I have spent hours looking at the resulting effect of a naming crisis and the best I can come up with is - Disaster.
Any chance you get as a country to shine - you should seize it. It counts. The good stuff bring a lot of interest to the country and maybe even more tourists. The ugly stuff - pushes everyone away. So for a country like Zambia aiming high at attracting investors, tourists, capital inflows, etc would benefit from a good marketing plan. We should look at all the nice things that we can let the people know about us. If not, we lose out! Simple marketing philosophy.
I believe we have missed that chance with such a distance off, its disastrous. Who would think of all the creativity that this country has - look at the flag! None matches! The name - worthwhile! The currency names, seriously Kwahca - Ngwee who has such!!! That's the Zambian spirit! Impress through out. Well, so we thought, not knowing our marketing took another turn.
A stadium is being built in Lusaka with a 50,000 capacity. Ordinarily you expect people to be excited that it is almost complete now. So the naming session started. An opportunity to come up with a sell-able, breath taking name, marvelous name, You know - the Zambian way! After all, the football heroes are buried near the stadium. Heroes who died in the plane crash off the Coast of Gabon in 1993. (Did I give too much away in the name for the stadium ... wait for it)
After the naming session, the country went crazy with social media! Facebook, Twitter had all the crazie stuff. Why? The name was/is:
"Gabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium"
So maybe we marketed the country on a wrong platform - disaster name and not a marvel of a name!
Here is the reaction:
And the social media responses:
MM:
Good news fellow Zambians on behalf of Hon. Kambwili i would like to apologise for the small glitch in the stadia naming. It was supposed to be " Off the Coast of Gabon Disaster National Heroes Stadium" thank you
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NC
Naming of the Lusaka stadium as "Gabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium" continues to attract attention from Zambians today.
But Potphar Mbulo's comments attracted my attention:
"No I object. we are Africans and we are precise in naming. On the contrary, GRZ should name the new stadium as "Gabon Disaster Heroes plunged Into the Indian ocean on their way to Senegal For a World cup qualifier Match National STADIUM'
LOL"
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P B B K posted to The Zambian Peoples PACT.
This is what happens when u smoke fwaka yaku #Mpatamato
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MCC
Retweeted ZESCO EXPLAINS IT (@_ZESCO):
We've been reliably informed that Govt plans to Rename us "The Zambia's Disastrous Electricity Supply Coorporation." ZDESCO
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CZ
we seem to have a challenge in western province either its Equitorail Guinea Gabon 2013 (EQG 2013) or Barotse Killings Stadium however in Livingstone there is no problem i.e Mukuni's disaster at bunji jumping stadium lol- Jack Munsaka
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CNM
Kanshi since government likes the name, they shud just finnish it off and call it,' Gabon Disaster Heroes plunged Into the Indian ocean on their way to Senegal For a World cup qualifier Match National STADIUM
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ES
Mailoni brother's stadium even sounds better....
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CN
ba conducter, nipempako ninga sale pa gabon disaster?
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E N R N
"@CenturionLincon: @FreshENJ Its Carbon Air disaster at Heroes Stadium!!" eish, it's wild I tell ya
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Gabon Disaster Heroes Buffalo Plane Investigation Manufacturing Error seating Capacity 50 thousand National Stadium.
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E N R N
"@philmwenya: @freshenj the footballers should be first to boycot games..."yes, let 'them' and their tuma suits go to the stadium alone.
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E N R N
Here's an idea, if 'they' stick to that silly suggested name, let's all not attend a single game to make every match a real DISASTER!
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CIC
Seriously..."gabon disaster national stadium"....really😧´.... Y not jst heroes national stadium or april 28 national stadium...
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S A G G
Gabon disaster heroes national stadium...???? Are you kidding me?? Who thought of that MORONIC name?? Is that in memory of Gabon as a country? its like calling the reconstructed post 9/11 buildings in new york "victims of terrorism heroes twin towers"..we are DISRESPECTING the dead.CHANGE IT.....
