Zambia Team Bus Crash Claims Five Lives

Four players from Zambian Women’s National League side Solwezi Academy were killed and 17 others were seriously injured in a bus crash on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), as seen by Ducor Sports, four players and a coach were killed in the accident.

Solwezi Academy was on its way to playing a league game against Mpika Dove Queens when the accident happened around Sacko Mine area along the Great North Road.

Injured players and coaches were rushed to a nearby Mkushi General Hospital, with those who were seriously injured being airlifted on Sunday to Lusaka.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of some players and a coach who were on club duty,” said FAZ president Andrew Kamanga.

“In the meantime, we have dispatched our General Secretary to Mkushi to coordinate the dispatch of the bodies to Solwezi and also the survivors who are out of danger back to their bases.

“FAZ will take up the costs for burial of the deceased but will work closely with families and the provincial leadership.”

Unverified videos have appeared on social media which appear to depict the aftermath of the incident; one portrays victims being rescued from the bus, which is understood to have burst a tire.

Apart from the four critically injured players who were airlifted to Lusaka on Sunday, the rest together with technical staff had been discharged from Mkushi District Hospital.