SO Africa’s World Cup dream is over following the elimination of Algeria who, until the ruthless Germans drove in the final nail last Monday night, looked like the probable saviours of our beleaguered continent.
The tragedy is not that our five representatives failed us once again in Brazil because we knew that they would.
The tragedy is that Cameroun, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria have always assembled and sent great teams comprising world class players who ply their trade in Europe and yet fail to deliver when it matters most.
Scandals and mutinies over unpaid bonuses continue to dog African teams at World Cup tournaments.
From media reports, it would appear African players put more emphasis on self-interest, on more money to be precise, than national interest.
Do they ever think of continental interest? That is secondary if not completely out of the question.
In contrast, when Spain, England and Italy were eliminated from Brazil 2014 the surviving European teams – and soccer commentators – were sympathetic and wanted to do “something” to save the image and reputation of their continent.
That is what motivated France (against Nigeria), the Netherlands (against Mexico) and Germany (against Algeria).
Their ‘combined’ strategy is clear: to see one of their own playing in the final – probably against host nation, Brazil, on July 13 – and possibly win to ensure the World Cup that Spain won in South Africa four years ago remains in Europe for the next eight years.
Two European sides clashing in the final would be definitely be a bonus because history shows that no European country has ever won the World Cup final played on Latin American soil.
One hopes that African players and officials will change their focus and work hard to bring honour to our continent.
African football must come out of the woods. Most European clubs are using African players to harvest billions of US Dollars that are being used to develop their countries.
The lesson to emerge from Brazil 2014 World Cup for Zambian players is that they are just as good as any of the stars that thrilled millions of soccer fans across the globe.
Zambia played Brazil in the run-up to the finals in China, losing to the Brazilians 2-0. That was an eloquent demonstration that our boys can face any team in the world and even win.
So there is absolutely nothing to fear because, as the late Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu once admonished his players at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, the “name of the game is football” – not Italy, German, United States or England. Neither is it Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Ivory Coast nor Algeria.
Therefore, Zambian players’ focus must be to play at the next World Cup finals, which is the ultimate for any player worth his salt. Officials, including FAZ and the Ministry of Youth and Sport chiefs, must also be honest and transport with money, which is the source of discontentment among players across Africa. Fraudsters must not be spared, otherwise Africa shall forever remain an object of scorn.
Meanwhile, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) committee member and former Times of Zambia Cricket Correspondent HAROON GUMRA remembers a Times story published on December 31, 1984 when former Ugandan president Milton Obote feted the triumphant Zambian XI in Kampala, the capital.
The Zambians had just lifted the East and Central African Challenge Cup when the Ugandan leader hosted the squad. Gumra and the later soccer commentator Dennis Liwewe attended the reception at State House.