NEWS of sponsors Absa Bank expanding Zambia’s only remaining cup competition is a welcome move which needs to be supplemented by other companies coming on board to sponsor other cup tournaments.
Absa Bank needs to be commended for keeping alive the Absa Cup and also for expanding the 2022/23 competition to bring on board provincial teams to add that missing flavour of that David vs Goliath story and the giant-killer act fairy tale.
Thus this expansion already lived up to expectations as old legend Ndola United were among the ‘top’ sides eliminated at the preliminary stage of the competition.
With the big guns from the MTN Super League joining the fray starting today into the long Easter holiday, expectations are high from fans that will throng these stadia to watch the best local football the country can offer.
But what exactly does this expansion mean?
Absa Cup has been given a national tag by involving all teams in the provincial leagues for the first time since 2007 thus giving players the chance to showcase their talent when they face big teams and ultimately the big clubs can have a chance to sign one of two players that might impress.
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant should surely be in the one of the stadia to watch these matches and can identify one or two of these players, who will be eager to shower their worth especially when they compete against these big sides.
The tournament will provide some of these provincial sides an opportunity to play at some of the good stadia the country could provide and to be watched on television via SuperSport will be an added motivation for the players to put in their best and give the fans that exciting game.
Having a tournament that gives it a national colour is important since the demise of the BP Top Eight, Mosi Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Heroes and Unity Cup etc.
Onus lies with these other companies that are making huge profits off the Zambian economy without investing something back in sports for the Zambians to enjoy.
The list is long of the companies that can work with the Football Association of Zambia so that the country could have at least two more cup competitions with one dedicated to the provincial teams alone and the other to the champions of the various leagues etc.
It is only by improving our local league that we can have a strong national team that will ultimately represent us well internationally.
We need competitions that will also help the country identify and nurture talents countrywide and give the various national team’s the best of the best in terms of players and help end this cry of unfair selection based on the line of rail.
Otherwise, we shall continue crying over the national team’s poor performances as long as there is no proper commercial investment made especially at the grassroots for our league structures to lucratively flourish.
Wishing you a wonderful sporting and Easter holiday and remember to interact via email on eliaschipepo@gmail.com