In a significant boost for Zambian football, Zambian Breweries (ZB) Plc has announced an investment of K3.37 million for the upcoming 2024/2025 Zambian Premier League (ZPL) season, which kicks off next month. This sponsorship underscores ZB’s commitment to the development and support of local football, enhancing the Zambian Premier League’s profile.
Additionally, ZB has allocated K606,000 for the Carling Black Label Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield final, scheduled to take place at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on August 10. This highly anticipated event will feature a rematch between Super League champions Red Arrows and Kabwe Warriors, the finalists of last season’s Absa Cup, where the Arrows emerged victorious with a 2-1 win at National Heroes Stadium. The early kickoff will see Women Super League winners Green Buffaloes clash with National Division One champions Choma Warriors at the same venue.
During the launch of the Carling Black Label Charity Shield, ZB Head of Marketing Thelma Kaonga expressed the company’s dedication to supporting Zambian football. “Zambian Breweries is proud to sponsor the prestigious Black Label Charity Shield game, contributing a total of K281,000 towards the match, along with K200,000 in prize money for the winners and a sports kit valued at K125,000. Additionally, we are thrilled to announce our sponsorship of the Zambian Premier League for the 2024/2025 season with a significant contribution of K3.37 million. This highlights our ongoing commitment to the development of football in Zambia,” Kaonga said.
ZPL Chief Executive Officer Joseph Chimpambwe outlined the activities planned for this year’s Charity Shield, including a visit to the grave site and widow of Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu. “This event is held in honor of the late Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu, and we intend to visit his grave site and his widow in Mufulira leading up to August 10, the official date of the Carling Black Label Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity Shield,” Chimpambwe said.
Chimpambwe also emphasized ZPL’s efforts to create a family-friendly atmosphere during league matches. “This year, we intend to line up various pre-match activities to create a family atmosphere during ZPL matches, transforming them into events rather than being restricted to just the 90 minutes of regulation time. We are hopeful this will attract additional fans to ZPL games and provide the ideal critical mass for our partners, like Zambian Breweries and Carling Black Label,” he said.
He also revealed that ZPL has documented the history of the Charity Shield from its inception, as well as the MTN Super League history dating back to 1962, for the benefit of stakeholders.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts Elvis Nkandu urged other companies to follow ZB’s example in supporting football in Zambia. “We urge other corporates to emulate Zambia Breweries and come on board to support the development of football in Zambia. I am aware that there are plans to launch a new cup competition this year, which is a huge step in encouraging teams to compete for silverware. We urge other corporates to come on board to introduce more cup competitions in the Zambian Premier League,” Nkandu said.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary Reuben Kamanga praised ZB for its continued partnership. “I wish to thank Zambian Breweries for its continued support of the game. The three-year sponsorship of the Carling Black Label Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield has helped restore the respectability of the over six-decade-long championship,” Kamanga said.
Fans will once again have the opportunity to select their teams for the Carling Black Label Charity Shield in preparation for the curtain-raiser on August 10, 2024.
This substantial sponsorship by Zambian Breweries is expected to invigorate the Zambian football scene, providing crucial support to the teams and enhancing the overall experience for fans. The significant financial boost will aid in the development of football infrastructure, talent, and the overall competitiveness of the Zambian Premier League. This major investment is a testament to Zambian Breweries’ commitment to fostering the growth and success of football in Zambia.
