Former Zambia international striker Signs Chibambo has questioned whether increasing the number of teams in the MTN Super League from 18 to 20 will automatically improve football development in the country.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) recently resolved during its council meeting to expand both the ZPL National League and the MTN Super League to 20 teams.
Speaking in an interview with BolaNews, Chibambo said the focus should not only be on expanding the league but also on strengthening youth development structures.
“To be honest, I don’t think youth development is fully respected in Zambia yet. Even when leagues are labeled as U15, you often find older players, sometimes even U20s, participating, which defeats the whole purpose of proper player development,” Chibambo said.
“So when people talk about increasing the number of teams to 20, the real question is whether the system will also start doing the right things for development. Expanding the league alone is not enough if the foundations are still weak.”
Chibambo highlighted the poor state of developmental pitches across the country, saying, “Many of them are in very poor condition, and unfortunately, not enough attention is given to improving them. A young player can only develop properly in the right environment,” he said.
He called for investment in proper youth structures, age verification systems, quality coaching, and improved playing surfaces if young players are to compete effectively and enjoy longer careers.
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