By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Council at the weekend approved a K32 million budget for the year 2015.
Meanwhile, FAZ recorded a budget deficit of slightly over K1 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.
The K32, 273, 219 budget, has seen an increase of K5,641,307 as compared to 2014 which stood at K26, 631, 912, was unanimously adopted during the annual general meeting (AGM) held at the Mulungushi Rock of Authority in Kabwe on Saturday.

. Mutafu

Presenting the financial report for the year ended December 31,2014 and projections for 2015, FAZ treasurer Kelvin Mutafu said the increase in the budget was due to the upward increase in inflation and exchange rates.
FAZ is expected to cash in big from advertising and Television Rights with a projected K7,035,000 to come from the SuperSport deal and the appearance at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments while K5,300,000 is expected to be realised from international games revenue.
“The association is expecting to raise US$825,000 on account of the SuperSport TV Rights deal for the Kwacha equivalent at K7 is K5,775,000. Further, the association expects US$ 180 000 on account of TV rights emanating from the AFCON 2015 tournaments,” Mutafu said.
The association will also receive a K5, 250, 000 grant from the world football governing body, FIFA under the Financial Assistant Programme (FAP) with K2, 450, 320 expected to come from regulatory income in affiliation fees and the Sundry income of K1, 035, 899.
FAZ is projecting to amass K12, 202, 000 from sponsorship agreements with local and international companies that include Barclays Bank Zambia PLC, MTN Zambia, Zambia Breweries Group, Airtel Zambia, and Nike.
“The budgeted amount on the Barclays Bank deal is K500, 000 while the Nike sponsorship is twofold, namely a cash payment and playing kit sponsorship of K637, 000 and K1, 365, 000 respectively. The Zambia Breweries group agreement is expected to be K1, 100, 000.
MTN Zambia sponsorship to the Super Division League and the Chipolopolo squad amounts to K8, 400, 000 while will attract a sponsorship amount of K1, 315, 000,” he said.
Mutafu said FAZ expects to record a budget surplus of K1, 093, 296 for the year ending December 31, 2015.
Meanwhile, Mutafu told the AGM that FAZ recorded a budget deficit of slightly over K1 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 due to the upward increase in inflation and exchange rates.
“FAZ expenditures in 2014 stood at K27, 677, 591 against the budget of K26, 631, 912 thereby creating a deficit K1,045, 591,” he said.
The year 2014 saw FAZ over stretched owing to the various national team engagements that saw the Chipolopolo playing the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Under-17 and 20 sides took part in the Niger 2015 Africa Junior Championship and Senegal 2015 Africa Cup of Championship respectively while the Shepolopolo were involved in the Africa Women Championship in Namibia, a feat that came after the Under-17 girl’s team took part in the Costa Rica 2014 FIFA World Cup.