Olympic Games: Staff Sergeant Banda gingered for more exploits in Paris

Does the name Staff Sergeant Barbara Banda ring a bell? Perhaps!

But does Copper Queens of Zambia ring a bell? Certainly, especially after the team edged Morocco in a two legged Olympic qualifier to pick a ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games billed for July 26 to August 11.

Captain of the team is Barbara Banda who also plies her trade with Florida based Orlando Pride.

The 24 year old led the Copper Queens to their debutant Olympic appearance in Japan was recently promoted to Staff Seargent by the Zambia Army Commander Lt. General Sitali Alubuzwi as she successfully led the women national team to qualify for a second Olympic appearance in Paris.

Banda scored twice to qualify the Copper Queens thanks to a 3-2 aggregate thus denying Atlas Lionesses of Morocco who came so close from picking one of the tickets with the second ticket already in the kitty of Super Falcons of Nigeria.

"Thank you God, for the promotion, humbled to be promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant by the Army commander, Lieutenant General Dennis Sitali Alibuzwi.

Thank you sir for always believing in us. Congratulations to my teammates who were also promoted" she enthused

The skipper was promoted along with other Green Buffaloes players who were part of the team to their next respective ranks.

Banda's promotion is no doubt a charge for her to lead the team to conquer and an indication that the team will fight harder than they did in their debut in Japan four years ago.

Free scoring Banda has netted 53 goals for the Zambian senior national team since upgrading from U-17 to senior national team in 2016 in 60 appearances.  She joined Orlando Pride from Chinese Super League

Shanghai Shengli this year but not without scoring 18 goals in 13 appearances for the Chinese side.

Olympic debut in Japan may have passed as a baptism of fire after the team crashed out in the first round conceding 15 goals and scoring seven.

The opener was particularly embarrassing 3-10 it ended against Netherlands, followed by a 4-4 draw against China and lone goal loss against Brazil to hit the exit door.

In spite of that however Banda showed the stuff she was made off scoring hat-trick twice against Netherlands and China so the team left defeated but left no one in doubt that they were fighters. Returning to the Olympics four years later is a sign of hunger to fight harder and perhaps perform better.

This time drawn against United States, Germany and Australia the Copper Queens definitely have enough nuts to crack to survive the group.

But with new rank hanging on the shoulder, be rest assured that the fight will be fierce not only for the team but also for team Captain who has been gingered to fight to the finish.