God’s time is the best, Barbra Banda wins CAF award

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LAST night the entire nation was taken through an adrenaline rush as celebrations erupted while social media was on fire, after two Zambian women won awards at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.

Assistant referee, Diana Chikotesha and Copper Queens team captain, Barbra Banda both won the 2024 CAF Assistant Referee of the Year and 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the year respectively.

Banda, was placed in a tough category of CAF Women’s player of the year alongside Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie and Moroco’s Sanaa Mssoudy, but still managed to get the crown after an impressive season.

Recently, Banda won the BBC Best Female Player Award with so much controversy and clinched both her name and the Zambian flag on the FIFPro Best World 11 women’s team in the world and last night, the Continental FIFpro 11.

On Monday night, Banda became the first female Zambian to win the Africa Player of the Year Award.

“It has never been easy for me to reach this point, but to the people that I was nominated alongside with, I believe the best time is yet to come for you, individually you have done so well, and God’s time is the best.”

“And I want to say thank you to my management, my agent, they have been with me through out, and I think this season has been great to me. And to all the Zambian’s I would like to say thank you to you fro the support that give me. I will say, Zambia Ku Chalo,” said Banda as she received her award.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Andrew Kamanga congratulated both Banda and Chikotesha who was also crowned as CAF Best Women Assistant Referee.

He said the two women had scored firsts in their fields by winning the top awards.

“On behalf of my executive committee and the entire football families I extend a big congratulations to the two great ambassadors of our game on the continent and beyond.”

“Our Zambia Women National Team skipper Barbra Banda updated her already incredible story of resilience and fortitude in the game by being named the finest player in the ladies’ game on the continent,” Kamanga said.

He added that for many young footballers trying to find their foothold in the game, there can be no perfect role model than Barbra as her story resonates well with many aspiring footballers and athletes.

“This has put the icing on the cake for the great milestones scored by our various national teams that have all qualified for CAF competitions next year. We can only hope to build on these steps in the next year,” said Kamanga.

By Buumba Mwitumwa

Kalemba December 17, 2024

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