A BAD RESULT DOES NOT MAKE A PLAYER USELESS! WHY ARE WE SO QUICK TO CALL OUR PLAYERS AMAPULANGA, LIABILITIES?
By Godfrey Chikumbi
I personally find it disturbing and disrespectful that some of our Chipolopolo players become instant victims of brutal social media attacks whenever Zambia fails to win a football match.
The 1-1 draw against Burundi at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola today has once again exposed this worrying behaviour.
Yes, Zambia needed a victory. Yes, the players had the backing of thousands of passionate supporters who filled Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, thanks to Republican President Hakainde Hichilema, who bought all the match tickets to give fans an opportunity to rally behind the national team.
The support was massive and expectations were high. Nobody is happy that we dropped points at home.
But does that give anyone the right to insult individual players, call them amapulanga, describe them as liabilities or question their worth as footballers?
I don’t think so.
There is a difference between criticising a player’s performance and personally attacking that player. Footballers are human beings. They make mistakes, have bad days and sometimes fail to deliver when expectations are high. That is part of the game
What I find even more worrying is that some social media users, including some bloggers, appear to have personal issues with certain players. Whenever Zambia fails to win, they use the opportunity to settle scores and push their personal dislike of particular individuals.
Lekeni ifyo!
Some of these players read what is written about them on social media. They have families, emotions and personal lives. Words can hurt especially when thousands of people join in attacking one individual.
I have heard of players who have considered retiring from football because of the psychological pressure caused by social media abuse.
I once spoke to a female footballer who told me that she had seriously considered abandoning the game and getting married after experiencing some of the worst social media trolling of her career.
That is how damaging online abuse can be.
We must remember that these players represent our country. They put on the national jersey and go out to compete for Zambia. They may not always get things right, but they deserve our respect.
One thing we must understand is that football has changed. Gone are the days when we could assume that Zambia would simply beat every team we faced, regardless of the opposition.
The Burundi side that held Chipolopolo to a 1-1 draw is not a team of ordinary players who came to Ndola just to make up numbers. Burundi have quality players, including several who have experience playing in competitive European leagues. For example their captain, Youssouf Ndayishimiye is playing for OGC Nice in France. Other players have featured for clubs in England, Norway and Belgium.
They held Algeria after the same team beat us. So, why should we behave as though Zambia was supposed to beat Burundi 5-0?
With all due respect, football is no longer played according to reputation. It is played on the pitch, and every team has to work to earn its result.
Look at what is happening across African football. Smaller football nations are becoming more competitive. Teams that were once considered easy opponents are now capable of frustrating the continent’s established sides.
South Africa were held to a 2-2 draw by Kenya today. That tells you something about the changing face of African football.
This does not mean we should lower our expectations for Chipolopolo. Far from it. Zambia is a footballing nation with a big reputation. We expect our national team to compete, win matches and make us proud.
But accountability should never be confused with humiliation. We must also appreciate that building a competitive national team takes time. The current Chipolopolo project has young and talented players who still need experience, consistency and the right environment to grow.
There will be good days and difficult days. There will be victories, draws and defeats. That is the reality of football. We cannot build a strong national team by destroying the confidence of the very players we expect to perform for us.
If a player has had a bad game, say so. If the coach made questionable substitutions, discuss them. If the team lacked creativity, point it out. But leave out the insults.
Let us also stop making individual players the scapegoats every time Chipolopolo fails to collect maximum points. Football is a team sport. Results are achieved collectively, and responsibility must also be shared.
To the players, do not allow social media insults to define your careers. Keep working, keep improving and remember that there are many Zambians who still believe in you.
To the supporters, your passion is important. The atmosphere at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium today showed just how much Zambians love their national team. That support must continue, even when results are disappointing.
We cannot demand commitment from players while offering them nothing but insults whenever things go wrong.