Nchanga v Zambia Airways

From Great North Road

Back in the early 70’s during the rugby season, it was decided that Nchanga would fly to the Big Smoke to take on Lusaka, instead of the usual bus trip that usually left most of the players incapable of playing due to intoxication by consuming the “After Match” beers on the way down to Lusaka.

Tickets were purchased with Zambian Scareways and we departed from Ndola, all smart in the No 1’s, Nchanga Blazers, 1st & 2nd Teams and traveling officials, in all about 35 of us led by Les Gomm.

The games went well and to be honest I cannot remember the results, but I’m sure we won both games!! Lusaka players may remember differently.

I will not forget what happened after the games though!

We were duly celebrating yet another victory? Someone went to collect the boarding passes so the players could quench their massive thirsts after their endeavours of the day.

Duly armed with boarding passes we retired to the airport bar, well it was a long journey from Lusaka Rugby Club, and continued quenching!

There was no scramble for the plane when it was called, it was the last plane to Ndola that night, and we had to report for work the following morning. When the time came to board the plane we set off in an orderly fashion (honest!) through the Departure Lounge, all was going well until Fred “Turkey Buzzard” Harrison, the 2nd team Hooker walked through a glass door, problem was it was a closed glass door!! We hoped no one would notice the huge crash, the pile of glass and Fred holding his head and continued to the plane.

It soon became very obvious that a boarding pass was no guarantee to a seat on the plane as it was full, players were sitting on laps and hiding in toilets, Dave “Jumbo” Jacks even managed to hide under a row of seats!

At this time Airport Security decided to baton charge the plane to arrest the culprits who had broken the door, there were some tussles going on in the plane, Fred sat looking innocent, well it WAS an accident.

Les Gomm, gentleman that he was, called on all Nchanga players to leave the plane so not to inconvenience the other passengers, so they could proceed to Ndola. As we departed the plane we were attacked by baton wielding security and a huge fight broke out on the apron with everybody involved in this massive fracas. The pilot walked away from the plane saying it was going nowhere that night and the non-combatants were returned to the lounge. We were ushered into a separate area where recognized fighters were thrown in the airport slammer while some removed their blazers and managed to get out of the airport, I managed to get into a deserted office and phoned the British Embassy to inform them what was happening, needless to say they were not very helpful, an official arrived who seemed to think everything was OK and the 6ft x 6ft cell with one dirty mattress was sufficient for about eight guys.

In the morning what was left of us, including the jailbirds, were put on the first plane to Ndola without charge, the people who had left the airport were held in very low esteem by the remainder of the players and they were stranded in Lusaka.

The final crunch came as I was leaving Ndola Airport, only to see my wife in my VW Microbus heading for Lusaka to pick them up. Names are withheld to protect the guilty!!

In retrospect, if that would happen today, anywhere in the world, we would be looking at a lengthy jail term.

The Zambian Rugby Union held a big inquiry and we were banned from flying Zambia Airways, I think that’s when the demise of the Blazer took place, after that we flew in civvies, except for overseas tours, but that’s another story!

Contributed by Graham Wall.

November 2001