Cup lands in Lusaka on epic African trip

A sea of humanity descended on the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, to see for themselves the Fifa World Cup trophy as it entered it’s Zambian leg on Sunday.

The function was to start at 10am but the crowds started arriving as early as 6am and by the time the trophy convoy entered the conference centre, the long queue was spilling outside the main streets of the huge complex.

Ironically, the first person in the queue was a woman proving that the love for football knows no gender. Maggie Kumoyo says that she made it to the venue at 5am just to make sure that the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity didn’t miss her.

“I am a soccer fan, as is the rest of my family, and I couldn’t miss this opportunity for anything. It is my only chance of ever seeing the real, solid gold Fifa World Cup trophy,” she told the Daily Nation as the doors were opened.

Inside the conference centre, the team from Coca-Cola had built a spectacular dome worthy of the millions of dollars that they have invested in giving soccer fans a chance to be up close with football’s symbol of success.

3D technology

On entry they fans were given ‘perfectly served’ Coca-Cola and its sister soft drinks, before they were ushered in to a room where they watched a short 3D film documenting football, it’s journey and experience from the most spectacular stadiums in the world and to the dusty villages in the slums of Africa.

The film is in 3D technology meaning you can see three angles or dimensions, which makes you feel like you are part of the film. In the next room was the trophy in a glass cabinet closely guarded by the Fifa and Coca-Cola top security team that included Kenya’s Henry Kathurima, who is responsible for strategic security at Coca-Cola East and Central Africa.

Zambia’s Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Kenneth Chipung, was the first to take a picture with the trophy. There after, one by one the fans took their chance.

Overwhelmed with emotions, many of the fans took the poses of their choice but they all obeyed the regulation that no one is allowed to touch the trophy other than a head of state or a previous or current winner of the World Cup.

“This is just great; I was close to the trophy that every footballer wants to win in the world. It’s just great,” said an overwhelmed Peter Mandla as he grabbed his picture from the printers. In the crowds was a unique football fan who had even more to brag about.

“I am glad to be the first Kenyan to see and take a picture with the trophy, I am truly honoured to have been part of this awesome experience,” joked John Kimondu, a Kenyan living in Lusaka, Zambia. Kimondu, the resident manager at Lusaka’s Intercontinental Hotel, says that it is an experience that one only has to go through to understand.

Earlier, a breakfast reception was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka where Zambia’s Vice President, George Kunda, officially received the trophy on behalf of the government. The function was attended by hundreds of dignitaries in government and private sector but it was legendary Zambian footballer Kalusha Bwalya, who is also the president of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), on whom the cameras focused on.

“This is a big day and a huge moment in Zambia’s history to host the biggest prize in football. As a nation that loves the sports, we can still dare to dream,” he said as he paid tribute to his fellow footballers who perished in a plane in 1993.

In his speech, the Vice President reminded the guests of his days as a footballer with Buseko United, a second division club in Zambia, at the time. “We thank Coca Cola for bringing this trophy that I once also pursued and also for supporting football in Zambia,” he said.