PLAYING West African opposition away has on most occasions proved a nightmare for Zambian football because of the alleged harsh treatment our teams are subjected to by their hosts.
We have read and sometimes seen the unfriendly treatment (psychological warfare) our football teams have suffered when visiting especially West Africa.
I remember about a decade or so ago when we heard that some itchy wild substance commonly called ‘sepe’ (in Zambian language) was dusted on the Chipolopolo players as they were entering a stadium somewhere in Benin for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
At times, Zambian teams are made to wait for some hours at the airport before being picked in rickety buses and later dumped at some ramshackle of a hotel.
So many stories have been told about the ill treatment of especially the Chipolopolo when playing crucial World Cup and AFCON qualifiers away in this part of Africa.
However, the Nigeriens have shown a more hospitable face since the Chipolopolo jetted into Niamey for yesterday’s 2015 AFCON qualifier.
With all the intricacies that surrounded this fixture, the Nigeriens, by their standards, offered the Zambian delegation the best this vast landlocked West African nation can afford.
From the friendly security and immigration officers at the airport to the Niger Football Federation officials up to hotel staff, the Chipolopolo were accorded what can be termed good hospitality.
Even some football fans were friendly to the Zambians and vividly remembered the Chipolopolo’s historic 2012 AFCON triumph including players such as Christopher Katongo, Emmanuel Mayuka, Rainford Kalaba and Kennedy Mweene.
Others especially the old folks were talking highly of 1988 African Footballer of the Year, Kalusha Bwalya and when they were told that the Zambian football legend was actually in the delegation in Niamey, some even pleaded to be given an opportunity to meet him.
Indeed, friendliness was written all over, despite the uncompromising humid conditions, especially when Niger’s Minister of Sport, Dan Mallam Abdoul Karim paid a courtesy call on Sports Deputy Minister, Christopher Mulenga at his hotel.
The Nigeriens showed that despite this 2015 AFCON Group F fixture being almost decisive to both nation’s aspirations to reach the Morocco finals, there was more to life than just football.
Probably, the only blemish since the Chipolopolo landed in Niamey on Thursday night, was when a few disgruntled fans decided to conduct their prayers inside the Stade General SK when the Zambian team was having a feel of the pitch 24 hours before the match.
Whatever the outcome of yesterday’s game including emotions, that come with football, expressed by some fans and players alike, the Nigeriens really showed a true human face – what a gift to Zambia’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. I hope the civility displayed in this West African nation will extend across the region.
Email: malungaf@gmail.com