David Chabala
Encyclopedia
David Efford Chabala popularly known as Efford Chabala was Zambia
's first choice goalkeeper from 1983 until his death in a plane crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993 and is probably Zambia’s most capped player, an achievement which has often been attributed to Kalusha Bwalya
, his former team mate at club and national level.
Chabala first established himself in the club side Mufulira Wanderers
before succeeding Ghost Mulenga as number one in the Zambian goal. He was instrumental in Zambia's first-ever cup success when he saved three penalties in Zambia's 3-0 penalty victory over Malawi
at the 1984 East and Central Africa Challenge Cup final after a goalless draw at full-time. The following year, Chabala was named Zambia’s Sportsman of the Year.
He remained Zambia's first choice goalkeeper until his death in the plane crash that killed almost the entire Zambia national football team
off the coast of Gabon
on April 28, 1993. Chabala's club career was predominantly at Mufulira Wanderers but he had a brief spell in Argentina with Argentinos Juniors
during the 1991/92 season.
, Chabala played football as a striker during his childhood but was one day asked to play in goal when his team didn’t have a goalkeeper in a pick-up game and he played so well that he developed an inclination towards goalkeeping. He played for Lubuto Amateur football club before he was discovered by the Mufulira Wanderers youth development scheme. His assured performances between the posts were soon noticed by national team selectors leading to his first appearance in national colours on 27 November 1980 for the Zambia ‘B’ team in a Confederation of Eastern and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) 3rd and 4th play-off game against Malawi which Zambia lost 1-0. However, his full international debut was to come on 9 October 1983 in an Olympic Games qualifier against Egypt
in Lusaka
, which was won 1-0 by the home side. From then on, Chabala was a permanent fixture in the Zambian goal for the better part of the next 10 years.
Chabala manned goal for the Wanderers side which also featured other top players like Ashious 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.’ However, Wanderers never managed to win the Zambian league title during this period.
In 1991/92, Chabala had a short-lived career with Argentinos Juniors but returned to Wanderers after a season.
As Zambian goalkeeper, Chabala led his team to the 1984 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup when he saved 3 penalties in the 3-0 penalty shoot-out win against Malawi
after a goalless draw in normal time. Chabala was in goal for Zambia in their ill-fated attempt at winning the African Cup of Nations in 1986 where Zambia was knocked out in the group stages.
Chabala’s heroics against Ghana
in 1987 during an Olympic Games qualifier helped secure Zambia a slot at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Zambia had won their home leg 2-0 and travelled to Accra
with the home fans expecting their team to carry the day. Ghana attacked from the word go, throwing everything at the Zambians who despite conceding a first half goal by Tony Yeboah
, held on to qualify 2-1 on aggregate with man-of-the-match Chabala pulling out all the stops, including saving a penalty from Emmanuel Quashie.
After the game, the Ghanaian goalkeeper ran over to Chabala and asked him what his secret was and Chabala’s bemba reply became legendary in Zambian football circles - “Kuiposafye (You just have to throw yourself).”
At the Olympic Games, Zambia recorded some impressive results with Charles Musonda pulling the strings in midfield and Kalusha Bwalya in devastating form, drawing with Iraq 2-2 and brushing aside Italy and Guatemala by 4-0 scorelines and became the first African country to make the quarter finals of the Olympic Games soccer tournament. However, disaster struck in the quarter final match against West Germany
when Zambia was trounced 4-0, with Jurgen Klinsmann
in fine form. In that game, Chabala who was a good organiser was heard organising his players during a corner “tiyeni bane, umutali pa mutali (Let’s go guys, tall ones take on the tall ones).”
Despite that disappointment, many in Zambia believed the team finally had the quality players to make it to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. After winning all their home games, Zambia failed to get a result away from home and did not qualify for the World Cup.
Chabala made another appearance at the 1990 African Cup of Nations where he was voted the best goalkeeper at the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in five games and helping Zambia to third place. His last appearance at the Nations Cup was in 1992 in Senegal
where Zambia yet again underachieved, falling 1-0 to eventual winners Ivory Coast in extra-time at the quarter-final stage.
