By Maimisa Josphat – Educationist & Sports Development Advocate
Zambia’s rise in women’s football is no accident. It is the product of passion, planning, and dedication from the grassroots to the elite level. From the Copper Queens’ appearances at the World Cup and Olympics to the growing success of youth teams, the nation has shown what vision, unity, and persistence can achieve. ⚽
At the heart of this progress are community heroes — teachers, coaches, parents, and volunteers — who continue to give girls the opportunity to play, learn, and lead. Football is empowering young women: keeping them in school, curbing early marriages and substance abuse, and nurturing discipline, confidence, and leadership.
The FAZ decentralized structure provides a strong foundation for women’s football growth. To sustain this momentum, Zambia needs a clear strategic roadmap that promotes investment, inclusion, and capacity building. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) should support community teams through income-generating ventures, ensuring financial stability and ownership at the local level.
Equally vital is the quality of officiating. Promoting refereeing in schools will help prevent avoidable injuries and enhance professionalism. Schools’ Physical Education and Sports programs should act as conduits for talent identification, working hand in hand with FAZ’s technical structures. Corporate organizations can also contribute by supplying training balls and basic equipment to motivate young girls and improve grassroots participation.
Infrastructure development remains a key pillar. Training facilities must meet female-friendly standards, ensuring comfort, safety, and dignity. Collaboration between the Ministry of Education, local authorities, and corporate sponsors can help establish quality playfields across communities.
Zambia must also strengthen its youth development pathway. Junior teams need to be nurtured holistically and systematically to progress to senior categories. Hosting National Football Festivals for Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 interprovincial teams would help harness talent and preserve exposure. Each province should maintain a player database, with competitions flowing from inter-zone to inter-district and inter-provincial levels, under a clear policy framework from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts.
The FAZ Media Desk should also collaborate with proactive football bloggers and digital storytellers to amplify positive narratives, market the sport, and build bridges between elite and grassroots leagues for smoother player transitions.
Furthermore, all provincial leagues need sponsors and annual award galas to boost motivation and strengthen competitiveness. Recognizing excellence inspires commitment. The supply of more training balls at grassroots levels marks the beginning of a new chapter — one defined by opportunity, empowerment, and growth.
Ultimately, a well-organized grassroots football development agenda, anchored in quality investment and collaboration, is the surest path to a sustainable and fortified senior national team — capable of winning medals, elevating Zambia’s profile, and increasing the sport’s marketing and revenue value.
“When we empower a girl to play, we empower a nation to rise.”
