Nkana FC is a football club based in Kitwe, Zambia. The football team competes in the MTN Super League, the top division of Zambian football. Nkana FC has won 13 League titles, making it Zambia's most successful league club, and second overall behind Mufulira Wanderers, with 52 trophies. They play their home games at Nkana Stadium in Wusakile, Kitwe.
The club is currently sponsored by Mopani Copper Mines, which is also the team's major owner. The club has also acquired a kit sponsorship deal with global online gambling company GAL Sports Betting.
In 2020, after the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Zambia, Mopani Copper Mines reduced the sponsorship deal to the club by 50 percent, citing the failure of the copper prices due to the pandemic. The club decided to sign other sponsorship deals with The Zambia Revenue Authority and The Copperbelt University.
Nkana FC fans are known for their passionate support of their club.
History Nkana FC is one of Zambia's oldest football clubs having been formed in 1935 in Kitwe's Wusakile township. The club was founded under the name of Rhokana United FC before it changed to Nkana Red Devils. In 1990, they were runners-up in the African Cup of Champions, the only Zambian team to reach the finals.
Nkana achieved success during the 1980s and early 1990s, winning nine league titles from 1982 to 1993, including their 1993 season in which the club became one of only two clubs, and the only African club, to have won the Sextuple. Coached by Moses Simwala, a number of prominent players ran out for Nkana during this time frame.
Nkana were relegated from the top flight of Zambian football for the first time in 2004, and their period in Division One was plagued by financial problems. Nkana returned to the top flight after winning the 2007 Division One North title.
Nkana has won the MTN/FAZ Super League 13 times, most recently in 2020.
On 23 May 2014, head coach Masautso Mwale died in a road traffic accident on the eve of their home game against Séwé Sport of the Ivory Coast in Group B in the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup. The accident occurred near the Maposa area and his car was overturned several times as he was driving back to join the team in Kitwe.
Rivals Nkana's arch-rivals are Power Dynamos F.C., who play their games at the Arthur Davies Stadium in the adjacent neighbourhood of Ndeke across the Ndola-Kitwe Dual Carriageway. When the two teams meet, the city is divided, and the fixture is named the Kitwe Derby or "El Kopala".
Achievements African Cup of Champions Clubs Runners-up: 1990 Zambian Premier League: 13 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2020 Zambian Cup: 6 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000 Zambian Charity Shield: 18 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 Zambian Challenge Cup: 7 1964, 1966 (as Rhokana United) 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000 ABSA Cup: 1 2018 Heinrich Cup/Chibuku Cup/Heroes and Unity Cup: 5 1969, 1974, 1989, 1990, 1993 Zambian Champion of Champions Cup: 2 1986, 1993
Performance in CAF competitions CAF Champions League: 3 appearances 2000 – Second Round 2002 – Second Round 2014 – Second Round
African Cup of Champions Clubs: 9 appearances
1983: Semi-Finals 1984: Quarter-Finals 1986: Semi-Finals
1987: Second Round 1989: Semi-Finals 1990: Finalist
1991: Semi-Finals 1992: Quarter-Finals 1993: Quarter-Finals 1994: Semi-Finals
CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances 1998 – Quarter-Finals 2001 – Second Round
CAF Cup: 1 appearance 1999 – Second Round
Former coaches Gaston Mutobo Jeff Butler Beston Chambeshi Jericho Shinde Moses Simwala (1980–93) Patrick Phiri (1997–02) Ben Bamfuchile Kenneth Malitoli (2007) Masauso Mwale (2013–14) Zeddy Saileti Manfred Chabinga
See also
Kitwe Derby
References