The Zambia football industry is in somewhat of the recession half way through the 2011 season.
For the first time in recent memory, there is no high profile movement of new prospects leaving the territorial limits of Zambia seeking greener pastures abroad.
Furthermore, there has so far been no major interest from traditional importer South Africa for fresh talent from Zambia in the run up to their 2011/2012 season kickoff next month.
If there has been any movement at all in the market, it has only been for old and experienced players like striker Signs Chibambo who recently moved to an undisclosed club in Thailand while Simba in Tanzania are chasing another striker Felix Sunzu Junior.
Meanwhile, the last time a player left a local club for a foreign stint was December 2010 when striker Vanecious Mapande moved from Zanaco to Arab Contractors in Egypt.
Mapande’s transfer was enhanced thanks to Zanaco’s participation in the Caf Confederation Cup group stage, a competition including the Caf Champions League where no Zambian club managed to reach the pool stage this season.
Business too has been hit mostly by the Under-23’s poor showing in the Olympic and All Africa Games qualifiers.
One needs just to look across the Zambezi into Zimbabwe who have benefitted from their good run in the All Africa Games qualifiers eliminating Zambia from the preliminary stage before South Africa ejected them in the third and final elimination stage.
South African clubs have targeted key Zimbabwe Under-23 players like Simba Sithole has joined Mamelodi Sundowns while Denver Mukamba and Amin Qadr are being courted by Maritzburg United and Orlando Pirates respectively.
The Cosafa Under-20 Championship coming up at the end of November will also have a telling on how productive local clubs have been in finding the next big thing.
Kalusha Bwalya is to blame. All he has done is use FAZ as a platform for personal greener pastures. Shame on you swine.
What a load of bullshit! Look at the competition in the mtn premier league and you will see that it is the most competitive in years. Look at the national team and yot will see that copetition for places is high( ie more than two very good players for every position) . Recession my ass!
You the swine yourself
Meant to say; recession my as$!