Zambia Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili

The Zambian Federation has reduced the gate charges for the Ghana match in a certain section of the Levy Mwanawasa stadium. 

This follows a directive from Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili to have the gate charges for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana set for June 9 reduced after soccer fans across the country complained about the exorbitant gate charges.

While the price for the VIP remains unchanged and already sold out, FAZ has reduced prices for the North and South upper deck from K50,000 to K30,000 and K100,000 to K50,000 for the North and South lower deck.

Tickets for the East wing upper deck will now cost K50,000 from K100,000 with the lower deck going at K100, 000 from K150,000 while tickets for the West wing upper deck will cost 100,000 from K200,000 and K150,000 for the lower deck from K250,000.

Kambwili had earlier directed the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) and FAZ to reduce gate charges for the Chipolopolo match against Ghana.

This followed complaints from soccer fans around the country who called on the minister to intervene and ensure FAZ reduced the prices for the match because they were unaffordable for most of them.

The minister said in an interview in Lusaka on Wednesday that he directed the two sports bodies to meet and see how best they could reduce the gate charges for the game after receiving complaints from members of the public.

Kambwili said he had received numerous phone calls from people complaining over the gate charges and that it was his responsibility as minister in charge of sport in the country to ensure the needs of the soccer loving Zambians were met.

“I have since directed the SCZ and FAZ to sit down today (yesterday) and discuss how best they are going to reduce the prices because it’s way too high for the soccer fans. As minister in charge of sports I have to make sure the needs of the people are met.

I have spoken to both the SCZ general secretary Rogers Chipili and FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza, to reduce the charges, although I have not given them the figures, I have just told them to bring down the prices,” he said.

He urged fans to turn up in numbers and drum up support for the African champions when they take on Ghana by filling up the stadium.