The Zambian Premier League board says it intends to improve local football in its professional and commercial aspects ahead of the new 2024/25 football season.
Following the conclusion of the process to de-link the league from FAZ, the ZPL board will next season take full control of the affairs of the football league system in the country.
Yesterday, the ZPL and sponsors Zambian Breweries launched the traditional season opener, 2024 Carling Black Label Samuel Zoom Charity Shield in Lusaka where an increased K600,000 sponsorship package for the one-off competition was launched.
Speaking at the event held at Lusaka’s Golden Peacock Hotel, ZPL chairman Joseph Chimpampwe said the ZPL plans to maximize local football’s commercial potential through various strategies starting with the introduction of a new format for this year’s Charity Shield that will for the first time also have a women’s category.
“As ZPL, we have lined up a number of activities for the coming season to ensure to ensure we live by our beeline ‘Professionalize to commercialize” Chimpampwe said.
“For the first time ever, women teams shall be embraced in the Charity Shield, with Green Buffaloes Football Club the reigning ZPL Women’s League champions meeting Choma Warriors Ladies the Women’s National Division 1 Ultimate Champions, as curtain raisers to the traditional main match” he said.
Chimpampwe further disclosed the ZPL’s plans to introduce similar curtain raising activities to attract wider audiences and improve attendances at league matches.
“Furthermore, this year, we intend to line up other pre-match activities. This shall enable us to create a family atmosphere during ZPL matches, to get our clubs run league matches as events, which are currently mostly restricted to just 90 minutes regulation time” he said.
He added; “We are hopeful this shall attract additional fans to ZPL games and provide the right critical mass ideal for our partners like Zambian Breweries.”
Under the K3.37 million worth three-year partnership deal signed with the ZPL, Zambian Breweries intends to spend K281,000 on the organization of the game with K200,000 set as as competition prize money while K125,000 will be spent on sports kit for the 2024 edition of the charity shield.
“At Zambian Breweries we are deeply committed to promoting gender equality and diversity in sport because we believe both men and women have unique strengths, talent and perspectives to offer” Zambian Breweries Head of Marketing Thelma Kaonga said at the event.
The 2024 Carling Black Label Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield will be held on 10th August, 2024 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola where double champions Red Arrows and ABSA Cup runner-ups Kabwe Warriors will face-off.
Before Arrows and Warriors take to the field, Women’s League champions Green Buffaloes Ladies will take on Choma Warriors from the second-tier in a curtain raising match.
