FAZ and Zambian Breweries work on ‘refreshing the thunder’
Football can be unifying, impacting and inspiring. In communities riddled with social ills, it is often an escape and an avenue to propel young people towards positive actions, says Zambian Breweries Corporate Affairs Director Ezekiel Sekele.
Sekele said this during a meeting with officials from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). During the meeting, the two organisations discussed Zambian football and its future in the run-up to the World Cup qualifiers and in the context of Zambian Breweries’ sponsorship of the national team, affectionately known as the Chipolopolo.
Earlier in the year Zambian Breweries announced that it had struck an agreement with the FAZ to resume its sponsorship of the national team that is set to run until March 2017.
“As Zambian Breweries we want to continue to partner with the Football Association of Zambia. We are looking at exciting times ahead of us with the World Cup series and we are looking to give our soccer fans an exciting period ahead of us. Our purpose is bringing refreshment and sociability to the community while at the same time growing livelihoods,” he said.
Football Association Secretary General, Ponga Liwewe said: “It’s good that the partnership has been restored because we have always been partners with the brewing company especially the Mosi brand which is the flagship for football, and this partnership has reaped benefits for Zambian football. It was during this partnership, for example, that Zambia became African champions in 2012 and we are looking to replicate some of the success with the return of the Mosi brand.”
Speaking on the future, Mr Liwewe said: “We are going through a transition as a national side. We are looking forward to going into the challenge for the World Cup. Of course Zambia has not been to World Cup in its football history and we are in a group that has three of the toughest teams in Africa. But with our partners, we want to fly the Zambian flag high, we want to make 15 million Zambians happy, we want to show this country that we are able to take on the best in Africa.”
Zambian Breweries’ sponsorship follows the reduction in excise tax on clear beer in January 2016 from 60 per cent to 40 per cent. The move fortified the beer manufacturer’s commitment to the development of Zambia’s most popular sport; it continues to support a number of grassroots and charitable initiatives across Zambia. It was the official sponsor of the Chipolopolo through its leading brand, Mosi Larger in 2012.
The Chipolopolo faces Kenya on September 4 and Nigeria on October 9 in a World Cup qualifier. Both matches will take place at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. The national team will also face off against Algeria in November in an away match.