MANAGING A CLUB IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19

On March, 20 2020, the 2019/2020 Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) MTN Super League season came to a grinding halt with only nine games to spare.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) made the decision to temporarily suspend the 2019/2020 league season following the outbreak of coronavirus or COVID-19, the deadliest disease mankind has faced in recent years.

FAZ was among many Football Associations across the globe that took such radical measures following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global plea to have most social-economic activities suspended as a panacea to stop the disease from spreading further.

WHO’s distress call came after the disease had claimed thousands of lives in Europe and Asia with thousands more infected. The organization’s fear that the disease was going to become a global pandemic was later realized in the weeks and months that followed after the first case was initially reported in Wuhan province, China.

At the time of the announcement, the Zambian league like most leagues across the continent was at its climax. Five teams stood neck-to-neck all with a chance to win the coveted Zambian league title.

Forest Rangers led the pack with 46 points from their 24 games, followed by Napsa Stars (45 from 25), Green Eagles (44 from 24), Nkana (43 from 24), and Zesco United (42 from 24).

Before the league curtains were temporarily drawn to a close, current and 8-times FAZ/MTN Super League Champions, ZESCO United were battling to get a foothold of the league’s top position.

Being perennial winners of the league, ZESCO’s chances of returning the title were under severe threat. The club’s lethargic mid-season performance was largely due to the team’s tight schedule of having to shift gears between the CAF Champions League and the local league.

But how is the club coping with the sudden halting of the Super League?

Richard Mulenga, ZESCO United Football Club, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the man tasked with the responsibility of steering the club to greater heights.

Mulenga like any other CEO Managing an organization as big as ZESCO United is alive to the challenges of staying afloat on and off the pitch in the wake of COVID-19.

“This is the new normal. Nobody planned or expected that our league was going to be temporarily stopped because of a disease. This sudden change has paralyzed the larger part of our operations as a club. Our scouting incoming players have been put on hold, negotiations for incoming players have also been put off.”

COVID-19 has had a significant tore on many football clubs, especially in most developing countries. The suspension of football means loss of revenue from gate-takings, monies that go a long way in sustaining operational costs of most teams in the absence of sound sponsorship.

More worrying is the fact that clubs have to fulfil contractual obligations they have with both local and foreign players whose wages are different.

“I will be lying if I say we are not feeling the pressure of COVID-19. However, we have very strong structures that have at least helped us withstand the storm thus far. There is a loss in income from gate takings which is however minimal. Our players and the entire team continue to receive their full salaries. The outbreak of this disease has also halted our plans for next season,” Mulenga said.

Ryan Reynold, Canadian actor once said: “Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you up.” For ZESCO United, the outbreak of COVID-19 is somewhat a blessing in disguise.

The decision to halt the league has perhaps given ZESCO United a life-line to winning a ninth league title. However, with five teams gunning for the top prize, ZESCO United players will need to replicate their fine form which saw them record a 10-match unbeaten run at the start of the campaign.

“I am sure it is an unexpected relief on the part of players and technical staff. There is enough time to rest, recover from injuries, and fatigue especially that we didn’t have enough rest between the transitional league and the new season. There is also the expectation of reduced expenditure which is not really a plus because these monies will be spent when the league restarts, but it has helped to improve the cash-flow,” Mulenga added.

There is perhaps a long way to go before teams return to the pitch. However, one thing remains clear. ZESCO United players will return with only one mission on their minds, winning a ninth league title.

Author: Desmond Katongo