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CL
Weird quote attributed to Zambia's Minister of Sport via The Post: "Let me confirm that the Lusaka stadium has been named and it is called the Gabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium," Kambwili said in an interview. "Now this shows that President Sata is not self-centred because if he was, he could have said it will be called Michael Sata Stadium. But he appreciates the role different citizens have played in the development of the nation."
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CMB
1993 Gabon Disaster Heroes National Stadium
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MBM
Just catching up with the whole stadium naming debate....awe shuwa that's why BZ proposes that we throw away all manners of identification ama reg,license,under-5 cards etc we shall be the laughing stock of the region,pela if you can't come up with a name asking never hurt nobody,they could have even run a competition in the paper like they do with kids for essays nefyashala....I'm sooo moving to malawi...fyachila..
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MS
Chuck Norris: What's the name of this beautiful new stadium?
Me (very excited): Gabon Disaster Heroes... ***KICK!***
Chuck Norris (in Spartan like tone): This Is Zambia!!!
Me (thinking to myself, half conscious): Might as well have said "Chuck Norris Stadium", I would still be standing
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MS
Ti pempa boma iti yanganepo pa nkani ya zina ya stadium, ndaba ma ticket yaza nkala ma size A3.
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YG
@ZedDictionary: THE GABON DISASTER HEROES STADIUM: A large stadium in Matero with a disastrous name.
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AM
Gabon Disaster Heroes Stadium lol....I wonder is because wi ........? First of all this is Zambia in case someone missed the memo. secondly, Disaster should be removed from the name all together. Even under the influence of Ganja smoke there is no way a name like that would find the pride of place in my mind. So it leaves Heroes Stadium, good place to start but not the best either. Ok am nauseated.
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SM
Doesn't this government have a spin master(s)? Now is the time to swing into action. #Gabondisaster stadium naming crisis!
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TM
@AJStream: The Zambian govt named a new football venue "#Gabon Disaster Heroes Natl Stadium" http://t.co/pEyUAckOHi
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MK
I told u that the excited Zambians will show case their ignorance now look at this
1. Piki Piki Na Piki Do Li National Stadium.
2. Sembe Nina Mvelela National Stadium
3. We had no idea what name to give National Stadium
4. Isambo Lyamfwa Memorial Stadium
5. Father Frank Bwalya Memorial Stadium
6. Fikaisolva kuntashi
7. We meant More Money In our Pockets National Stadium
8. Or Leave Zambeef Alone National Stadium
9. Juju yenu taya bombe lelo National Stadium
10. Nga Twa Monekela Kuichaila Stadium
11. With Immediate Effect National Stadium
12. George Bush Has Been Here Several Times National Stadium
13. Retirement Is 65years National Stadium
14. My Vice President Is White National Stadium
15. Fi Zambia Watch Dog Tukafikata National Stadium
16. My Wife Is A Doctor National Stadium
17. UNWTO 2013 Was Held Here National Stadium
18. We meant 90 years National Stadium
19. Zambeef Will Embalm You National Stadium
20. I Don't Like South Africans National Stadiums
21. GBM All For Gender Based Violence Stadium.
22. BUFI National Stadium
23. Them If I've Lost National Stadium
24. Christopher No Juju Katongo National Stadium
25. On Your Way To Broken Hill National Stadium
26. My Wife Is A Doctor National Stadium
27. I Hate People With Bold Heads National Stadium
28. Dora Siliya Is MMD Stadium
29. Tauli Munandi National Stadium
30. Semeke National Stadium
Courtesy of @___
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SOS
Th name is too long. The stadium should be called "30 Heroes Stadium" or 28th April Stadium".
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KB
Kindly subsidies the independence stadium name from gabon heroes to simply Heroes stadium, ba Hon. Kambwili please.
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Did I miss any juicy pic or comment? Let me know.
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