Banda pleased with impact

Sport
Maritzburg United left winger, Zimbabwean Khumbulani Banda, is happy with the way his career in the Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) has started out.

MARITZBURG — Maritzburg United left winger, Zimbabwean Khumbulani Banda, is happy with the way his career in the Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) has started out.

After having initially awaited for a work permit to arrive, Banda has gone on to play in four league matches, as well as a Telkom Knockout match for the Team of Choice.

Maritzburgunited.co.za (MCZ) caught up with Banda (KB), a three-time PSL championship winner in his home country of Zimbabwe, and put the following questions to the powerful dreadlocked left-footed player. Below are excepts:

MCZ Can you start please by telling us a bit more about your earlier career back in Zimbabwe?

KB: I started out playing for the junior team at Railstars, a Bulawayo-based club where I am come from. After graduating to the senior team, I went on to play for Bulawayo Rovers, before being loaned to Dynamos, back in 2009.

I played in the Champions League for Dynamos in 2010, before joining FC Platinum where I stayed for two years.

After that I was at How Mine, where I started in January last year and Highlanders this year, before making the move to Maritzburg.

MCZ: You will be in good company in terms of Zimbabwean players plying their trades in the PSL. Did this influence your move?

KB: Yes, it did affect my decision in a positive way. I watched from Zimbabwe when my compatriots like Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona and Cuthbert Malajila came to South Africa and improved their games.

I knew that the standard of football was good in South Africa and I was motivated by my fellow Zimbabweans in terms of what they were achieving. It’s also been great to have a countryman at Maritzburg with Terrence Mandaza, who has been like a big brother to me.

MCZ: So Mandaza has helped you to settle down in your new environment?

KB: Yes, he has, but so have all the players, the management and the technical team.

They have made it easy for me to leave home and to play in a new league. I have always wanted to take my career in the Absa, and maybe one day Europe, so I’m very happy to be here, and I’m happy with the way things have gone so far on the field with me playing regularly.

MCZ: What has it been like for you playing as a left winger rather than your more accustomed left-back position?

KB: The coach had a couple of players in that position out injured. He believed in me that I could do the job there — I’m doing my best and I think I’ve done OK so far.

— MARITZBURGUNITED.CO.ZA: