Tributes paid to former Zambia coach Poulsen

Roald Poulsen served as technical director of South African club Cape United

Former Zambia coach Roald Poulsen, who helped rebuild the side after a plane crash which killed most of the squad, has died at the age of 73.

Eighteen Chipolopolo players lost their lives on 28 April 1993 when the plane taking them to a Fifa World Cup qualifier in Senegal crashed off the coast of Gabon.

Poulsen initially spent six weeks coaching the squad and was on the bench when Zambia beat Morocco 2-1 just 67 days after the disaster.

The side failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals but the Dane returned for two further spells in charge of the national team, from 1994 to 1996 and a stint in 2002.

He led Zambia to a third-placed finish at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

"Mr Poulsen holds a special place in the hearts of many Zambians for the role he played in the rebuilding of the team," Football Association of Zambia spokesman Sydney Mungala told BBC Sport Africa.

"The post-Gabon disaster era cannot be honoured or remembered without his name coming at the top."

Poulsen also spent time coaching in South Africa, including a role as technical director of Cape United.

'A new national team was born'

Poulsen had coached Odense BK to the Danish championship in 1989 and the domestic cup in 1991 before being asked to step in and help Zambia.

"Approximately three weeks after the disaster, I got calls from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Danish Football Association [to ask] if I could help over a period of six weeks in Denmark," he told BBC Sport Africa last year, speaking to mark the 30th anniversary of the plane crash.

However, the scale of the task in front of him became apparent when the side arrived in Europe and started training.

"I could see this was going to be a big job," said Poulsen.

"I felt the ability of the players was not really there, that they didn't have any confidence. All quite understandable given they were in foreign country with strange food and accommodation, far away from families.

"The main thing is that the common language of football is so strong."

Poulsen was asked to take charge of the 1994 World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Lusaka on 4 July 1993 as the Chipolopolo players took to the field for their first competitive encounter since the crash.

Kalusha Bwalya captained the side, having avoided the crash because he was due to make his own way to Senegal.

The 1988 African Footballer of the Year was on the scoresheet as Zambia came from behind to beat their North African opponents.

"That was fantastic, mission accomplished," Poulsen said.

"The whole nation accepted our work. It took hours for us to leave the stadium as people ran alongside the bus, singing.

"After less than six weeks, a new national team was born."