Chipolopolo players advised not to blow their millions

SOCCER fans Association of Zambia President Yotam Mwanza has advised the Chipolopolo boys who are renowned for their heavy drinking not to spend the more than K400 million they each have been awarded on alcohol.

Speaking to The Independent Post (TIP) shortly after President Michael Sata laid wreaths on the tombstones of the Chipolopolo team that perished in the 1993 Gabon air disaster; Mwanza advised the Zambia National Soccer team players to invest their monies wisely.

He appealed to the team to humble themselves and not try to ‘be seen’ in their respective communities.

“I think the boys should humble themselves. They shouldn’t make any attempt to be seen. Let them not spend all the money on alcohol especially the infamous Tujilijili,” Mwanza said.

Mulenga was chased from the afon tournament over his drinking habits
History has shown that most Chipolopolo players are not only stars on the soccer pitch but also in drinking places. Even during the Africa Cup tournament where they were forbidden from consuming alcohol, a number of them sneaked out of the camp and found themselves at one of Malabo’s (Equatorial Guinea capital) drinking spots. It is also alleged that the players got themselves some prostitutes.

Eventually, the sneaking out of the players led to the chasing of South African based winger Clifford Mulenga.

Mwanza’s appeal to the Chipolopolo players to invest their money wisely comes in the wake of an announcement by government that each player would be awarded US $59,000.

Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said on national radio that the government has given each of the players $59 000, and that is beside what the corporate organisations might decide to give the victorious team.

When totalled, all the money to be given to each player might exceed 1.2 billion Kwacha.

Zambia defeated hot favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sunday’s final, which had emotional overtones for the Chipolopolo.

The final was staged in the Gabonese capital Libreville, off whose coast a military aircraft carrying the 1993 Zambian national squad plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 30 players, officials and crew on board.