The long-awaited Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Women’s National League kicks-off today (Saturday) with stakeholders convening at Football House to refine the roadmap.

FAZ convened an Induction Seminar and Consultative Meeting to discuss the inaugural FAZ Women's National League.

The 14-team league will kicks-off on Saturday with matches across the country.

FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala officially opened the meeting that was attended by representatives of the 14 clubs at Football House in Lusaka Friday morning, where he praised women club administrators for their efforts in developing female football in Zambia.

Kashala said the rise in women football in the recent years deserved a well-structured league that will bring about competition, a move that FAZ has been more than willing to take.

He called on all women club administrators to exhibit high levels of integrity and put their interests aside for the good of the game.

“We need to hold ourselves accountable in the way we run the club. They may be sponsorship from stakeholders and we need to use it to develop women football because it has to compete effectively with the men’s league now,” Kashala said.

Kashala thanked administrators for their efforts to develop the women’s game and managing female footballers in the development of their skills.

“We are proud to empower the girls to be part of this lucrative activity in the world because it is one of the biggest employers. If we manage this well, we will see most of them crossing the borders and flying oversees for greener pastures,” Kashala added. 

In recent years, Zambia’s women football has experienced a rise with the Copper Queens qualifying to the Olympic Games for the first time, the Under-17 and Under-20 women’s teams reaching the finals of the COSAFA championships.

Additionally, international doors have been opening for the players with Copper Queens’ skipper Barbara Banda now based in China, strikers Rachael Nachula and Hellen Mubanga plying their trade in Spain, Rachael Kundananji in Kazakhstan , goalkeeper Hazel Nali and striker Prisca Chilufya in Israel.