For her athleticism and singlehanded ensuring that Zambia Copper Queens will host the country’s flag in the Paris 2024 Olympics games, the Zambia Chief of Army Staff has promoted Barbara Banda to Staff Sergeant.
Lt General Sitali Dennis Alubuzwi said the elevation is desirable having successfully commandeered Zambia Women’s Football Team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Before her promotion, Banda was the Copper Queen captain and Orlando Pride Striker. Her resilient and leadership role she exhibited in the game between Morocco vs Zambia Olympic 2024 Qualifiers, earned her so much accolades.
During the match, Banda scored twice to send the Copper Queens to the Women’s Football tournament to be held in Paris as Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club Go Minder- Ngambo Musole made superb saves to prevent the Atlas Lionesses to find the back of the net.
Lt Gen Alibuzwi says all the promotion procedures will be followed in awarding Barbara her next rank. The Commander Zambia Army congratulated the Copper Queens for putting up a spirited fight to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 aggregate triumph following their 2-0 win at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
In her remarks during her decoration, Barbara Banda thanked God for the promotion, saying she is “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. God’s time is the best,” Banda reiterated.
