NKANA BROKE?…might fail to travel to Morocco for CAF tie

By MICHAEL MIYOBA ZAMBIAN champions Nkana FC may fail to travel to Morocco for the crucial CAF Confederations Cup second leg pre group stage fixture against TAS De Casablanca as they have no resources to travel. Nkana president Joseph Silwamba told the press that the Kitwe giants’ financial struggles have reached a point where they are struggling to travel to fulfil away fixtures in the FAZ Super Division. Nkana host TAS De Casablanca Morocco at Nkana Stadium on Sunday before travelling for the return leg fixture slated for February 21 in Morocco. Last year, Nkana were on the verge of pulling out of the Champions League with a huge fine awaiting them from CAF until President Lungu stepped in with a cash donation. In December last year, President Lungu gifted Nkana with a donation of $100, 000 to facilitate the team’s trip to Angola for the CAF Champions League match against Petro Atletico who booted them out of the prestigious CAF tournament before they relegated to the Confederations Cup. Gifting Nkana $100,000 was the second time President Lungu come to the aid of the 12-time Super Division champions, who were gifted $32, 000 received by the Nkana Midlands Fans Bureau in August last year. The donation was a response to a request by the Nkana Midlands Fans Bureau to offset the outstanding balance owed to Congolese forward Walter Bwalya Binene Sabwa who was owed $32, 000 in unpaid arrears. The Kitwe giants have recently clinched lucrative sponsorship deals. Nkana recently signed a $45, 000 (K945, 000) sponsorship deal with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) after clinching a three-year kit sponsorship deal with gambling company Betway worth US$170, 000. The club also signed a three-year technical sponsorship deal with apparel, footwear, and equipment providers Umbro. Meanwhile, Zambia Sports Fans Association Patron Peter Makembo has called on the corporate world to supplement President Lungu’s efforts to develop the local game by stepping up to help clubs like Nkana which are in desperate need for help.