The global financial crisis is beginning to have a big effect on football in Zambia as mining companies withdraw their sponsorship.
Kalusha Bwalya began his playing career in Zambia's Copperbelt region
The mining companies in Zambia's Copperbelt region have long sponsored the country's top football clubs as part of their social corporate responsibility.
The region has produced some of Zambia's top players including former African Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya, ex-Anderlecht star Charles Musonda and legendary Godfrey Chitalu.
But as the global financial crisis continues and copper prices fall the mining companies are struggling and have been forced to withdraw their backing for the clubs.
The melt-down has left 11-time Zambian champions Nkana, Bwalya's former club Mufulira Wanderers, Roan United and Chambishi without sponsorship.
"We have been left stranded," complains Wanderers secretary Rainford Kalaba Snr.
"It's sad that all this has happened at a time we are preparing for the new season.
"We solely depended on the money from our sponsors for survival and unless something happens, this club will go into oblivion."
In fact all the clubs in the Zambian league will feel the effect of the problems with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) announcing it has halved its US$232,000 annual sponsorship of the competition as a cost-cutting measure.
KCM say "the low copper prices have impacted negatively" on its ability to continue with its sponsorship programmes.
The firm says "it is focusing on cost-cutting measures that will ensure the viability of the company and the security of jobs of its employees."
Earlier in the year the company was also forced to withdraw its offer to pay the salary of the national team coach, Herve Renard.
The withdrawal of sponsorship, coupled with thousands job-losses in the province, has left government working round the clock to find a solution.
"The mining industry contributes 90 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings and its collapse will spell disaster for us," notes mines minister Maxwell Mwale.
"As a government, we are talking to mine owners to see to it that this trend does not continue."
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