Why does Zambia struggle to export top young footballers ?

According to FIFA transfer records for the […]

According to FIFA transfer records for the mid-year, clubs across the globe spent over $9.89 billion. How much of this can be attributed to the Zambia Premier League?

 This question sparks a wide debate over the growth of the beautiful game locally, especially since currently there are just a few players that are attached to top leagues.

Mink GS Sports Agency Chief Executive Officer Gift Mendez Soko observed that ZPL clubs mostly sidelined upcoming players, a status quo that has dwindled the prospect of exporting more top players. Top-class clubs have adopted formidable systems of developing young players, which include exposing them to more game time, but for local clubs it’s a totally different case.

Soko revealed that the value of a player is determined by exposure to match days and competitive games, allowing them to showcase their ability, ultimately exposing the value.

“Take the case of Spanish international Lamine Yamal, who came through the ranks of Barcelona before going to the Euro; the lad had played 30-plus games in La Liga.”

 In Zambia most 15-year-olds are sidelined, mostly relegated to the junior sides; Soko bemoaned the status quo, revealing that a lot of talent remains un-marketed.

Another example is former French international Paul Pogba, who came through the ranks of the national team, starting from under 17, 20, and 23, and eventually the senior national team, in which he won the World Cup in 2018.

 “If you look at the market value of the players, it’s above one or two million dollars at the academy, but in Zambia a player at the national team is valued below K50,000.”

Part of the challenge is that clubs often cherish players that fail to impress for foreign clubs, treating them supreme when they return at the expense of already existing young players.

 “We have a lot of players who went for greener pastures; some went to Tanzania and other countries. When things are not ok, they return, and they are signed automatically, just because he was outside, which is blocking the young players.”

Interestingly, the coaches, when they sign for new clubs, carry a host of players from the old club, immediately discarding the ones at the new club. This ultimately impacts the young talent more. Soko, who has a wider experience in talent scouting and management, called on the Zambian Premier League and FAZ to make it mandatory for clubs to incorporate more young players in the top teams.

Article by Samuel Mutale