Zambia to bus 400 Chipolopolo fans

LUSAKA. ― Government has organised buses to ferry about 400 fans to Harare to cheer the Zambia national soccer team ahead of the 2014 CHAN second round, first leg match against Zimbabwe tomorrow.And Government has said, funds permitting, would charter a plane to ferry fans to Kumasi to support the Chipolopolo when they take on Ghana in a decisive Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier on September 6.
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said during a Press briefing on Wednesday evening that, while the technical bench and players are well positioned to do their duty on the pitch, the role soccer fans play could not be overlooked in the national team’s quest to attain victory.
The minister said fans wishing to travel to Harare should register with the ministry at the Government Complex 15th floor and should pay US$10 (about K50) for grand stand tickets and that they should pay for their own accommodation and food.
He said those wishing to travel should ensure that they have a valid passport or a travelling document to enable them enter Zimbabwe and that each fan should carry enough cash to pay for accommodation and food, including a ticket.
Kambwili said seats were limited and that registration would be on first come first served basis and told fans that Government would only provide passage.
He said registration would only be done in Lusaka and advised those in other towns to make it to Government Complex if they wanted to travel.
Government was doing everything possible to support the national team to succeed in all the two crucial engagements.
On the crucial World Cup qualifier, Kambwili said Government was doing everything possible within its powers to adequately prepare the Chipolopolo to go to Kumasi and win.
“I am also reliably told that the private sector is organising chartered planes to ferry fans to support the team, that arrangement is very much welcome and encouraged and I would implore other companies to come on board and supplement Government efforts.
“Consequently, we are going to organise an inter-denominational intercessory prayers to seek God’s intervention in our endeavour to bring glory to our nation, Zambia. I need not emphasise the importance of prayer in everything,” he said.
Kambwili added that: “While some trust in chariots and some on horses, us we will remember the name our Lord our God as the Psalmist puts it in Psalms 20:7.”
He said budgets for the various matches had already been prepared and each player knew how much they would get when they win. ― Times of Zambia.