EFFORD CHABALA REMEMBERED
Mufulira Wanderers remembered David Efford Chabala in a heartfelt tribute posted on their official Facebook page. Below is what mentioned:
“David Efford Chabala born 2 February 1960 died 27 April 1993 popularly known as Efford Chabala, Zambia’s first choice goalkeeper from 1983 until his death in a plane crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993 and is one of Zambia’s most capped players, with 108 full international appearances.Started out as a striker and played for Lubuto Amateur Club in Mufulira where his career in goal started by accident at the age of 17, During a practice session, the regular goalkeeper was absent so Chabala was forced to man the posts by his colleagues. He reluctantly agreed but played so well and enjoyed playing in goal that he decided to make the switch permanent.”
“He was recruited as Mufulira Wanderers’ reserve goalkeeper by coaches Samuel Ndhlovu and Dickson Makwaza. He soon succeeded Bernard Kabwe in the first team, making his debut on 27 July 1980 in a league encounter against Lusaka Tigers at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira. With Wanderers trailing 2–0 at half-time, Chabala replaced Kabwe and the ‘Mighty’ men went on to win the match 3–2 Abena Milambo. Chabala played in goal for the Wanderers side which also featured other top players like Ashols Melu, Kalusha Bwalya, Frederick Kashimoto, brothers Philemon Kaunda and Philemon Mulala, and later Charles Musonda and Johnson Bwalya. This Wanderers side dominated Zambian cup competitions during the eighties and early nineties, earning the tag ‘legendary cup fighters.”
“He was voted Zambian Sportsman of the Year in 1985 and in the 1988 season, he surprised many Zambian soccer purists by donning a striker’s jersey for Wanderers, but he went on to score five goals, including the third goal when Wanderers beat Roan United 3–0 in the Independence Cup final in October.He thus followed in the footsteps of another great Wanderers goalkeeper Abraham Nkole, who scored a hat-trick in the final of the same competition in 1971.”
“On 27 February 1993, Zambia, needing a win to qualify to the group stages in the World Cup Qualifying campaign, swept aside Madagascar 3–1 in Lusaka. The Zambians were then drawn in the same group as Morocco and Senegal and many felt the time had come for Zambia to qualify to the World Cup as they had a very good team which had been together for a while, with coaching staff who seemed to inspire the team. On 10 April 1993, Zambia played out a goalless draw at home to Zimbabwe in an African Nations Cup qualifier. Two weeks later, the Zambians crushed Mauritius 3–0 in Port Louis with Chabala as captain and Kelvin Mutale grabbing a hat-trick.”
“From there, the team made its way to Senegal for the first of their World Cup qualifying games in the group stage. The team’s transportation was a Zambia Airforce DHC-5D Buffalo plane. After refuelling in Libreville, the plane developed problems and plunged into the sea on 27 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including Football Association of Zambia president Michael Mwape and airforce crew members. The entire nation was in shock and the scale of the tragedy sank in when 30 coffins holding the remains of their beloved team were flown in for a state burial. The plane crash brought an end to the career of not only Chabala but almost a whole team of talented Zambian players and coaches.”
“We can never forget, forever in our hearts EFFORD CHABALA.”
