FAZ Considers Relief For Lower League

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga says the organisation will meet to discuss aid for Eden University/FAZ National Division One teams. 

There have been concerns that some teams in the lower league will not be able to attend fixtures due to long distances, with some stakeholders calling for the league’s cancellation. 

However Kamanga has promised FAZ support:

“If the leagues are able to sustain themselves, they have to be independent. Now in this situation, of course, we understand the economic environment is quite tight. People are not willing to put in as much money as they want. But our role as FAZ is to ensure that we try and find solutions around what is perceived to be a challenge,” he said.

The FAZ president discussed a number of financial support measures, including a form of subsidy.

“For instance, we support them with some subsidy of some kind, whether it’s through cost-sharing outside the sponsorship. Of course, if we got the right sponsorship, then the league should be able to take care of itself. But since it’s still in infancy, ourselves as FAZ we have to step in and ensure that we cover the gap”.

“There are also ways in which we want to make sure that the movement is managed in a fair way, because if you’re going to go into North Western Province twice, you might as well play your two games during that time and that means you’re making one trip. So those are ways in which you can mitigate the challenges of the distances. But ultimately the importance of the national league is that it’s competitive,” he added.

Kamanga also discussed potential broadcasting solutions for Division One, revealing that discussions with ZNBC were still ongoing.