Zanaco Ladies Sign Pauline Zulu and Comfort Selemani
ZPL Women’s Super League team Elite Ladies has finalized a transfer agreement with Zanaco Ladies for standout players Pauline Zulu and Comfort Selemani. The deal, valued at K300,000, signifies one of the league’s most high-profile transfers.
Comfort Selemani will move for K130,000, while Pauline Zulu’s fee combines K70,000 in cash and in-kind contributions worth K100,000, allowing Elite Ladies access to Sunset Stadium facilities. The duo will officially join Zanaco Ladies in January 2025, marking the end of their tenure with Elite Ladies.
This transfer demonstrates the growing financial investment in the ZPL Women’s Super League, underlining the strategic vision of Zanaco Ladies to strengthen their squad. While the deal benefits Elite Ladies financially, the departure of two key players could impact their on-field performance. For Zanaco Ladies, the acquisition shows ambition, positioning them as serious title contenders next season. The in-kind component highlights innovative approaches to negotiations, setting a precedent for future deals within Zambian football.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT FROM ELITE LADIES
PAULINE ZULU AND COMFORT SELEMANI TO JOIN ZANACO LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB IN RECORD-BREAKING DEAL WORTH K300,000
The Elite Ladies FC and Zanaco Football Club Ladies yesterday finalized a record-breaking deal which will see Copper Queens players Pauline Zulu and Comfort Selemani join the landlords at Sunset Stadium from the tenants in January 2025 in a deal worth K300,000.
The deal will see Pauline Zulu, valued at K170,000 become the most expensive female footballer ever sold or bought by a Zambian club, while Comfort Selemani, valued at K130,000 will become the second-most expensive female player in Zambian football ever.
Whereas the fee for Selemani is total cash, the fee for Zulu is partly cash (K70,000) and the rest is in-kind payment in terms of use of Sunset Stadium in lieu of payment of hire fees up to K100,000. This means Elite Ladies FC has secured the use of Sunset Stadium for this whole season and some games next season.
Pauline Zulu was bought from Pataaki Football Club at K20,000 and after training and other investments, which saw the girl go to the 2024 Paris Olympics and winning the Cosafa – Council of Southern Africa Football Associations Women’s Championship gold medal, she goes away in a deal that raises some funds which will be reinvested back in the club.
Selemani was bought at the then Zambian transfer record for a female football of K23,000 in 2021 from the defunct Solwezi Academy Queens and training and investments in her saw her go to The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship and CAF Champions League COSAFA qualifiers.
The Elite Ladies FC is a socio-enterprise that believes in developing the best young players and then allowing them to develop their careers elsewhere. We also create a platform where coaches, physio’s, media offers and others can further their careers. With youngsters such as Saliya Mwanza, who is shining at the Under-20 COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa, and the likes of Lilian Mwenda, Gift Chisha, Esther Ngabwe and Winifridah Mutale with the Under-17 women’s national football team, the club will continue to develop younger players to compete for the league title whole older players are allowed to move to other clubs locally or abroad.
The Elite Ladies FC inserted a sell-on clause in the deal so that the club will get a percentage of whatever money ZANACO will make in selling Pauline Zulu or Comfort Selemani to other clubs abroad or in Zambia.
The transfer agreement was signed by Mr Modest Hamalabi, the General Manager of ZANACO FC and Mr Shalala Oliver Sepiso the Chief Executive Officer and proprietor of The Elite Ladies FC.
Faithfully yours,
Rhoda Sakala
Media Officer/Assistant Club Manager
The Elite Ladies FC
