FAZ Leadership: The latest changes to Zambia’s domestic football calendar are part of a broader evolution that has taken place over the past decade.
During Kalusha Bwalya’s tenure (2008-2016) as FAZ president, the domestic league generally followed a calendar-year format, with the season beginning in the early months of the year and concluding before the end of the calendar year. This schedule was familiar to clubs and supporters and had been the norm in Zambian football for many years.
After Andrew Kamanga was elected FAZ president, the association gradually transitioned to the August-to-May football calendar used across much of Europe. The change was aimed at aligning Zambian football more closely with international transfer windows, CAF interclub competitions and the growing number of African leagues adopting a similar schedule. It also gave clubs and players greater synchronisation with the global football market.
Several years later, under FAZ president Keith Mweemba, the association has introduced a Transition League as it prepares to return to a calendar-year format. According to FAZ, the objective is to establish a domestic schedule that better suits Zambia’s football environment while ensuring a smooth transition for clubs and competitions.
Rather than viewing the latest move as a reversal of a previous administration’s work, it is better understood as another stage in the ongoing development of Zambian football. Each administration has introduced changes based on the priorities and circumstances of its time, with the common goal of strengthening the domestic game.
As the transition season unfolds, supporters will have the opportunity to see how the revised calendar shapes competition, player welfare and the overall growth of football in Zambia.
