The Football Association of Zambia has secured a three-year extension to its partnership with telecommunications company MTN.
MTN Zambia will continue as the main sponsor of Zambia’s men’s national team and the domestic FAZ Super League club competition under a deal that is worth $3m (€2.4m) over the first two years before the financial terms become subject to revision for the final 12 months.
In 2015, the FAZ Super League is set to undergo significant reform when club licensing is introduced as a means of professionalising its teams.
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya said: “We are glad that this deal will increase the value for each club in the Super League, and this should assist the clubs to move towards the goal of being professional and self-sufficient business entities. The past four years have also heralded the return of the masses to the stadiums. Gone are the days when our stadia were empty, today it is possible to go to one stadium in Lusaka or any other town and be turned away on grounds of the stadium being full.
“This development has helped clubs to have some extra funding for their logistical support. All these positive developments can be attributed to our partnership with this giant telecommunications company.”
Zambia will compete in the forthcoming 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and has been drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Cape Verde and DR Congo.