Banda standing next to the gifted land – Photo Courtesy StarSite Media.
BBC world female footballer of the year 2024 and CAF female footballer of the year Barbara Banda has been gifted a plot by StarSite properties in appreciation of her performance and patriotism to the national flag.
“We have today (Friday) officially handed over the plot we promised Barbra Banda,” read a statement on StarSite official social media pages.
In a separate interview, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of StarSite said: “StarSite Properties wants to see Zambian stars shine through investments because football career end but life continues.”
Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema in appreciating the performance of the footballer and the global recognition attained hosted a luncheon for Banda and other athletes last Friday at which a number of sponsors pledged their support and sponsorship.
Banda became the first Zambian footballer since Kalusha Bwalya in 1988 to win a CAF Player of the Year award after she claimed the Women’s prize at the 2024 CAF Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 24-year-old was a worthy winner after a stunning year in which she showcased her quality for club and country to a watching world on some of the biggest stages in the women’s game.
The year 2024 has been synonymous with memorable exploits for Zambia’s Copper Queens and during the Paris Olympic Games, Banda made history by becoming the first player to score a third hat-trick at the Olympics after her two brilliant previous performances in Japan three years earlier.
After four successful years at Shanghai Shengli in China, she made a fresh start by joining Orlando Pride in the United States this year, becoming the second most expensive player in women’s football history.
In her first season in the National Women’s Soccer League, the Zambian captain caused a sensation by scoring the decisive goal in the final of the playoffs, one of 17 she managed in 25 games.
Comments