MultiChoice Zambia Donates to the Copper Queen

By Chilufya Mwelwa, Head of Corporate Affairs;

Chilufya.Mwelwa@zm.multichoice.com

MULTICHOICE has donated 20,000 USD to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Organising Committee meant to support the Zambia Women’s National Footbal Team in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, to be held in Japan.

Speaking on Thursday 6^Th May 2021 in Lusaka, Zambia, when handing over the cheque to Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Local organsing committee for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, MultiChoice Zambia, Managing Director, Mr Kobus Bezuidenhout said the qualification of the Copper Queens to the 2020 Olympics would put Zambia on the world map of sport.

“As we celebrate the qualification of the Copper Queens to the 2020 Olympics, we are aware of the many challenges that the association faces in ensuring that our team not only succeed at the Olympics but that their time there is made as comfortable as possible allowing the team to only worry about their opponents and winning the cup. It is for this reason that we are heeding the call by the Football Association of Zambia to offer support to our Women’s National team with a cheque to the value of $20,000.”

Mr Bezuidenhout explained that MultiChoice through SuperSport has been a constant sponsor and supporter of Sports in Zambia having sponsored the local league through broadcast and training of local talent since 2007.

He further said through local sports investments, MultiChoice continued to help clubs develop supporters, skills, and businesses, sponsorships which have created notable growth of the Zambian football industry.

‘’We are very proud of the Copper Queens participation in the Tokyo Olympics as they are representing our country, as It is the first time that Zambia will have representation at the Olympics since 1988, when the men’s national team reached the quarterfinals. I am hopeful that our support will help them perform better, thereby, raising the Zambian flag even higher’’, said Mr Bezuidenhout.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics games will be held from Friday, 23 July to Sunday, 8 August 2021 with Zambia drawn in Group F alongside Brazil, Netherlands and China. The Copper Queens secured a place at the 2020 Olympics games, after beating Cameroon 2-1 and drawing 4-4 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, in receiving a Cheque, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), Local Organising Committee Chairperson Ms Charity Lumpa thanked MultiChoice Zambia for the support.

“We are so thankful to MultiChoice Zambia for donating 20,000 USD and we believe that this will go a long way in helping the team prepare adequately for the games in Tokyo Japan.”

“It is not easy to raise funds in these times of COVID-19 because many businesses are facing financial challenges. Therefore, this donation from MultiChoice Zambia has come at the right time and will boost morale as we prepare for Olympics 2020.”

“This is a sign that MultiChoice has a strong gender focus and for us, it is a source of pride,” said Ms Lumpa.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has set up a committee of eminent persons to mobilize  fundraising activities for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games led by Ms Charity Lumpa.