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| Zambia: the country mourns NSOFWA |
Former Zambian international striker Chaswe NSOFWA died in Israel on Wednesday 29 August. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Zambian football officials have expressed shock at this death and paid him tribute.
NSOFWA died in an hospital a few minutes only after collapsing during a training session with his second division side Hapoel Beersheba. The reason why he collapsed is still unknown. Ex pressing his deep concern about this sad news FAZ president Teddy MULONGA recalled that it was NSOFWA who scored one the two goals that allowed Zambia to defeat Angola 2-0 in the COSAFA final last year. “Chase was one of the great prospects at the 1999 Under-20 World Cup and was a great talent. I am sad, absolutely sad,” he told BBC Sport. As for Zambia’s caretaker trainer Patrick PHIRI who coached NSOFWA in the Under-20 team in 1999, he said that death was a blow to the country’s football. He added that he intended to line him up with the squad for next month’s must-win African Cup of Nations qualifier against Souh Africa. “It’s very painful that the cruel hand of death has robbed us of such a talent. This is a great blow not only to his family but the whole nation”, said PHIRI.
After playing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Nigeria in 1999 late NSOFWA was also part of the Zambian squad at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. He played for Zambian champions FC Zenaco before starting his professional career with Russian side Kryla Sovetov Samara in 2003. The following season he moved to Malaysia, he went back home. He had just signed for Hapoel Beersheba.
May his soul rest in peace!
Samuel MBAJUM
(Source: BBC Sport, with Kennedy GONDWE in Lusaka; RFI)
31/08/2007 |
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