THE Zambia Army has struck a chord of national pride with its latest move of promoting two of the nation’s brightest female football stars, Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji, to warrant officer class two and Corporal respectively.
The duo who continue to etch their names in the annals of women’s football across the globe were conferred with their new ranks today at Army Headquarters by Zambia Army Commander, Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele.
Lt Gen Zyeele described the Copper Queens captain and Bay Football Club’s Racheal Kundananji as pillars of inspiration whose careers have sparked a revolution among young women aspiring to dream big not just in Zambia but globally.
He described their performances as mind searching and inspiring and applauded the players for their endurance and relentless fighting spirit which he likened to the heart of a buffalo amidst a pride of lions.
Lt Gen Zyeele reaffirmed that the Zambia Army and the entire nation stood tall with pride at the duo’s accomplishments.
The promotions are a fitting recognition of two players who embody excellence, resilience and patriotism.
Banda’s rise is nothing short of meteoric.
Just last week, she became the first Zambian and second African to win the prestigious BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
From 2023 to October 2024, Banda rewrote history books as the highest scoring African player in Olympic history after netting an astonishing 10 goals.
Her brilliance also propelled the Copper Queens to qualify for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with an emphatic 12 – 0 demolition of Angola.
At club level, the Orlando Pride striker scored 13 goals and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) which steered her team to their maiden NWSL shield and Playoffs Championship.
Captain fantastic also happens to be the second most expensive female footballer in the world behind compatriot Kundananji, who is the world’s most expensive female footballer with a jaw dropping valuation of $860,000.
Kundananji, the Bay FC forward has had a season to boast of as well, inspiring her team to the first playoffs and scoring five times this season which reinforced her status as one of the most lethal strikers in the game.
The pair’s exploits have not only elevated Zambian football on the global stage but also cemented the Copper Queens as one of Africa’s most formidable sides.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, December 3, 2024
