mluga
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 8, 2010
- 676
- 215
In one of the most touching moments of the final, Zambian coach Hervé Renard gave his winners medal to Zambian FA president Kalusha Bwalya, who only survived the fateful crash as he was playing for PSV Eindhoven at the time and therefore making his own way to the match in Senegal. Bwalya has been as key to this year's success as anyone else.
The success of Zambia at this year's Cup of Nations will be remembered for these emotional factors that inspired the side to greatness, yet this must not obscure the root cause of this famous triumph. Bwalya laid the foundations himself as vice-president of the country's Football Association back in 2005, having witnessed yet another failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Not content, Bwalya implemented a long-term vision, pooling players from Under-20 and Under-23 level who would form a core of a side for the next four years. Both 2006 and 2008 saw first-round elimination from the Cup of Nations, but Bwalya did not panic and ensured that they stuck to the original four-year plan for success.
Now the FA president, Bwalya's philosophy saw Zambia get to the knockout-rounds in 2010, before earning the ultimate accolade in 2012, with a philosophy based on familiarity, togetherness and pride. Coach Hervé Renard must also take great credit, despite only having re-joined the Zambian set-up last year. The team worked together over friendly encounters on the tactical systems and approaches that could guide them to success, with the Frenchman overseeing a team that has shown remarkable discipline and tactical versatility throughout the tournament, a shining light to African football.
As the Africa Cup of Nations disappears from the horizon (for a year at least), the 2012 tournament will live long in the memory. This was a breath of fresh air compared to recent international tournaments, with the improving African game showcasing a greater depth of talent than ever before, much improved tactical approaches and playing standard, as well as the pride and passion that occasionally seems lost in modern times.
With the last kick of a ball for this year's event, Zambia provided a genuinely heart-warming story that ensures this year's tournament will go down in Cup of Nations folklore.
The success of Zambia at this year's Cup of Nations will be remembered for these emotional factors that inspired the side to greatness, yet this must not obscure the root cause of this famous triumph. Bwalya laid the foundations himself as vice-president of the country's Football Association back in 2005, having witnessed yet another failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Not content, Bwalya implemented a long-term vision, pooling players from Under-20 and Under-23 level who would form a core of a side for the next four years. Both 2006 and 2008 saw first-round elimination from the Cup of Nations, but Bwalya did not panic and ensured that they stuck to the original four-year plan for success.
Now the FA president, Bwalya's philosophy saw Zambia get to the knockout-rounds in 2010, before earning the ultimate accolade in 2012, with a philosophy based on familiarity, togetherness and pride. Coach Hervé Renard must also take great credit, despite only having re-joined the Zambian set-up last year. The team worked together over friendly encounters on the tactical systems and approaches that could guide them to success, with the Frenchman overseeing a team that has shown remarkable discipline and tactical versatility throughout the tournament, a shining light to African football.
As the Africa Cup of Nations disappears from the horizon (for a year at least), the 2012 tournament will live long in the memory. This was a breath of fresh air compared to recent international tournaments, with the improving African game showcasing a greater depth of talent than ever before, much improved tactical approaches and playing standard, as well as the pride and passion that occasionally seems lost in modern times.
With the last kick of a ball for this year's event, Zambia provided a genuinely heart-warming story that ensures this year's tournament will go down in Cup of Nations folklore.
