The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) unveiled the newly purchased Irizar i6s bus for the national teams on Wednesday. It cost $428,187.32 (about K11,991,332).
According to FAZ, the bus, which was funded by FIFA’s Forward Programme, is intended to provide reliable and comfortable transportation for national teams on local and international trips.
FIFA Forward is the world’s largest sports development program. It was established in 2016 after President Gianni Infantino was elected to redistribute FIFA’s revenues equally among its 211 member associations. The main idea is threefold: Increase global investment in football development through tailored projects, while ensuring transparency, careful management, and effectiveness.
It also aims to improve infrastructure, capacity building, competition, national teams, subventions, and other specific projects depending on each Federation’s needs.
“The forward funding is not enough but, properly invested, as FAZ is doing, it can make a difference,” FIFA Representative for the Southern Africa Regional Office, David Fani, said during the unveiling ceremony at Football House in Lusaka. “FAZ also needs to be congratulated for the progress that the Zambia teams, national and clubs, have made on the continental and international scenes. Zambia is by far the dominant force in Cosafa and has of late qualified for numerous continental and international competitions.”
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga also acknowledged FIFA’s broader support for Zambian football, including the $10 million Technical Centre project set to begin in 2024, while National Sports Council CEO Sombwa Musunsa emphasized the importance of infrastructure development in raising sporting standards in Zambia.
He also congratulated FAZ on successfully securing the bus and their vision for football development and thanked FIFA for its continued support and investment in Zambian football.
