TOP 10 HIGHEST SALARIES FOR FOOTBALLERS IN THE COUNTRY

Buildcon Logo

Football is amongst a few sports disciplines that many Zambians enjoy to watch. When the national team is on duty, business around the country come to a standstill with many trooping to the stadium to watch the match live while others rush home to watch it on television.

“There has been a resurgence in Zambian football since winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. This win reignited the passion for the local game which had been in decline since the late 1990s," said Ponga Liwewe, who is former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary.

“More recently, success in winning the 2017 U20 Africa Cup has seen crowd rise to new heights. The heightened passion for football has given the game a huge boost."

The popularity around the sport has attracted the corporate world who often use individual players or football clubs in the endorsement of their products and services.

“There is increased sponsorship and marketing, bringing in more revenue. Football’s increased revenue now make it possible for clubs to look beyond Zambia’s borders to strengthen their teams,” explained Liwewe.

Buildcon midfielder Chisamba Lungu earns K90000 per month.

The resultant effect has also been felt as many Zambian clubs have opted to increase competition levels through signing of highly talented and experienced players from within and across the region.

However, not so long ago, no one would imagine that the Zambian Premier League would become a destination for classic African players.

The Zambian Super league was once seen as one of the feeder leagues in the region coupled with poor funding but the paradigm has since shifted as many sponsors have come on board to sponsor the much cherished sport in the country.

But Samuel Zulu a local fan notes that the league has become attractive due to increased competition and skill of the players.

"To me the Zambian league is not only attractive but highly competitive and that is the reason why even the corporate world are coming in to sponsor the sport," he notes.

However, some people still insists that even though there is too much competition most football players follow the money not the competition.

Former Lusaka Dynamos striker Chris Mugalu used to be paid K70000 a month.

“The game here is a combination of power and skill, the clubs are run professionally and on top of that, the financial rewards are also enticing,” said Nelson Maziwisa, who is a Zimbabwean professional footballer plying his trade at Kabwe Warriors.

Below is the list of how much players are paid for featuring for Zambian clubs by comparing the top 10 richest clubs in the country.

SOME ZSL CLUBS HIGHEST AND LOWEST SALARIES IN 2018

As the money involved in football increases, so does each individual player’s salary. Below is how teams in the Zambian Super league are pecked when it comes to salaries;

	CLUB	HIGHEST SALARY	LOWEST SALARY
1.	BUILDCON	K90 000	K9 500
2.	LUSAKA DYNAMOS	K70 000	K8 000
3.	ZESCO	K60 000	K7 000
4.	NKANA	K27 000	K5 000
5.	ZANACO	K27 000	K7 500
6.	NAPSA STARS	K15 000	K5 000
7.	RED ARROWS	K15 000	K3 500
8.	KABWE WARRIORS	K15 000	K4 000
9.	POWER DYNAMOES	K13 000	K7 000
10	FOREST RANGERS	K9 000	K4 000

 Table compiled by Barnabas Roberts Zulu Jr.

It is suffice to note that Zambia is among a few countries in the region and Africa as a whole where football players are paid hefty salaries ranging between K90 000 and K7 000.

=====================================================================

Ponga Liwewe is a former FAZ General Secretary and a son to legendary commentator late Dennis Liwewe

Samuel Zulu is a teacher and a theologian based in Lusaka. He is also an ardent supporter of Nkana Football Club

Nelson Maziwisa is professional footballer playing for Super League side Kabwe Warriors Football Club
=====================================================================

Story by: Barnabas Roberts Zulu Jr

Edited by: Darlington Kabambe, Sherry Chabala, Ireen Watema

Sources: Susan Ngoma and Valerie Banda

Layout Design: Chikobeni Esnart

COSAFA mourns passing of Zambian referee Leah Namukonde

COSAFA has learnt with shock and sadness of the passing of Zambian referee Leah Namukonde, who died on Wednesday morning after being involved in a car accident during the weekend.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing on of Leah Namukonde our female FIFA Referee from Zambia,” Tangawarima said. “Leah was involved in a car accident on Saturday shortly after officiating a local premier league game. Her car was hit by an allegedly drunk driver and she has been in the ICU in Ndola until this morning when passed on.

FIFA referee Janny Sikazwe says the death of Namukonde was a loss to World football.

Namukonde was one of the top female referees from the Southern African region and had officiated at the recent COSAFA Women’s Championships in Port Elizabeth.

“We will really miss her. This is the time when we needed her to encourage more women referees. She was the kind of a referee who put in a lot of effort in training and being physically fit,” Sikazwe said.

To read more on story follow the link below:

 https://www.safa.net/2018/10/31/cosafa-mourns-passing-zambian-referee-leah-namukonde/