BBC – ZAMBIAN football is in mourning after seven players from Chavuma Town Council FC were killed in a bus crash.
The country’s football association (Faz) expressed its “deep shock” at the accident, which occurred on Saturday while the squad was travelling to a third-tier league game in the north west of the country.
“We are in touch with the football, civil and law enforcement authorities in the province to furnish us with full details,” Faz president Andrew Kamanga said.
Twelve other people were injured in the accident, and five of those have been transferred to the capital Lusaka for treatment.
The names of those killed and injured have not been released.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said he and the governing body “hope and pray” that those injured will fully recover soon.
“I convey my personal and CAF’s deepest condolences,” Motsepe added in a statement.
“May God comfort and console the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased and the Football Association of Zambia.
“May the souls of the departed players rest in eternal peace.”
Artur de Almeida e Silva, the president of the council of Southern Africa’s regional FAs, said the loss of young lives in such a manner was “truly heartbreaking.”
