get a trial in English football with Leeds United. He played for the national team before he was replaced by the late Dickson Makwaza. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Pensulo, he left Roan United for Ndola United. Banda stopped playing soon afterwards and drifted out of football and into obscurity, remembered only by a few students of Zambian football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last year of his life Banda\u2019s achievements began to be noticed again, but the damage done through playing was taking a toll. He did not get the medical treatment he needed and football did not help him. His condition deteriorated to the point that he could not get to hospital to be assessed and get medication for existing conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lacked the funds to look after his needs. Football did not rally to his aid. A legend of liberation football \u2013 one of only two United Roan survivors of the match against Mufulira United at that time was abandoned to his fate. He deserved much better than he received. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Njiko \u2013 blind and needing help in his final years \u2013 passed away a few months ago. He didn\u2019t get the help he needed either. Stone Chibwe remained part of Nkana\u2019s set up until the day he died. He fared better than most, but still had problems. Dickson Makwaza captained Zambia most times \u2013 he was skipper of the KK11 as the Zambian national team was known at the time for the best part of a decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost a year ago he had a very serious health scare that put him in hospital. He survived, but again, there was no help from football for one of Zambia\u2019s most iconic former players, and member of FAZ\u2019 Technical Committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he recovered, he wanted to help still. Football and Zambia failed to rally to him when he needed it most. Makwaza passed away on June 29th<\/sup> 2019 just shy of what would have been his 77th<\/sup> birthday. His passing was marked in Zambia, but not as much as he deserved in Africa. Makwaza deserved better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dickson Makwaza (seated) with Joseph Mapulanga (standing)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And last December, one of Zambia\u2019s great legends, George Sikazwe, who had distinguished himself as a player, assistant coach to Ante Buseli\u0107 when Zambia reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations on debut in 1974, and as a coach in his own right, passed away. Sikazwe also needed help that he did not receive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is too late for them. The immense knowledge of this important period of Zambia\u2019s history, and football\u2019s too, that they possessed is gone \u2013 lost for ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Pensulo, Edward Musonda, Penius Chirwa, Patrick Nkole and William Chipango also need help and now, if they too are not to be needlessly lost. Others like McLean Kabwe, Willie Chifita, Elias Chanda, Elijah Mwale, Joseph Menzu, Webster Mwansa, Damiano Malama, Sebastian Ngungu Mutale, Elliott Chikuni, are elderly too, but hardly known, and also need help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their contributions, all but lost to football and Zambia\u2019s anti-colonial history, should be appreciated now<\/em><\/strong>, before it is too late. Is this any way to treat the footballing heroes of Zambia\u2019s liberation? So, what can be done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Preserving the Living\nHistory \u2013 the Legend of Legends<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s over half a century since Zambia attained its independence. Its generation of freedom fighters on and off the pitch are aged. Their memories are fading which makes this project all the more urgent. Whatever memories these liberation footballers, especially Pensulo, retain needs to be recorded now to be the basis of a Museum of Football in the Copperbelt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Football\nHeroes of Independence<\/strong> deserve to be commemorated and\nsupported. That should start with a Museum of Copperbelt Football. It would\noffer the opportunity to preserve the legacy of these footballing pioneers of\nindependence, beginning the process of cherishing them, and crucially aid\neducation, belatedly, but not too late, at least for the survivors from that\nvital period of Zambia\u2019s football history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ginger Pensulo, the Legend of Legends<\/strong>, and scorer of that goal, is now the last survivor of the United Roan team of April 1961, but he clearly needs help \u2013 our videos illustrates that. Pensulo is an octogenarian. He can hardly speak and needs medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pensulo needs medical treatment and his nutritional requirements catered for. He cannot do it for himself. It is not much to ask, especially for Zambia\u2019s Legend of Legends<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luanshya\u2019s great son needs assistance and he needs it now. That should start with an assessment of his needs for a care package for him to be devised. Football and the country he represented with skill and pride, should look after its footballing pride and joy, at least in the short term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adequate food and medication are the very least the Legend of Legends<\/strong> deserves.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Update<\/strong>  
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the Coronavirus pandemic began Mufulira Wanderers legends, Penius Chirwa and McLean Kabwe have passed away. Livingstone legend and former Mayor, William Chipango sadly died as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zambia’s Legend of Legends, Ginger Pensulo suffered a massive stroke. He passed away in hospital in Luanshya on April 18th 2021. Patrick Nkole has been a frequent visitor to hospital and clearly requires substantial assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Roan United and Zambia Legends Willie Chifita and Ginger Pensulo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Satish Sekar \u00a9 Satish Sekar (March 2020) Independence Football Within three and a half years of the match in [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[693],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1839"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2459,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839\/revisions\/2459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fittedin.org\/fittedinwp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}