ACCESS BANK BACKS ZESCO UNITED COMEBACK

New K3 million sponsorship package expected to strengthen club operations, community engagement and the team’s push for success

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24, — 19-08-2026 -- Access Bank Zambia has challenged Zesco United to rediscover its winning mentality and reclaim its place among Zambia’s football elite as the bank unveiled new kits for the club.

Access Bank Executive Director Helen Lunda said the new jerseys represented more than match-day wear, describing them as a symbol of Zesco United’s identity, history, supporters and responsibility to the club.

Lunda said Zesco United’s record of nine MTN Super League titles, two ABSA Cup victories and nine CAF Champions League appearances demonstrated the pedigree of a club accustomed to success.

She acknowledged that Zesco United’s previous season had been difficult by the club’s own standards but said the setback should not define the team.

“The real question is: how do you respond?” Ndunda asked, challenging the players and technical team to use the new season as an opportunity to rebuild and compete at the highest level.

She said Access Bank’s “Access Warriors” identity was built around being “unbowed, unbent and unbroken”, a philosophy he urged Zesco United to adopt as it seeks to return to winning ways.

Lunda challenged the club to give its supporters something to celebrate and provide sports journalists with “plenty of winning stories to write.”

He said Access Bank and Zesco United shared a common value of ambition, arguing that past achievements were important but did not guarantee future success.

“Past success is valuable, but it is what you do next that determines whether you stay at the top,” Ndunda said.

She said the partnership between the two institutions had endured for close to a decade because it was built on shared values, trust and a commitment to growing together rather than being centred on a single season or trophy.

Lunda disclosed that the new kits formed part of Access Bank Zambia’s K3 million sponsorship of Zesco United for the previous season.

She said the bank’s investment went beyond placing its logo on the club’s shirt, with the intention of supporting the team, its players and the wider Zesco United brand.

According to Ndunda, Zesco United’s strong identity and passionate following across Zambia also gave Access Bank an opportunity to connect with communities through football.

She said the partnership was particularly important because sport had the ability to bring people and communities together across borders, in line with Access Bank’s Pan-African outlook.

Lunda said Access Bank Zambia would review its partnership with Zesco United and explore ways of strengthening the next chapter of the relationship, with performance and shared success remaining central to the partnership.

She reminded the players that football offered little room for complacency because league tables rewarded current performance rather than past achievements.

“The scoreboard does not care what you achieved two seasons ago and the league table does not reward reputation. Every season you have to earn your position again,” he said.

JERSEY CARRIES CLUB’S IDENTITY

Zesco United Chairperson Patricia Busiya said the partnership with Access Bank went beyond simply placing the bank’s name on the club’s jersey.

Busiya said the jersey represented the identity of Zesco United and would be worn not only by players on the pitch but also by supporters in the streets, at work and in their homes.

“This means a lot. It is what our players wear when they walk onto the pitch. It is what our supporters probably wear in the streets, at work and at home. It carries our colours, our badge and our identity,” Busiya said.

She said the jersey would also carry the name of a partner that had continued to believe in Zesco United and its future.

According to Busiya, the partnership represented two organisations coming together around a shared belief in the power of sport to unite people, create opportunities and contribute positively to society.

She said Access Bank’s continued support would allow Zesco United to plan with greater confidence while strengthening the club’s operations and engagement with its supporters.

“We are grateful, and we see this as a relationship that can continue to grow for many years to come,” she said.

Busiya said Zesco United wanted the partnership to deliver benefits beyond football by supporting communities, young people and the broader development of the sport.

She said the club also wanted to create opportunities for Access Bank to connect with one of the country’s most passionate football communities, given Zesco United’s strong following across Zambia.

Busiya said community activities would provide Access Bank with a platform to engage directly with thousands of supporters and potential customers while allowing the club to deepen its relationship with communities.

“We believe this partnership can help both organisations build stronger relationships with existing and potential customers and contribute to the development of football and communities,” she said.

She said the two organisations would work together on activations and initiatives aimed at increasing supporter engagement and demonstrating their commitment to communities.

Busiya said the unveiling of the new jersey should therefore not be viewed merely as the introduction of a new design, but as a symbol of a partnership built around shared opportunities and a commitment to the future of football.

She said the club was confident that the relationship with Access Bank would continue to open new opportunities for players, supporters and communities.

Busiya thanked Access Bank for its continued support and expressed hope that the partnership would continue to grow into a stronger relationship capable of delivering greater value both on and off the pitch.

PUSH FOR A STRONGER SEASON

The unveiling comes as Zesco United looks to put its previous campaign behind it and return to the level of performance expected from one of Zambia’s most successful clubs.

The club’s management has been urged to translate the backing from its corporate partner into stronger performances on the pitch while ensuring supporters remain at the centre of its activities.

For Access Bank, the partnership provides an opportunity to align its brand with one of Zambia’s most recognisable football clubs while supporting initiatives that extend beyond the stadium.

For Zesco United, however, the message from its sponsor is clear: the history and trophies provide a foundation, but the next chapter must be earned on the pitch.

With the new jersey now carrying the club’s colours, badge and the hopes of its supporters, the challenge is for the players to turn the renewed partnership and corporate backing into results.