0n 20 December 1992, Zambia lost a World Cup Qualifier to Madagascar
2–0, a result which put their qualification campaign in a precarious position. Blame was heaped on Chabala for the two goals conceded and he was consequently dropped from the team. Answering questions as to whether he had given the game away, Chabala replied “I’m a professional. I could never do that.” The Madagascar game also proved to be the last ever game for Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu
as coach of Zambia.
For the next two qualification games, Chabala was not involved but national team coaches organised a training game between Zambia and Chabala’s club Mufulira Wanderers in February 1993 in Lusaka. Chabala was simply unbeatable, pulling off save after save from the Zambian strikers, including a penalty. The final result was a 1-0 win for Wanderers and Chabala promptly got back his position in the national team from his deputy Richard Mwanza.
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 28 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 only really 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.
Chabala was survived by his wife and five children.
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
's first choice goalkeeper from 1983 until his death in a plane crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993 and is probably Zambia’s most capped player, an achievement which has often been attributed to Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
, his former team mate at club and national level.
Chabala first established himself in the club side Mufulira Wanderers
Mufulira Wanderers
Mufulira Wanderers are Zambia’s most successful football club and are based in the Copperbelt town of Mufulira. Popularly known as Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, the club has won over 40 major trophies and has also produced some of the country’s greatest players...
before succeeding Ghost Mulenga as number one in the Zambian goal. He was instrumental in Zambia's first-ever cup success when he saved three penalties in Zambia's 3-0 penalty victory over Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
at the 1984 East and Central Africa Challenge Cup final after a goalless draw at full-time. The following year, Chabala was named Zambia’s Sportsman of the Year.
He remained Zambia's first choice goalkeeper until his death in the plane crash that killed almost the entire Zambia national football team
1993 Zambia national football team air disaster
The 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster occurred in the late evening of 27 April 1993 when a Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D ditched into the Atlantic Ocean about 500 metres offshore from near Libreville, Gabon. The flight was carrying most of the Zambian national football team to a...
off the coast of Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
on April 28, 1993. Chabala's club career was predominantly at Mufulira Wanderers but he had a brief spell in Argentina with Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
during the 1991/92 season.
Football career
Born in MufuliraMufulira
Mufulira is a town in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. It grew up in the 1930s around the site of the Mufulira Copper Mine on its north-western edge...
, Chabala played football as a striker during his childhood but was one day asked to play in goal when his team didn’t have a goalkeeper in a pick-up game and he played so well that he developed an inclination towards goalkeeping. He played for Lubuto Amateur football club before he was discovered by the Mufulira Wanderers youth development scheme. His assured performances between the posts were soon noticed by national team selectors leading to his first appearance in national colours on 27 November 1980 for the Zambia ‘B’ team in a Confederation of Eastern and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) 3rd and 4th play-off game against Malawi which Zambia lost 1-0. However, his full international debut was to come on 9 October 1983 in an Olympic Games qualifier against Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, which was won 1-0 by the home side. From then on, Chabala was a permanent fixture in the Zambian goal for the better part of the next 10 years.
Chabala manned goal for the Wanderers side which also featured other top players like Ashious Melu
Ashious Melu
Ashious Jordan Melu also known as Ashios or Ashols Melu was a Zambian footballer and coach who captained the national team from 1988 to 1992 and is credited with having one of the hardest shots in Zambian football.-Playing career:Melu was born in Chililabombwe on June 6, 1957 and attended...
, Kalusha Bwalya, Frederick Kashimoto, brothers Philemon Kaunda and Philemon Mulala, and later Charles Musonda
Charly Musonda
Charles Musonda , also known as Charly Musonda is a former Zambian professional football player. At his peak, he played as a midfielder for Belgian Champions Anderlecht.-Career:...
and Johnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya is a Zambian former footballer. He played for the Zambian national team and represented the country at the Olympics.-Domestic career:...
. This Wanderers side dominated Zambian cup competitions during the eighties and early nineties, earning the tag ‘legendary cup fighters.’ However, Wanderers never managed to win the Zambian league title during this period.
