After Zesco United's recent performances in the CAF African Champions League a lot of people have said that Zesco's progress to the Champions League semi-final is a fluke or that they are among the weakest clubs. But the opposite is true because financially and organisation-wise Zesco are among the top 10 Biggest Clubs in Africa.
As an example Zesco United have 5 feeder clubs which play in the lower divisions spread across Zambia. Many people do not know this but Zesco United pay all the players and technical bench of all 5 feeder clubs. Each club has 25 players of whom majority are Under 23 with a few over 23 players. So Zesco pays for 75 players plus about 25 technical bench plus other support staff.
So Zesco United employ about 100 players and technical bench staff. This is minus Zesco United's own team and staff. Then Zesco United through its UMBRO deal has probably got one of the biggest deals in Africa and gives kit to all its clubs. Each kit is designed for each feeder club with colors suiting the feeder club and has the emblem of the Zesco United feeder club and each feeder club receives a number of sets of kit.
So its easy to imagine that Zesco United get 500 pieces of kit or more for its feeder clubs at the very minimum every year. Maybe even more. Then not to forget that Zesco United also has junior teams in Under 14, Under 17 and Under 19 which it also supplies kit and then also a girls team which it also supplies UMBRO Kit.
When you check other clubs around Africa with similar investments you find that its the likes of Al Ahly, Zamalek etc. So it comes as no suprise that Zesco has reached this stage now after years of hard work. The simple truth and its now becoming easy to realise is that Zesco United is also giant in African Football.