Roan United Secretary General Geoffrey Ngulube has […]

Roan United Secretary General Geoffrey Ngulube has urged the Football Association of Zambia to utilize part of the Konkola Copper Mines K93 million sponsorship to revive struggling clubs across the league. Last week, KCM pledged K93 million for the development of national football, critical funding at a time that most of the clubs and grassroots are struggling to fend for themselves.

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times, Ngulube, whose team recently got promoted to the Super League, bemoaned the inadequate funding that trickles to the clubs and urged for improvement.

 “It’s a great deal; clubs are spending too much money just to maintain it. With that amount, what is in it for the clubs? We need more people to come on board to sponsor football, and that is what is going to make it more enjoyable.”

“Apart from just participation, the general public is expecting to have the best entertainment. FAZ should build the existing clubs; that will make us produce quality players that will in turn bring honor to the country.”

Ngulube attributed the lack of adequate gate takings to a lack of proper infrastructure, a status quo that does not attract much of the fan base.

“In Europe I don’t think one is able to sustain just hosting one match without sponsorship because their facilities host maybe 60,000 and 120,000 capacities. Here in Zambia it is difficult to make that much, but if we can have a fund that can help to build capacity, we will see more clubs becoming self-reliant.”

By Samuel Mutale