In 1991/92, Chabala had a short-lived career with Argentinos Juniors but returned to Wanderers after a season.
As Zambian goalkeeper, Chabala led his team to the 1984 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup when he saved 3 penalties in the 3-0 penalty shoot-out win against Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
after a goalless draw in normal time. Chabala was in goal for Zambia in their ill-fated attempt at winning the African Cup of Nations in 1986 where Zambia was knocked out in the group stages.
Chabala’s heroics against Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
in 1987 during an Olympic Games qualifier helped secure Zambia a slot at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Zambia had won their home leg 2-0 and travelled to Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
with the home fans expecting their team to carry the day. Ghana attacked from the word go, throwing everything at the Zambians who despite conceding a first half goal by Tony Yeboah
Tony Yeboah
Anthony "Tony" Yeboah is a Ghanaian former footballer most noted for his time at European clubs 1. FC Saarbrücken, Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United and Hamburger SV during the 1990s...
, held on to qualify 2-1 on aggregate with man-of-the-match Chabala pulling out all the stops, including saving a penalty from Emmanuel Quashie.
After the game, the Ghanaian goalkeeper ran over to Chabala and asked him what his secret was and Chabala’s bemba reply became legendary in Zambian football circles - “Kuiposafye (You just have to throw yourself).”
At the Olympic Games, Zambia recorded some impressive results with Charles Musonda pulling the strings in midfield and Kalusha Bwalya in devastating form, drawing with Iraq 2-2 and brushing aside Italy and Guatemala by 4-0 scorelines and became the first African country to make the quarter finals of the Olympic Games soccer tournament. However, disaster struck in the quarter final match against West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
when Zambia was trounced 4-0, with Jurgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the coach of the United States Men's National Team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German one that...
in fine form. In that game, Chabala who was a good organiser was heard organising his players during a corner “tiyeni bane, umutali pa mutali (Let’s go guys, tall ones take on the tall ones).”
Despite that disappointment, many in Zambia believed the team finally had the quality players to make it to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. After winning all their home games, Zambia failed to get a result away from home and did not qualify for the World Cup.
Chabala made another appearance at the 1990 African Cup of Nations where he was voted the best goalkeeper at the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in five games and helping Zambia to third place. His last appearance at the Nations Cup was in 1992 in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
where Zambia yet again underachieved, falling 1-0 to eventual winners Ivory Coast in extra-time at the quarter-final stage.
0n 20 December 1992, Zambia lost a World Cup Qualifier to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
2–0, a result which put their qualification campaign in a precarious position. Blame was heaped on Chabala for the two goals conceded and he was consequently dropped from the team. Answering questions as to whether he had given the game away, Chabala replied “I’m a professional. I could never do that.” The Madagascar game also proved to be the last ever game for Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu
Samuel Ndhlovu
Samuel "Zoom" Ndhlovu was a Zambian footballer and coach. He played for the Mufulira Wanderers, and coached the Zambian national team three times.-Playing career:Ndhlovu was born in Mufulira in 1937...
as coach of Zambia.
For the next two qualification games, Chabala was not involved but national team coaches organised a training game between Zambia and Chabala’s club Mufulira Wanderers in February 1993 in Lusaka. Chabala was simply unbeatable, pulling off save after save from the Zambian strikers, including a penalty. The final result was a 1-0 win for Wanderers and Chabala promptly got back his position in the national team from his deputy Richard Mwanza.
Gabon Disaster
On 28 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 MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
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
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
in an African Nations Cup qualifier. Two weeks later, the Zambians crushed Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
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 28 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including Football Association of Zambia
Football Association of Zambia
The Football Association of Zambia is the governing body of football in Zambia. It was founded in 1929, and affiliated to FIFA in 1964. It is also a member of the Confederation of African Football. It organizes the national football league and the national team.- External links :* * at the FIFA...
president Michael Mwape and airforce crew members. The entire nation was in shock and the scale of the tragedy only really 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.
Chabala was survived by his wife and five children.