Zambia Super League

(Redirected from Zambian Premier League)

The Zambia Super League, known as the MTN Super League for sponsorship purposes, is the top association football league created in 1962 by the Football Association of Zambia. The winners of the league each season receive ZMW1,000,000 ($40000) and a copper trophy engraved with their team name.

Zambia Super League
Organising bodyFAZ
Founded1962; 62 years ago (1962)
Country Zambia
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toNational League
Domestic cup(s)ABSA Cup
League cup(s)Samuel Ndhlovu Charity Shield
International cup(s)
Current championsRed Arrows F.C.
(2023–24)
Most premiershipsNkana (13 titles)
TV partnersSuperSport
Current: 2024–25 Zambia Super League

Format

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The league is contested by 18 teams every season. Until 2018, it was scheduled to run within the calendar year from March to December. Since then, owing to the decision by CAF on 20 July 2017 to switch from their traditional across-year runtime/schedule of their club competitions to align with that of the UEFA/European calendar,[1][2] it currently runs from August to May.

After each season and assuming Zambia is among the top 12 countries in the current CAF 5-year ranking system, the top 4 teams will qualify for CAF competitions; the top 2 qualify for the CAF Champions League and the two teams finishing below the top 2 positions on the league table qualifies for the CAF Confederation Cup. The teams who finish in the final 3 positions of the table are relegated to the National League and replaced with the teams who finish in the top 3 positions of the National League table.

Broadcasting

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The league's broadcaster since 2007 is South Africa-based SuperSport, which telecasts 126 of the current 306 matches each season, all outside Southern Africa.[3][4] Seven matches were added to the telecast schedule since the 2022–23 season.

Sponsorship

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In 2018, FAZ struck a deal with the MTN Group of South Africa to sponsor the league being worth initially $4 million (ZMW 7,571,280) for 5 years[5] which has since been extended till date.[6][7][8][9][10] Via telecasting the league on SuperSport, the prize money given to each league team is ZMW300,000 ($ 15,848.52). The league runners-up receives ZMW 350,000 ($ 18,489.94) and the other 16 teams receive ZMW 200,000 ($ 10,565.68).[4][3]

Position Team Prize Money (ZMW/K) Telecast Prize Total
1 ZESCO United 500,000 300,000 800,000
2 Green Eagles 350,000 300,000 650,000
3 Buildcon 200,000 300,000 500,000
4 Zanaco 200,000 300,000 500,000

Previous winners

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The previous league winners are as follows:

Performances by club

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Club Location Titles
Nkana Kitwe 13
Mufulira Wanderers Mufulira 9
ZESCO United Ndola 9
Power Dynamos Kitwe 7
Zanaco Lusaka 7
Green Buffaloes Lusaka 6
Kabwe Warriors Kabwe 5
Red Arrows Lusaka 3
Nchanga Rangers Chingola 2
City of Lusaka Lusaka 1
Roan United Luanshya 1

Top goalscorers

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Season Goalscorer Club Goals
2002   Rotson Kilambe Zanaco 17
  Zachariah Simukonda Red Arrows
2003   Francis Kombe Power Dynamos 18
  John Lomani Power Dynamos
  Musonda Mweuke Kabwe Warriors
2004   Jimmy Mumba Green Buffaloes 15
2005   Dube Phiri Red Arrows 28
2006   Winston Kalengo Zanaco 28
2007   Rainford Kalaba Zesco United 23
2008   Rodgers Kola Zanaco 13
2016   Walter Bwalya Nkana 24
2018   Idris Mbombo Nkana 20
2019   Laudit Mavugo NAPSA Stars 10
  Austin Muwowo Forest Rangers
2019–20   James Chamanga Power Dynamos 16
2020–21   Moses Phiri Green Buffaloes 17
2021–22   Ricky Banda Red Arrows 15
2022–23   Andy Boyeli Chambishi 16
2023-24   Freddy Michael Green Eagles 11

References

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  1. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee – 20 July 2017". CAFOnline.com. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017. It was agreed by the Committee to maintain the current format, but to proceed in the future to a change in timing for inter-club competitions which are expected to start from August to May.
  2. ^ "Change in dates for Caf club competitions will begin in 2018". BBC Sport. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b "SuperSport announces new outside broadcast partner and reaffirms commitment to Zambia". Mwebantu. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b Nelson, Adam (7 September 2015). "SuperSport signs US$5 million deal with Zambian FA". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2022. The latest upgrade to the deal is the second renewal between SuperSport and the FAZ, with the initial contract commencing in 2007 and being renewed for a further five years in 2010.
  5. ^ Ngcatshe, Phumzile (21 March 2018). "Zambian FA announce new sponsorship deal with MTN". African Football. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ^ Long, Michael (15 December 2014). "MTN renews support for Zambian soccer". SportsPro Media. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  7. ^ "FAZ reveal eye-watering new MTN sponsorship deal". ESPN. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  8. ^ Jere, Joshua (12 April 2021). "FAZ, MTN SEAL K43m SPONSORSHIP DEAL FAZ, MTN SEAL K43m SPONSORSHIP DEAL". ZNBC. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Zambia : MTN Announces New K45 Million FAZ League Deal". Lusaka Times. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ^ "FAZ, MTN pen new three-year deal". FARPost. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Nkana lifted 2019/20 Zambia Super League trophy". Africa Top Sports. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Nkana crowned 2019/20 champions". The Lusaka Sun. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Nkana crowned Zambia champions". CAFOnline.com. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Zesco United crowned 2020/21 Zambian Super League champions". African Football. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Zesco United wins ninth Zambian League title". CAFOnline.com. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Zesco United crowned champions in Zambia". SuperSport. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Red-hot Arrows strike first Zambia league title in 18 years". Africa Top Sports. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Red Arrows Crowned 2021/22 Zambian Super League champions". 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Zambia: Red Arrows secure league title with one match to spare". Sport News Africa. 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Red Arrows triumph over Zesco United to lift Zambian League trophy". CAFOnline.com. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Power Dynamos are MTN Super League champions". SuperSport. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Power Dynamos seal seventh league title as Chambishi are relegated". ZamFoot. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Power Dynamos Officially Win the Zambian Super League". Added Time Exclusive. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Zambia 2023/24". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
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