By Kalumiana Kalumiana and Samuel Lukhanda –

•NKANA players model in new kit yesterday.

NKANA has secured a US$179, 000 trio-corporate sponsorship package for the 2016 season from Red Metal Mining, Bayport Financial Services and Stanbic Bank Zambia.
The deal was unveiled yesterday at a ceremony held by the club at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Red Metal Mining has pumped in $110, 000 as Nkana’s main kit sponsor, while Bayport has put in $40,000 as the primary kit sponsor.
Stanbic has come in with a logistical support package worth $29,000 for the season.
The strip, in the traditional all-red for home games and white for away games, is manufactured by Mafro Sports of Singapore.
The main kit sponsors, Red Metal Mining will have the company name on the front of the jersey together with the team sponsors Mopani Copper Mines, while the second kit sponsor Bayport will get their name at the back of the shirt.
Nkana president Evaristo Kabila said these were exciting times for the record 12-time champions after securing the deal, and that they were motivated to target the 2016 MTN/FAZ Super League title.
Red Mining Metals director Lionel Wegna said his company was delighted to be associated with the aspirations in football, especially in the form of Nkana.
Bayport manager corporate affairs and marketing Wane Msiska said the company was proud of its continued relationship with Nkana which sees the firm’s brand back on the team jerseys for the first time since 2012.
This is besides the company’s involvement in the Nkana Stadium renovation in 2013.
Meanwhile, Mopani Copper Mines chief executive officer Johan Jansen said his company was dedicated to sponsoring Nkana despite the mining concerns from its holding company, Glencore which is faced with financial woes.
And Kabila used the occasion to inform the fans that Nkana had bought international defender Christopher Muntahli from Power Dynamos.
He also said Jacob Ngulube, an attacking midfielder from Damiano Academy, was at the club together with Aubrey Chamulwanda from Nchanga Rangers and goalkeeper Kelvin Malunga from Roan United.
He said Diego Apanena and Fred Tshimenga, who were on loan from Forest Rangers, had joined the club on a permanent basis just as defender Kapota Kayawe from Kafue Celtic.