Eastern Province teams challenged to qualify to the National League…As the Business Community is encouraged to come on board
By Prince Kanyinji | December 3, 2020
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Eastern Province chairperson Chrispin Kamuna was in attendance on 29th November at David Kaunda stadium to witness the FAZ Eastern province cup final which was won by Petauke United.
After the match, the chairperson praised local talent and has challenged the players to reach great heights by getting exposure through playing in FAZ/EDEN University National Division One.
No Eastern Province club has so far played in the FAZ/EDEN University National league since its inception. Petauke United came close this year by playing in the playoffs where they finished third in a group where City of Lusaka and Livingstone Pirates finished top and a second respectively to secure promotion to the national league.
Speaking to the ZamFoot shortly after the FAZ Eastern cup final, Chrispin Kamuna challenged eastern clubs playing in the FAZ Provincial Division One to work extra hard and make it to FAZ/EDEN University National League by making sure they do well during the playoffs next year.
Kamuna said Eastern province has got talent which needs to be exposed to the entire nation and this can only be possible by first having teams in the National League which comprises of teams from all the parts of Zambia and second building from that by having also teams in the top tier league, The Zambia Super League.
“We need to encourage the co-operate world to invest in football in Eastern province because we are not short of talent in the province and everywhere there is enthusiasm competing, so we want to see if we can push the level of football in eastern province a bit high so that come next year we should be talking of our teams in national league but again the onus is on the teams in the province to see to it that they achieve the goals,” The FAZ Eastern province chairperson told the ZamFoot Crew in an interview.
In attendance also was Chipata central member of parliament and former minister of sports Moses Mawere who pleaded with business entities in the province to come on board to partner with FAZ and various clubs by providing financial support so that football standards improve in the province. He said sponsorship has been the main reason why the province has not progressed much in terms of football because people don’t want to invest in it. He challenged the business community to invest in young people by sponsoring clubs.
“As you may be aware ladies and gentlemen lack of support is the biggest challenge that our clubs in the region are currently facing, your support towards sponsoring teams and tournaments like this one the FAZ eastern cup will surely encourage massive participation in the sport and will serve many lives by refraining from bad vices,” Mawere said.
It is expected that with massive investment and everyone coming on board to partner with local organizers and teams in the province through providing financial support, the province will start having teams in national league and Zambia super league owing to the abundance of football talent available in the communities.