David Efford Chabala (2 February 1960 – 27 April 1993), popularly known as Efford Chabala was
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
's first choice goalkeeper from 1983 until his death in a
plane crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993 and is one of Zambia's most capped players, with 108 full international appearances. Chabala was instrumental in Zambia's first ever
East and Central African Championship success when he saved three penalties in Zambia's 3–0 shoot-out victory over
Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
in the 1984 final in
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
after a goalless draw at full-time. He was named Zambia's Sportsman of the Year in 1985.
Playing career
Chabala was born in
Mufulira
Mufulira, is a town in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Mufulira means "Place of Abundance and Peace". The town developed around the Mufulira Copper Mine in the 1930s. The town also serves as the administrative capital of Mufulira District.
...
where his father was a miner, the fourth born in a family of 12. He started out as a striker and played for Lubuto Amateur Club in Mufulira where his career in goal started by accident at the age of 17. During a practice session, the regular goalkeeper was absent so Chabala was forced to man the posts by his colleagues. He reluctantly agreed but played so well and enjoyed playing in goal that he decided to make the switch permanent.
[Ngoma, Samuel "Alertness vital, says top keeper" ''Sunday Times of Zambia'', 7 February 1988, p.10]
In no time, he was recruited as
Mufulira Wanderers
Mufulira Wanderers are Zambia's most successful football club, based in the Copperbelt town of Mufulira and currently playing in the Zambia National Division One after their 2019/2020 season relegation.
Popularly known as Mighty Mufulira Wan ...
' reserve goalkeeper by coaches
Samuel Ndhlovu
Samuel Ndhlovu (27 September 1937 – 10 October 2001) was a Zambian footballer and coach. Nicknamed "Zoom", he led the "Mighty" Mufulira Wanderers to unparalleled league and cup triumphs for almost two decades. He was named Zambian Sports ...
and
Dickson Makwaza. He soon succeeded Bernard Kabwe in the first team, making his debut on 27 July 1980 in a league encounter against Lusaka Tigers at
Shinde Stadium
Shinde Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Mufulira, Zambia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home for Mufulira Wanderers F.C. The stadium holds 5,000 people.
Football venues in Zambia
Buildings and structures in ...
in Mufulira. With Wanderers trailing 2–0 at half-time, Chabala replaced Kabwe and the 'Mighty' men went on to win the match 3–2.
[
Chabala played in goal for the Wanderers side which also featured other top players like ]Ashols Melu
Ashious Jordan Melu (6 June 1957 – 20 January 1997), also known as Ashios (or Ashols Melu), was a Zambian footballer and coach. Melu captained the Zambia national team from 1988 to 1992.
Playing career
Melu was born in Chililabombwe on J ...
, Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya (born 16 August 1963) is a Zambian former international association football, footballer. He is Zambia national football team, Zambia's Zambia national football team#Most capped players, eighth-most Cap (sport), capped player and t ...
, Frederick Kashimoto, brothers Philemon Kaunda and Philemon Mulala, and later Charles Musonda and Johnson Bwalya
Johnson Bwalya (born 3 December 1967) is a Zambian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He spent most of his career in Switzerland while representing the Zambia national team internationally. With Zambia, he participated at ...
. This Wanderers side dominated Zambian cup competitions during the eighties and early nineties, earning the tag 'legendary cup fighters.' However, Wanderers never won the Zambian league championship during this period.
He was voted Zambian Sportsman of the Year in 1985 and in the 1988 season, he surprised many Zambian soccer purists by donning a striker's jersey for Wanderers, but he went on to score five goals, including the third goal when Wanderers beat Roan United 3–0 in the Independence Cup final in October. He thus followed in the footsteps of another great Wanderers goalkeeper Abraham Nkole, who scored a hat-trick in the final of the same competition in 1971. Chabala reverted to goalkeeping but reprised his striker's role again in the 1990 season for a few more games after which he went back between the posts.
