Each season, fans across Zambia celebrate when their local teams earn promotion from the FAZ National Division One to the prestigious Zambian Super League. However, this joy is often short-lived. A worrying trend has emerged where most promoted teams find themselves relegated after just one season.
Teams like Young Green Eagles, Kafue Celtic, Circuit City, Atletico Lusaka, and Trident FC have all experienced this harsh reality.
Despite showing great promise in Division One, these clubs struggle to maintain their place in the top flight. What causes this recurring pattern?
The Stadium Dilemma: From Fortress to Foreign Ground
One of the biggest challenges is the FAZ rule requiring promoted teams to play in approved stadiums that meet strict standards. While this ensures professionalism, it often forces clubs to abandon their home grounds—venues central to their identity and success.
As the saying goes, “There’s no place like home.” This simple truth holds especially in football, where the local stadium is more than just a field—it’s the heart of the team’s spirit.
Young Green Eagles and Kafue Celtic had to leave Khosa Stadium in Kafue and relocate their home games to Lusaka stadiums.
Trident FC, based in Kalumbila, were compelled to play across Solwezi, Ndola, and Kitwe, far from their local fan base.
A sports psychologist once said, “Home advantage is real. It’s the fans, the familiarity with the pitch, the routines. When teams lose that, they lose more than just a stadium — they lose their identity.”
This uprooting leads to:
Loss of home support and vibrant local crowds, Increased operational costs due to travel and stadium hire, Disruption of team routines and loss of “home advantage”
Without the backing of passionate local fans and familiarity with their pitch, these clubs start their Super League journey at a disadvantage.
Financial and Competitive Challenges
Beyond stadium issues, promoted teams face financial hurdles:
Limited budgets restrict their ability to sign experienced players.
Smaller technical teams struggle to meet the demands of top-tier football.
Increased travel and operational expenses strain already tight finances.
This gap in resources compared to established Super League teams makes it difficult for promoted clubs to compete effectively.
What Needs to Change?
To break this cycle, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and stakeholders must rethink their approach:
Introduce Stadium Requirements at Division One Level
FAZ should begin enforcing minimum stadium standards while clubs are still in National Division One, not only after promotion.
This gives teams time to upgrade their facilities gradually instead of being forced to relocate suddenly. Clubs that aspire for promotion will begin preparing early, which promotes professionalism and long-term planning.
Create an Infrastructure Support Fund
Introduce a Stadium Improvement Grant for clubs in Division One. Encourage partnerships with local councils and sponsors to help improve stadiums in home communities.
Promotion Transition Support
Offer financial packages to newly promoted teams for logistics, player recruitment, and operations during their first season. These could include subsidized match-day costs, transport support, and technical staff development.
Preserve Home Advantage
If a club’s stadium is close to meeting the required standard, allow conditional home games with clear improvement timelines. This reduces the disruption of relocating far from their support base
Final Thoughts
Promotion should be a reward—not a punishment. Until the structural, financial, and logistical challenges facing newly promoted teams are addressed, this cycle of quick relegation will persist. Zambia’s football community deserves a league where every team has a fair chance to compete, grow, and succeed both on their home turf and beyond
By Gabriel Nkunika
