Banda pleased with impact so far
13 October 2014
Maritzburg United left-sided player Kumbulani Banda is happy with the way his career in the Premier Soccer League has started out…
After having initially awaited for his 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 caught up with Banda, a three-time Premier Soccer League championship winner in his home country of Zimbabwe, and put the following questions to the powerful dreadlocked left-footed player.
Maritzburgunited.co.za: Can you start please by telling us a bit more about your earlier career back in Zimbabwe?
Kumbulani Banda: I started out playing for the junior team at Rail Stars, a Bulawayo-based club where I am 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 this year, before making the move to Maritzburg.
Maritzburgunited.co.za: You will be in good company in terms of Zimbabwean players plying their trades in the PSL…did this influence your move?
Kumbulani Banda: 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 here. It’s also been great to have a countryman here at Maritzburg with Terrence Mandaza, who has been like a big brother to me.
Maritzburgunited.co.za: So Mandaza has helped you to settle down in your new environment?
Kumbulani Banda: 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 to the PSL, 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 being having able to play regularly.
Maritzburgunited.co.za: What has it been like for you playing as a left winger rather than your more accustomed left back position?
Kumbulani Banda: 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.
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