Legendary Send-Off for Willie Phiri

7 June 2011

CHINGOLA yesterday came to a virtual standstill as hundreds of people including the second Republican President Frederick Chiluba paid their respect to the town’s greatest footballer, Willie Phiri as he was laid to rest.

The former Nchanga Rangers midfield maestro and coach was escorted to his final resting place at Chingola Central cemetery by multitudes who also included Sport, Youth and Child Development deputy Minister, Mundia Ndalamei and Sports director Bernard Nakacinda.

The Nchanga stadium legend died last Thursday, a day before his 58th birthday at Nchanga South Hospital in Chingola where he was admitted after an illness, some 48 hours before the stadium was to host a crucial Orange 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Zambia and Mozambique.

Speaking at the church service at St Marks’ United Church of Zambia, Chiluba said Phiri thrilled millions of people with his successes on and off the field of work which he described as having contributed to development of Zambia and the Copperbelt Province in particular.

Chiluba, who first spoke in Bemba much to the delight of the cheering mourners who packed church inside and out, said Phiri was a national asset and a leader who inspired many soccer players and coaches.

He said Phiri was an integral part of the Copperbelt who had a cosmopolitan character and culture that would be missed by Zambians because he played for the love of the game and country and not money.

The former President, who bought Phiri the 73-8th Street house he was residing in when he had problems with accommodation, urged upcoming soccer players to emulate the former international.

And Ndalamei said Government would remain indebted to Phiri for the valuable contributions he made towards promotion and development of soccer in Zambia as a player and administrator.

Ndalamei said Phiri dedicated his life to the community that brought him up; served Chingola town and Rangers all his life and because of that he was admired by teams such that he could have easily left Rangers.

“But he committed his life to better his club. He had one club in life Nchanga Rangers Football Club,” he said.

He said his commitment to Zambia was shown by the way he applied himself in the national team as a player for more than 12 years and as an assistant national team coach.

“Dear mourners, you will agree with me that the late Phiri excelled in his career because of his outstanding personal discipline, hard work, courage and determination and as I have already stated, Mr Phiri was a God-fearing man,” he said.

Phiri’s team mates at the national team and Rangers, who attended the burial were Bainet Mwaba, Dickson Makwaza, Elias Chongo, Geoffrey Mulenga, Green Mambwe, Jim Salim, Joseph Mukwangu and Matthews Muyembe.

Rangers team manager and family spokesperson, Patrick Nkhata thanked Government, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and other stakeholders for the assistance rendered to the family from the day Phiri passed away on Thursday.

FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya was also present, so was former FAZ vice-president, Emmanuel Munaile and former committee members, Henschel Chitembeya and Violet Bwalya.

Other notables were staff from Rangers’ sponsors KCM, Rangers executive committee led by president, Richard Kazala as well as former national team assistant coaches, Fordson Kabole and Peter Kaumba.

Phiri, who died around midday on Thursday, leaves behind a wife, Alice and six children, Willie junior, Michael, Manasseh, Fumbeni, Tracey and Karen.

When bidding farewell to one of Zambia’s illustrious soccer player, Republican President, Rupiah Banda said at the weekend that the 3-0 victory by Zambia over Mozambique in last Saturday’s 2012 Africa Cup qualifier was a befitting closing curtain to the departed hero of local football.

AllAfrica – All the Time