Banda Upbeat of Under-20 Progress

Zambia Under-20 midfielder Henry Banda says he is confident the team
will advance to the next stage of the Caf Africa Youth Championship
qualifiers.

This is despite Zambia enjoying a slender 1-0 home win over Mauritius
from their 1st round, 1 leg match played at Woodlands Stadium in
Lusaka on Sunday.

Banda stole the show on Sunday with a fine second-half performance on
his home international competitive debut after coming on late in the
first half for injured Lameck Tembo.

“It wasn’t easy for most of my teammates because it was their first
time in the national team at Under-20 level and especially playing in
front of such a big crowd cheering on Sunday,” the Zanaco midfielder
said.

“Am confident we will play better away and win again now that they
have experienced the pressure and will be more relaxed.”

Banda is not new to the Under-20 set-up after making his competitive
junior debut at the Cosafa Youth Championship in South Africa last
November.

Although he didn’t score a goal, Banda was Zambia’s biggest revelation
and an influential player from midfield despite the team’s shock 1st
round group stage exit from the Cosafa Youth Championship.

Meanwhile, Banda said is keeping his feet firmly on the ground after
attracting much attention in Zambia’s win over Mauritius at Woodlands
at the weekend.

Banda didn’t disappoint and lived up to expectations despite early
watching from the bench for the first 44 minutes.

The Zanaco midfielder constantly danced around Mauritius defence after
coming on for Tembo and left the crowd on its feet every time had the
ball and he raced into the box.

Banda said he was surprised by the massive applause he received with
every move he made on the pitch and the overnight attention he has
received since the game.

“Am a little surprised with the attention I got from the crowd during
the match and on the streets last night and today,” Banda said who
joined Zanaco this season from Kabwe Warriors.

Banda was together with Warriors striker and his former junior
international team mate Emmanuel Mayuka key in Warriors good form last
season that saw them win the BP Top 8 Cup and finish 4th last year on
Faz Premier League table.

However, his move to Zanaco this season saw him drop off the radar and
he was almost forgotten until he popped-up at Woodlands in the 44th
minute.

“I thought that people maybe knew me from Warriors last season but was
shocked by the attention I got,” Banda said.

Banda’s display against Mauritius is contrast to his form at Zanaco
where he has yet to ignite since leaving Warriors where he scored 4
goals last season.

The teenage midfielder and his Under-20 teammates return to camp in
Lusaka this Wednesday to prepare for the final 2nd leg match away in
Mauritius scheduled for the weekend of July 11-13.

And Zambia won Sunday’s game thanks to an 18th minute goal in the
first half via a free-kick from Nchanga Rangers midfielder Tom
Bakala-young brother of ex-Zambia international Ian Bakala.

The winner is likely to face Egypt in the next stage who took a big
step towards their 2nd round qualification after crushing guests
Zimbabwe 5-0 in Cairo on Sunday.

Winner from the two-way 2nd round match will qualify to the 2009
Africa Youth Championship to be played in Rwanda from January 18 to
February 1.