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ZAMBIA'S PERFORMANCE AT BURKINA FASO 98
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AS Zambia fell out of the 1998 African Cup soccer championships here despite a last Group D win | over Mozambique, stand-in coach George Mungwa announced he had quit coaching all together. Mungwa, who replaced suspended Burkhard Ziese, said he had had enough of coaching and his job at Lever Brothers had suffered as a result of the continuous national soccer team services. He however stated that whatever happened in the run up to the Africa Cup and the resultant 4-0 loss to Egypt in an earlier Group match had nothing to do with his decision to quit. He said he had done his part and was retiring from coaching both at national and club levels. "I am happy we won the COSAFA Cup and helped the team reach the African Cup finals but my employers will have to keep on seconding me to the national team. But for how long. I have got to do my job," Mungwa, and Industrial relations manager at Lever Brothers said. He revealed that he could have quit earlier but it would have been wrong to resign since Ziese was coming into the team and stuck around for continuity's sake. On the matches in Burkina Faso, Mungwa said Zambians should be patient and 'these things' (defeats) happen. He gave an example of hot title favourites Ghana who bowed out after two defeats and one win. Zambia held Morocco 1-1, lost 4-0 to Egypt before pounding Mozambique 3-1 in the last group encounter that was not enough to push Zambia into the quarter-finals. He said Zambian players had several chances against Mozambique and he had expected at least five goals in the first half alone. While the veteran coach declined to commit himself on the reports of ill-preparations for the Nations Cup, he however said the team did its best. During the post match press briefing, senior player Andrew Tembo said it was not Zambia's hour to win the African Cup. Tembo said in soccer, teams win some games and lose others. Zambia's chances depended on Egypt beating Morocco but fell out after the Atlas Lions beat the Pharaohs 1 - 0 to take the Group's top spot with seven points. Mustapha Hadji scored for the Moroccans. Egypt qualified to the quarter-finals as Group runners-up and will meet South Africa. Morocco face Ivory Coast. Zambia scored through Rotson Kilambe, Kalusha Bwalya's dreaded left foot free kick and substitute Masauso Tembo who scored the easiest of goals while sitting. The games was headed Zambia's way but the Mozambicans fought back gamely and caused some anxious moments in the Zambian half leading up to their lone goal of the match. Like Zambia, Mozambique were eliminated from the championships.
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SOCCER IS HUMAN
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Soccer can be subline.The awesome Ronaldo of Brazil, | Romario defying gravity,and our very own Kalusha Bwalya defying age as he slipstreams through another stacked defense are the stuff of legends. But socceris human,and players can err.They too,have their foibles. Consinder the little fellers in the baggy pants who kick the round ball.Watch them,from time immemorial, appeal against the ref's decision.Every decision. Every match.Everywhere.See these grown men throw tantrums at the Merry Whistler,jumping up and down on the spot like grotesque infants attempting to dislodge something unmentionable from their nappies.
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GROUP D RESULTS
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