ORLANDO Pride Football Club has expressed pride in Copper Queens captain and their club’s star player, Barbra Banda who has continued to shine on the big stage.
Banda added another prestigious honour to her growing list of accolades recently after she was named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.
This award adds to Banda’s impressive curriculum vitae which includes being named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship MVP and being nominated for the Ballon d’Or, later won by Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmat.
The BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year Award, voted on by fans worldwide, recognised Banda’s exceptional performance during the 2024 season, having scored 13 goals in the regular season, and four goals in the playoffs.
Her performance inspired the club to a double and a record breaking season.
This year, the Pride set multiple League records, including points in a season, 60, 18 wins, eight consecutive wins and 23 games unbeaten to start the season.
“We are incredibly proud that Barbra has been voted as the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, one of many outstanding achievements she has accomplished during this historic 2024 season,” said the club in a statement issued on social media.
“This accolade – one chosen exclusively by soccer fans from around the globe – is a testament to the impact she has had on the women’s game,both on the field and off.
We are honored to have Barbra represent our Club, our fans and our community, and it fills us with great pride to see her impact recognised
beyond the United States and the National Women’s Soccer League.”
The club reiterated Banda’s impact extends beyond the field, as she is a vocal advocate for women’s soccer in Africa, particularly here in Zambia.
The Pride highlighted the impact Banda’s philanthropy and achievements have had in influencing young girls in the region.
Orlando Pride shared that it will continue supporting Banda as she continues to make history.
In a decade of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award, Banda is one of only three Africans to have been nominated, and only the second African to get the accolade behind Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in 2015.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba November 28, 2024
