Zambia mourns seven footballers killed in bus crash

Zambian football is grieving the tragic loss of seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC, who died in a bus crash over the weekend. The accident occurred while the team was en route to a third-tier league match in the northwestern region of the country.

The Football Association of Zambia (Faz) expressed its “deep shock” at the incident. Faz president Andrew Kamanga stated, “We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details.”

In addition to the fatalities, twelve other individuals sustained injuries in the crash, with five of them being evacuated to the capital city, Lusaka, for medical treatment. The identities of the deceased and injured have not yet been disclosed.

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), extended his condolences and expressed hopes for the speedy recovery of the injured. “I convey my personal and Caf’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe said in a statement. “May God comfort and console the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia. May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”

Artur de Almeida e Silva, president of the Southern Africa regional FAs council, described the loss of young lives in such a tragic manner as “truly heartbreaking.” He emphasized the unifying power of football, saying, “Football is a sport that unites us, bringing joy and pride to communities across our region. In this tragic moment, we share in your grief and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends who are mourning this immense loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still receiving treatment for their injuries.”