Kabwe Warriors F.C.

Kabwe Warriors

Full name	Kabwe Warriors Football Club
Nickname(s)	Magnificent, Railmen
Ground	Railways Stadium, Kabwe
Capacity	10,000
Chairman	Mutale Ngandu
Manager	Numba Mumamba
League	Zambian Premier League
2023–24	5th
Home colours Away colours

Kabwe Warriors is a Zambian football club based in Kabwe that plays in the Zambian Premier League. They play their home games at Railway Stadium in Kabwe.

They are the second most successful club in Zambia in terms of trophies won, only behind Mufulira Wanderers, but have not won the league title since 1987.^[1]

The club is owned and sponsored by Zambia Railways.^[2] while 1xbet are the shirt sponsors and main partner of the club.

History

The club was founded as Broken Hill United but changed their name to Kabwe Warriors in 1966.^[1]

Warriors won their first league title in 1968 on goal difference after Ndola United, who was leading the table entering the final round, lost 2–1 on the last day of the season.^[3]

In 1971 Kabwe Warriors became the first Zambian side to play in now CAF Champions League,but the team performed badly. In 1972, however, the warriors represented Zambia in continental football competition and reached the quarter finals. Warriors lost in the quarter finals to Ghana('s) Accra Hearts of Oak via a 3-9 goal aggregate. ^[4]

Zambian football great Godfrey Chitalu who is the club's all-time leading scorer is regarded as the club's greatest player. He played for the club between 1971 and 1982. In 1972 he scored 107 goals in all competitions for club and country; more than Lionel Messi's officially recognized record set in 2012.^[5]

In the 2013/14 season, Kabwe Warriors was relegated, but the club returned to the top flight after a one-year absence, winning promotion with five games left to play in the Division One North.^[6]

On 24 January 2024 at Pamodzi Hotel, Lusaka international betting company 1xBet signed a sponsorship agreement with Kabwe Warriors Football Club. According to the sponsorship contract, the bookmaker's logo will be placed on the team's uniform and official social media pages. The parties also agreed to hold collaborative competitions and events.^[7]

Achievements

• Zambian Premier League: 5

1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1987

• Zambian Cup: 5

1967, 1969, 1972, 1984, 1987

• Zambian Challenge Cup: 8

1970, 1972, 1989, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007

• Zambian Coca-Cola Cup: 1

2006

Performance in CAF competitions

• African Cup of Champions Clubs: 3 appearances

1972: Quarter-Finals

1973: Quarter-Finals

1988: Second Round

1991: Second Round

• CAF Cup: 3 appearances

1996 – First Round

1997 – Second Round

2002 – First Round

• CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances

1992 – Second Round

1993 – First Round

1995 – Second Round

References

1. "Super League History". FAZ. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
2. "Power Dynamos to clash against Kabwe Warriors at Arthur Davies". Lusaka Voice. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
3. Anon. “Shinde – graveyard of Ndola’s hope for championship” Times of Zambia, 30 September 1968, p.12
4. "Kabwe Warriors". Facebook. 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
5. "Lionel Messi's record belongs to Godfrey Chitalu, claims Zambia's FA". The Guardian. 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
6. "Martin Daka reflects on Kabwe Warriors promotion". 15 October 2015.
7. https://mcjamspromos.co/1xbets-sponsorship-lights-up-a-bright-start-for-kabwe-warriors-and-zambian-sports/ ^{[bare URL]}