Working towards self-sustainability: Queens Academy chicken run up and running

By Aaron Mubanga Jnr | October 19, 2020

‘100, 200 football clubs could go bankrupt’ due to coronavirus reads a headline of an Aljazeera story from back in March. The story goes on to say that Football faced losing many clubs to bankruptcy because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The world is slowly getting back to normal and the term ‘new normal’ is now a common phenomenon but just a few months ago football clubs across the world had been denied commercial revenue with no games in most countries for at least three months minimum and empty stadiums.

Coming back home to Zambia, the scenario has been no different. Women’s football however has been hit the hardest with uncertainty still havering around when it will return and the financial status of the Women’s game set to be hit badly.

Even before the COVID-19 epidemic clubs, the world over has been in financial distress for a long time and Zambian Women football, It’s worse as clubs are just run on passion with good wishers contributing money to help their favorite clubs run smoothly.

One club however is looking to become self-sustainable, Kabwe based Queens Sports Academy has been moving towards financial sustainability for some time now and they are now one step closer.

Earlier this year the Central Province FAZ Women’s League Defending Champions embarked on a project to build a chicken run. The idea initiated by club proprietor Col Priscilla Katoba who is also the President of Green Buffaloes Women’s side is now taking shape.

Last week Queens Academy finally brought in their first batch of chicks (250) as they look to increase their income base and move even closer to financial sustainability.

Queens Academy is Central Provinces’ topmost Women’s team and contributes several players to junior Copper queens sides including Margaret Yambe, Margaret Chileshe, Joyce Nyirenda, Tikulile Daka, and Niza Njobvu.