União Desportiva de Songo faced unexpected adversity when traveling to Nampula, where they were scheduled to face local team Ferroviário in a fifth-round match of the Moçambola Championship. Due to a malfunction on a Mozambique Airlines (LAM) plane, the team was stranded at Nacala International Airport.
The trip, initially scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday from Maputo, suffered significant delays. The flight only took off at 11 p.m., arriving in Nacala around 3 a.m. on Friday, after the crew reported visibility difficulties on the Nampula runway.
Viseu Durão, vice president of the Songo Sports Union, reported that passengers were initially reassured with the promise of hotel accommodations, a promise that never materialized. Throughout the early hours of the morning, LAM managers failed to provide clear information about the situation, exacerbating the discomfort and uncertainty among passengers.
It wasn't until 9 a.m. on Friday that another aircraft arrived in Nacala, carrying two mechanics. It was then that the passengers learned that the plane's mechanical problem required the replacement of a part that would need to be brought from Maputo. Until the problem was resolved, the club's management mobilized alternative means, including ground transportation, to continue the journey.
Team captain Sidique Mussagy assured that the players' morale remained high, emphasizing the need for resilience in the face of everyday adversity. Despite the physical strain, Mussagy emphasized the importance of staying focused and fighting for a positive result in the match in Nampula.
In addition to the soccer team, more than 200 passengers were affected, including Milton Tatia, a doctor at Nampula Central Hospital, who had to postpone a scheduled surgery. Tatia lamented the lack of food and adequate rest during the long wait at the airport.
