Africa-Press – Mozambique. Thirty years on, the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, on Thursday allocated serviced plots of land to former players of the National Football Team, the Mambas, fulfilling a promise made by the Government after their qualification for the 1996 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), held in South Africa, which had been ignored by successive administrations.
The initiative forms part of the allocation of 3,060 plots in the village of Chiacanimisse, Matutuine district, Maputo Province. According to the President, the “icons” of Mozambican football raised the national flag across the region.
“Today, as a State, we are reconciling ourselves with history, as former players of our National Football Team and members of the technical staff who qualified for the 1996 African Cup of Nations will also benefit from these plots. Congratulations, Mambas,” declared Daniel Chapo.
The President stressed that the gesture represents the gratitude of the Mozambican people to the protagonists of the historic qualification for the continental competition held in South Africa — one of the most remarkable moments in national football after independence.
The 1996 team, coached by Viktor Bondarenko, is widely regarded as one of the most emblematic generations in Mozambican football history.
During the ceremony, some former footballers from that generation who were present symbolically received the Land Use and Development Rights titles (DUAT), while the remaining beneficiaries — including children, in the case of deceased players — are expected to receive the documentation in the coming days.
At the symbolic handover ceremony, the “Mambas Legends” were represented by Tomás Inguane and João Chissano, at an event where the presence of Manuel “Tico-Tico” Bucuane and Henrique Rufino Tembe, better known as Riquito, had also been expected. Chapo thanked the former national team players for their contribution in elevating Mozambique’s name within African football.
“We have here with us two of the former footballers from that group who, as proof of the immeasurable gratitude that Mozambique and Mozambicans hold for them, will shortly receive the Land Use and Development Rights (DUAT) titles corresponding to the plots allocated to them. The others will receive similar documents in the coming days. Thank you for everything, my dear brothers! Let us continue working!” the President said.
Source: Evidências / LanceMz
