Gotham FC welcomes the Orlando Pride on October 20 as the two NWSL powerhouses try to wrap up their regular seasons in dominant fashion. In the heart of Gotham, the NJ/NY juggernaut is almost invincible, taking eight of their previous 10 contests in Red Bull Arena. Orlando should counter with electric Zambian international Barbra Banda, in particular as the Pride has never lost when she starts.
Even though Orlando couldn’t keep their 24-game undefeated run alive, falling 2-0 last week away to the Portland Thorns in their first loss in more than a year, a boost from Banda would guarantee the Florida side enters the playoffs with a leg up (if you don’t mind our saying).
All Modesty Aside, Banda Is The Best
It’s tough to play against Gotham FC, not only due to the ever-present aura of Batman and Robin, but because the team boasts a young striker named Esther González, as well as a speedster called Rose Lavelle. But of all teams, Orlando has a fair shot in and around the Big Apple since they can score goals in a hurry thanks to the vet Marta, Summer Yates, and “the most in-form striker in world football” (according to U.S. Head Coach Emma Smith), a certain Barbra Banda.
Pride honcho Seb Hines recalls, “With Barbra in particular, we knew what we were getting: we were getting a goalscorer. We got a player who has an eye for goal and puts herself in really good positions for goals. She finds a way, and it’s brilliant to see.” Just in case you wanted to know a bit more about the Orlando Pride attacker who’s been nominated for the 2024 Women’s Player of The Year:
- Barbra Banda fought in five pro boxing bouts, won all of them, and soon after changed her focus to soccer
- Cristiano Ronaldo is her idol
- She notched Zambia’s second-ever World Cup goal, which also turned out to be the 1,000th tally in women’s World Cup history. Banda also starred at the 2024 Paris Olympics, racking up a first half hattrick against the Aussies (and in the process became Zambia’s all-time leading Olympic scorer, both men’s and women’s, with 10).
Not to be confused with Zimbabwe (near South Africa) or Zanzibar (a famous port in neighboring Tanzania), Zambia is a country that rests on a high plateau in south-central Africa next to the Democratic Republic of Congo (which used to be known as Zaire, a nation responsible for one of the worst defeats in the annals of the men’s World Cup, a 9-0 thrashing at the hands and feet of then Yugoslavia in 1974).
The Pride Pays Cash for Goals
Barbra Banda was an international star way back in 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics, and her stock rose even higher after the 2023 World Cup. But she really hit her stride when Orlando forked over a cool $740,000 to Chinese outfit Shanghai Shengli in March, according to the BBC. In fact, that was the second-highest signing in women’s soccer history behind none other than Banda’s Zambian teammate Racheal Kundananji who currently suits up for Bay FC.
With 13 goals for Orlando so far, and the playoffs just around the corner, Barbra Banda has already paid back a good amount of the principal and some interest too. And how would she like to be remembered, after it’s all said and done?
“I think I want to be the greatest footballer in the world, so I want to make that name so that everyone can read about me and say, ‘OK, we had Barbra Banda,’” the striker exclaimed.
A win and a couple of goals in Gotham would be a great way to keep the ball rolling.
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