He had a brief spell in Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
with Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. The club is mostly known for its football team, which currently plays in the Argentine Primera División, and was recognized as one of the ...
during the 1991/92 season but he returned to Wanderers in March 1992 claiming the conditions of his contract were unsatisfactory, and the club were not willing to change them.
In December 1992, Chabala was substituted in the Independence Cup final against Nkana Red Devils after he conceded three goals when Wanderers were leading 2–0 but went on to lose 3–2. He was disillusioned by stories that he was unhappy at the appointment of Ashols Melu as Wanderers assistant coach and therefore sold the game. Both Melu and Chabala denied any rift between them, saying they were great friends and Chabala said he was just off-form on the day and his substitution came a bit too late. He was left out of Wanderers’ next five matches but soon regained his position.
National team
Chabala’s performances between the posts for Wanderers were noticed by national team selectors leading to his first appearance in national colours on 27 November 1980 for the Zambia ‘B’ team in a Council for East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) Cup 3rd and 4th play-off game against Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
which Zambia lost 1–0.
However, his full international debut was to come on 10 April 1983 in a CAN
Can may refer to:
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** ''Can'' (album), 1979
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qualifier against Sudan in Khartoum, which Zambia lost 2–1. From then on, Chabala was a permanent fixture in the Zambian goal for the better part of the next 10 years.
He led Zambia to the 1984 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup when he saved 3 penalties in the 3–0 penalty shoot-out win against Malawi after a goalless draw in normal time. Chabala was in goal for Zambia in their ill-fated attempt at winning the African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations referred to as AFCON (french: Coupe d'Afrique des Nations, sometimes referred to as CAN, or TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons), and sometimes as African Cup of Nations, is the main internati ...
in 1986 where Zambia was knocked out in the group stages.
Chabala's heroics against Ghana in 1987 during an Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...
qualifier helped secure Zambia a slot at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Zambia had won their home leg 2–0 and travelled to Accra
Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...
with the home fans expecting their team to carry the day. Ghana attacked from the word go, throwing everything at the Zambians who despite conceding a first half goal by Tony Yeboah
Anthony Yeboah (born 6 June 1966) is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
He is considered one of the most prominent and prolific goal scorers in Ghanaian and African football history and gained a reputation for sc ...
, held on to qualify 2–1 on aggregate with man of the match Chabala pulling out all the stops, including saving a penalty from Emmanuel Quarshie.
After the game, the Ghanaian goalkeeper ran over to Chabala and asked him what his secret was and Chabala's bemba reply became legendary in Zambian football circles – "Kuiposafye (You just have to throw yourself)."
At the Olympic Games, Zambia recorded some impressive results with Charles Musonda pulling the strings in midfield and Kalusha Bwalya in devastating form, drawing with Iraq 2–2 and brushing aside Italy and Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...
by 4–0 scorelines to progress to the quarter finals. However, disaster struck in the quarter-final match against West Germany when Zambia was trounced 4–0, with Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann (, born 30 July 1964) is a German professional football manager and former player. Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe including VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bayern Munich. He ...
in fine form.
Despite that disappointment, many in Zambia believed the team finally had the quality players to make it to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. After winning all their home games, Zambia failed to get a result away from home and did not qualify for the World Cup.
Chabala made another appearance at the 1990 African Cup of Nations
The 1990 African Cup of Nations was the 17th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the football championship of Africa ( CAF). It was hosted by Algeria. Just like in 1988, the field of eight teams was split into two groups of four. Algeria won it ...
where journalists voted him the best goalkeeper at the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in five games and helping Zambia to third place. His last appearance at the Nations Cup was in 1992
File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...
in Senegal where Zambia yet again underachieved, falling 1–0 to eventual winners Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...
in extra-time at the quarter-final stage.
