Sun, 12 Mar 2017 09:42:13 +0000
By Chintu Malambo
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and First National Bank (FNB) Zambia have signed a three-year partnership deal worth K1.5million for the sponsorship of the Under-20 national soccer team.
Speaking during the unveiling of the three-year deal which will run from 2017 to 2019, FNB chief executive officer Ackim Chalwe said the agreement was a long term commitment in contributing to the development of football in Zambia.
Chalwe said that the negotiations, which had gone on for over five months, had been catalyzed by the success of the U-20 at the on-going Under 20 AfCON being hosted in Zambia in which the team qualified to the final against Senegal today.
“We are proud to formally announce the official sponsorship of the U-20 team. The sponsorship is worth K1, 500 million (USD 150, 000) for a three year period.
“It is our belief that sports development requires a multi-faceted approach and our partnership with FAZ brings together two dynamic and forward-looking organizations that believe in the potential of the young people of Zambia,
“ As official sponsors of the Under-20 team, we want to express our profound happiness with the performance of the team thus far at the Under-20 AFCON,” Chalwe said.
He noted that the sponsorship was not in any way linked to the results in the final game of the current tournament as it was guaranteed for the next three years.
And FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said that the gesture by FNB will go a long way, not only in helping the junior Chipolopolo boys prepare adequately for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Korea but beyond the tournament.
Kamanga noted that football development in Zambia cannot be realized without sound financial support from all the relevant strategic partners.
