Zambia National Division One

The Zambian National Division One is the second highest football division for men in Zambia and was introduced for the 2019/20 season with 18 teams. The league is administered by Zambia Premier League[3] and is because of sponsorship reasons called Eden University National Division One League, as Eden University and FAZ signed a five year's agreement prior the inaugural season.[4] The league operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Zambia Super League and Zambian Division One, and is played over 34 games.

National Division One
Founded2019
CountryZambia
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toZambia Super League
Relegation toProvincial Division One
Domestic cup(s)ABSA Cup[1]
Eden University Charity Shield (Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield)[2] (top 2 clubs)
Current championsIndeni
Most championshipsIndeni (1 title)
Current: 2020/21

Structure of the league

The league comprises 18 teams. Over the course of a season, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at 'home' and once 'away', resulting in each team competing in 34 games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. At the end of the season, the four top teams and the are promoted to the Super League and the bottom four teams are relegated to the provincial division one. The top two teams will compete in the Charity Shield as well as joining six teams from the top flight in the ABSA cup.

Sponsorship

On 24 November 2002, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) signed a tripartite broadcast sponsorship deal with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and TopStar (StarTimes) that will see National Division One matches beamed live on TV.[5]

Qualification to the league

The teams placed 5-14 is automaticly qualified for the next season. The four promoted teams will be replaced by four relegated teams from the Super League. The four relegated teams will be replaced by four teams that wins the National Division One qualifier which consists of the ten provincial division one champions.

Current season 2020/21

From the first seasons 6 provinces, the teams in the National Division One is now spread over 8 of the Zambian provinces. Follow the current standings through this external link.

Club Province Position previous season First season First season of current spell Number of seasons in National Division One
Chambishi F.C.Copperbelt9201920192
City of Lusaka F.C.LusakaPromoted from Lusaka Division One[6][7][8][9]202020201
F.C MUZASouthern11201920192
Gomes FCCopperbelt5201920192
Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy F.C.CentralRelegated from Super League202020201
Kafue Celtic FCLusaka6201920192
Kansanshi Dynamos F.C.North-WesternRelegated from Super League202020201
Kashikishi Warriors F.C.Luapula ProvincePromoted from Luapula Division One[6][7][8][9]202020201
Konkola BladesCopperbeltPromoted from Copperbelt Division One[6][7][8][9]202020201
Livingstone PiratesSouthernPromoted from Southern Division One[6][7][8][9]202020201
Mpulungu Harbour FCNorthern12201920192
Mufulira WanderersCopperbeltRelegated from Super League202020201
National Assembly F.C.Lusaka10201920192
Nchanga Rangers F.C.Copperbelt8201920192
Police College F.CLusaka7201920192
Trident FC*North-WesternPromoted from North Western Division One[6][10][8][9]202020201
Zesco Malaiti Rangers FCLusaka13201920192
Zesco Shockers F.CWestern14201920192

Inaugural season

Teams that was qualified for the first season 2019/20 came from both the Zambia Super League and the old Zambian Division One. Four teams were relegated from the 2019 Zambian Super League, two from each stream (Kitwe United and Prison Leopards FC from Stream A and F.C MUZA and Circuit City F.C. (who were acquired by and absorbed into Nchanga Rangers F.C. from Provincial division one, and took over the spot)[12][13] from Stream B). Losing teams of the qulifiers to the 2019–20 Zambian Super League (which was played between division one zone-winners) (National Assembly F.C. and Young Green Eagles FC) along with teams placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th from each of the four provincial division one zones.[14][15][16] (Zone 1: Police College F.C, Zesco Malaiti Rangers FC, Kafue Celtic FC Zone 2: Gomes FC, Indeni, Chambishi F.C. Zone 3: Zambeef FC, Mpulungu Harbour FC, Chindwin Sentries FC Zone 4: Zesco Shockers F.C, Mumbwa Medics, Sinazongwe United)

SeasonWinnerRunner-up3rd4th
2019/20Indeni[17]Prison Leopards FC[17]Young Green Eagles FC[18]Kitwe United[18]

References
  1. "ABSA Cup 2019". rsssf.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. "Nkana, Indeni face off in 2020-21 Charity Shield". Zambian Soccer Network. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. "FAZ president discusses newly-formed Zambia Premier League". Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  4. "Division One gets Eden aid". Zambia Daily Mail Limited. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. "FAZ SEALS BROADCAST DEAL WITH TOP STAR, ZNBC FOR NATIONAL DIVISION ONE GAMES". Zambian Football. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. "FAZ/Eden League Qualification Play Offs take off". Daily Nation. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. "FAZ CONGRATULATES DIVISION ONE NEW ENTRANTS". ZNBC. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. "Qualification standing". Facebook/Bwezani With Zambian Football. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  9. "Division one top 4's". Facebook/Zambian MTN Super League Updates. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  10. "TRIDENT OFFERED NATIONAL DIVISION ONE SLOT ….NAKAMBALA LEOPARDS DROP TO DISTRICT LEAGUE". ZamFoot. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  11. "THE DE-REREGISTRATION OF NAKAMBALA LEOPARDS… WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?". ZamFoot. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. "Nchanga Rangers acquires Circuit City of Lusaka". The Independent Observer Zambia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. "Nchanga Rangers acquires Circuit City of Lusaka to play in the National Division league". Facebook/News and Media - Zambia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  14. "Current league tables". league321. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  15. "ROAD TO THE 2019/2020 ZAMBIA PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON". Facebook/Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  16. "Reality Check :Will the introduction of the national league improve competition?". Zambia24. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  17. "Indeni win Maiden National Division One league". SOKA 25 East. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  18. "NATIONAL DIVISION ONE: INDENI CROWNED CHAMPIONS…AS PRISON LEOPARDS, YOUNG GREEN EAGLES AND KITWE UNITED WIN PROMOTION". ZamFoot. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
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