BANDA Babra

General
LEADER
She was captain of the first Zambian women's football team to qualify for an Olympic Games. She led the team to victory as they beat Cameroon on away goals after a two-legged aggregate score of 4-4 in the final of the Confederation of African Football [CAF] Qualifying Tournament. The win secured the team's spot at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (techwatch.news, 01 Jan 2021; bbc.co.uk, 10 Mar 2020)

BOXING AND FOOTBALL
Having competed professionally in boxing, she feels that the sport also benefited her career in football. "Boxing helps keep me on my toes. It helps me to think fast and to understand the importance of balancing attack and defence, which is also key in football." (techwatch.news, 01 Jan 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2021 she launched the Barbra Banda Foundation, which helps support and promote women's sport, while campaigning against gender-based violence in Zambia. One of the foundation's first acts was to launch an annual women's Challenge Cup competition in Zambia. "Like many, I did not come from a place of abundance, hence I understand what it means to look for assistance and discover that no one is willing to help you. I have also experienced how much easier life gets when you have people ready to help you on your path to success. Economic inequality, gender-based violence, lack of access to opportunities, teenage pregnancies and early marriages are some of the major issues that women and girls are facing today and we want to help alleviate that using the power of sport." (zambianfootball.com, 02 Feb 2021)

PLAYING IN SPAIN
She believes that her switch from Zambia to play in the Spanish Primera Division for Logrono in 2018 changed her style of play. "The way I used to play in Zambia and how I played in Europe was quite different. Spain is more developed and their league is competitive compared to Zambia. Each team you play offers good competition. Playing in Spain helped me to improve in so many ways. I learned a lot there, including new tactics, systems and styles of play. I learned how to understand the game." She left Logrono to sign for Chinese Women's Super League club Shanghai Shengli in 2020. (sportnews2day.com, 05 Jan 2021; techwatch.news, 01 Jan 2021; tokyo2020.org, 03 Jun 2020)

ZAMBIA STRUGGGLES
She has said that there is untapped potential in women's football in Zambia, which she feels is not being fulfilled due to a lack of sponsorship and the country's focus on the men's game. "They concentrate more on the men's league here. They only look after us girls when we do well. We do not have sponsorship, so we find it difficult to improve but I know, with time, we are progressing bit by bit." (tokyo2020.org, 03 Jun 2020)