FAZ Women’s National Representative, Colonel Priscilla Katoba has heaped praise on Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda following her and Orlando Pride’s historic win of the NWSL shield.
Banda and the Pride in the early hours of Monday clinched the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Shield for the first time in their history following a 2-0 win over Washington Spirit.
This is Barbra Banda’s first season at the Orlando based club following her switch from Shanghai Shengli back in March.
The NWSL Shield is awarded to the team that has the best overall record in the NWSL standings, and Pride are winners with 57 unassailable points, and three games to spare.
“It’s a big achievement for Barbra Banda to win the shield in her first season. It’s testament to her talent, resilience and discipline. She is a special player,” Col Katoba told the ZamFoot Crew.
“She has shown her quality to the World, which is something not new to us in Zambia. We already knew her quality but it’s good the World is now catching up” she added.
The Zambian Women’s Football National Rep went on to implore the Copper Queens skipper to stay disciplined and continue raising the Zambian flag high.
“As an Association obviously we are so proud of her. She just needs to continue being disciplined. As a military person she knows too well about that and I have no doubt she will continue excelling in her endeavours,” she said.
Banda became the first Zambian to be nominated for the Ballon D’or and Col Katoba has wished her well in the race saying she has already made the country proud by getting the nomination.
“The Ballon D’ors are arguably the biggest awards in football and getting a nomination is a big deal. All the best to her and we are all cheering for her,” Col Katoba remarked.
Banda has contributed 13 goals and six assists in 19 matches. Overall, Pride are unbeaten in 23 matches, winning 17 and drawing six games in the regular season.
Banda also made history at the Olympics by becoming the first player in women’s football to score three hat-tricks at the Olympic Games.
