The Football Association and FIFA officially handed over the $300,000-refurbished David Kaunda (D.K) Stadium in Chipata on Saturday.

The stadium is the first of five projects funded by FIFA under the FIFA Forward 2.0 programme.

Others include Kaole (Luapula), Independence (Northwestern), and Kasama (Northern).

An accommodation centre in Lusaka is also among the ongoing projects under the programme.

However, of the five, only the DK stadium has been completed and handed over. This has excited FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“I am extremely pleased to share that the D.K. Stadium, which is located in the Chipata district of Zambia, was inaugurated yesterday,” Infantino posted on Instagram.

“Reconstructed with the support of the FIFA Forward programme, this is great for football in Zambia and marks another milestone in FIFA’s objective of making football globally accessible without any barriers.

He added, “Many thanks to the Football Association of Zambia, led by President Andrew Kamanga, and to the Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, for your fantastic work in spreading the joy of our sport to the football-loving people of your country.”

Despite works at some of the stadiums reportedly stalled, FAZ is confident they will soon hand them over.

“We believe the launch of David Kaunda Stadium will give the other projects the desired impetus to complete them. I have no doubt that by the close of the year in December, we would have handed over all the four stadia and the accommodation centre,” said Kamanga.