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 were once the second most successful club in Zambia in terms of trophies won, behind Mufulira Wanderers, but have not won the league title since 1987.
The club is owned and sponsored by Zambia Railways, 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.
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.Anon. “Shinde – graveyard of Ndola’s hope for championship” Times of Zambia, 30 September 1968, p.12
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.
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 widely recognized record set in 2012.
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.
In January 2024, Lusaka international betting company 1xBet signed a sponsorship agreement with Kabwe Warriors.
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