On 20 December 1992, Zambia lost a World Cup Qualifier to Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
2–0, a result which put their qualification campaign in a precarious position. Chabala was consequently dropped from the team and he missed Zambia's next two qualification games. He however said he was not surprised by the action and charged that he was paying the price for expressing his opinion prior to the Football Association of Zambia
The Football Association of Zambia is the governing body of association football in Zambia founded in 1929 and based at the "Football House" on Alick Nkhata Road in Lusaka, the country's capital.
Affiliated to Confederation of African Football, ...
elections that the leadership should not change hands, which did not go down well with new President Michael Mwape. Mwape in turn responded that Chabala was dropped after reports that he was on suspension at his club, relating to the Independence Cup final loss to Nkana. Wanderers clarified that Chabala had served a 5 match suspension which had lapsed long before the Madagascar game.[Anon. "'Keeper Chabala now free to play" ''Sunday Times of Zambia'', 17 January 1993 p. 10] After this, FAZ cleared him to play for Zambia again and he promptly got back his position in the national team from his deputy Richard Mwanza.
Death
On 27 February 1993, Zambia, needing a win to qualify to the group stages in the World Cup Qualifying campaign, swept aside Madagascar 3–1 in Lusaka. The Zambians were then drawn in the same group as Morocco and Senegal and many felt the time had come for Zambia to qualify to the World Cup as they had a very good team which had been together for a while, with coaching staff who seemed to inspire the team. On 10 April 1993, Zambia played out a goalless draw at home to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
in an African Nations Cup qualifier. Two weeks later, the Zambians crushed Mauritius
Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...
3–0 in Port Louis with Chabala as captain and Kelvin Mutale
Kelvin Mutale (20 September 1969 – 27 April 1993) was a Zambian footballer and member of the national team. He was among those killed in the 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster, crash of the team plane in Gabon in 1993.
Career
Mutal ...
grabbing a hat-trick.
From there, the team made its way to Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠ðž ...
for the first of their World Cup qualifying games in the group stage. The team's transportation was a Zambia Airforce DHC-5D Buffalo plane. After refuelling in Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904.
The area has been inh ...
, the plane developed problems and plunged into the sea on 27 April 1993 killing all 30 people on board including Football Association of Zambia president Michael Mwape and airforce crew members. The entire nation was in shock and the scale of the tragedy sank in when 30 coffins holding the remains of their beloved team were flown in for a state burial. The plane crash brought an end to the career of not only Chabala but almost a whole team of talented Zambian players and coaches.
Chabala was survived by two wives Joyce and Petronella Mwamba Mulenga and six children, five from Joyce and one from Petronella (the son's name is Kalasa Efford David Chabala).
Honours
*Zambian Cup (Independence Cup/Mosi Cup): 1988, 1995
*Zambian Challenge Cup (Shell Challenge Cup/BP Challenge Cup/ BP Top Eight Cup): 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997
*Heroes and Unity Cup: 1985, 1987, 1988
*Champion of Champions Cup: 1985, 1988, 1992
*Charity Shield: 1992, 1993
National Team
*CECAFA Cup: 1984
*MPLA trophy: 1986
*SADCC Cup: 1990
Individual Honours
*Zambian Sportsman of the Year: 1985
See also
* List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
In men's association football, a cap is traditionally awarded in international football to a player making an official match appearance for their national team. In total, over 600 players have played in 100 or more international matches. The re ...
References
External links
East and Central African Championship (CECAFA) Uganda, December 1984
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chabala, David
1960 births
1993 deaths
Sportspeople from Mufulira
Zambian men's footballers
Men's association football goalkeepers
Zambia men's international footballers
Zambian expatriate men's footballers
mufulira Wanderers F.C. players
Argentinos Juniors footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina
Olympic footballers for Zambia
Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1986 African Cup of Nations players
1990 African Cup of Nations players
1992 African Cup of Nations players
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Gabon
Zambian expatriate sportspeople in Argentina
FIFA Men's Century Club
Footballers killed in the 1993 Zambia national football team plane crash