Zambian football on the rise – Kalu

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Kalusha Bwalya has said Zambian football standards are improving because of investment pouring in from the corporate and other sectors.
Kalusha said here during a SuperSport programme that Zambian clubs have developed an identity and are able to attract sponsorship particularly from SuperSport.
“In the past, we had some clubs which donned shirts from European leagues such as Liverpool. We now have clubs that have developed identity. The brand and sponsorship are now there. We have worked hard since 2008 and we hope to reach where developed leagues are,” he told senior journalists attending the MultiChoice Africa content showcase extravaganza.
He said although Zambia had never qualified to the World Cup, there was talent among players and football officials and thanked SuperSport for the sponsorship of clubs.
Kalusha was sure that with time, the local league and the Chipolopolo team would reach ‘higher heights’ in terms of football development.
The Zambian soccer league, he said, had become attractive and competitive because of sponsorship which he said was sustainable.
He, however, bemoaned that African teams had not been doing well in the World Cup partly because of training and inadequate preparations.
“We have 32 teams at the World Cup including five slots for Africans. It is sad that we are only remaining with Nigeria and Algeria. This is a sad reflection. We have players and officials complaining about money or allowances,” he said.
He said African countries should re-look at the way preparations are done so that they could proceed to the advanced stage in future.
Kalusha said African football officials should come up with an organisation which would be looking at the interest of football development on the continent.
He said there was ‘real’ talent which should be tapped in a well organised manner for African football to improve to the level of Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Times of Zambia