Exclusive: Spiffing talent, Why is Peter Banda still clubless?

A spiffing talent, Peter Banda’s football career has come under threat, a journey that has been crippled by persistent injuries. The Flames star is yet to kick the ball since leaving Bullets in January this year prompting Patrick Mabedi to drop him from his provisional 30-man squad.

Banda who made a breakthrough into elite football in 2019 was a promising talent and his move to Moldova where he played for Sherrif Traspol was tipped to be a step forward for the youngster.

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His first season in TNM Super League saw him scooping the Player of the Season award, it was worth waiting as his uncle-cum-manager, Griffin Saenda Jnr snubbed offers from big teams earlier before his move to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in March 2019.

The then-Flames Coach, Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) recommended the transfer of the player to the big clubs saying he was mature enough to compete at an elite level. Top African Clubs were keen to sign Banda before tasting elite league, Bidvest Wits, and Orlando Pirates including European giants, Club Brugge. FC Dila Gori were also interested in signing the blossoming talent.

The much-awaited move to Europe was sealed as the player joined Charles Petro at Traspol. Banda joined on loan but Petro signed a permanent move.

Football is something that has been deep-rooted in Banda as his father, the late Dr Chikondi Banda made his name in the industry. His move to Sheriff, a team that plays in the UEFA Champions League could act as an inspiration to the talent of his generation.

“I’m deeply excited for this opportunity that FC Sheriff has given me. It’s a dream come true because I’ve always had the bigger picture of me playing in Europe. Getting this deal is not only a big thing to me but it’s also a big thing to Malawian football, especially to my fellow youngsters who have ambitions to play on a bigger stage like this one, so when I say I’m deeply excited, I really am because this is a very important step for me,” Banda told Sheriff’s Media after sealing his move to the Club in 2021.

Why did Banda move from his “dream” Europe back to Africa?

A talented player couldn’t find it difficult to settle at Sherrif, in a new environment. It wasn’t completely new as Petro was already an established player at the Club.

“Charles was one of my close friends back home and reuniting with him here is something that I cherish because it has made adaptation easier here in Tiraspol. He’s someone that I’ve always looked up to, both when he was playing for Bullets as well as the Malawi National Team and I know he’s going to support me and make me a better player at the new team,” added Banda in his first interviews with FC Sheriff Press Office.

The dream team of the 30th tour of the Championship of Moldova in the National Division was published. In this round, FC Sheriff beat away SC Codru, Lozova with a score of 6: 0.

Forward Peter Banda was recognized as the best player of the tour, they scored a hat-trick in just 24 minutes. This was the second fastest-shooting hat trick this season, behind only Andrii Bliznichenko, who scored three goals against FC Floresti in 11 minutes.

In six months with the team, Banda was one of the most loved players at the Club, he scored seven goals in the league. Our understanding says that the Club was keen to keep the player beyond the expiration of his loan deal from Bullets.

At 18 years and 8 months, he made his debut for the national team of his country, Peter Banda’s football career remains in balance. He joined Simba SC in August 2021 on a permanent move. Bullets were reactant to let the player join Simba SC from Moldova.

“Bullets wanted Banda to remain in Europe because they felt like it was the best way for him to appear at world level,” a source said.

However, Bullets were said to be satisfied with the offer that was made by the Tanzania giants. Banda’s move to Simba was not on football matters but the Club offered huge money for the player to sign with the team. Simba paid Banda a salary of five times what he was getting in Moldova. Bullets pocketed MK90 Million for the transfer.

After a great start to the team, a performance which saw him being called “Malawian wonderkid” by commentators, Banda also became a supporters’ entertainer with his style of play. But two years later, due to injuries, Banda terminated his contract with the team after seeing his minutes in the ground being trimmed. He returned to his parent club, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets but he signed a short contract, a four-month deal.

“Bullets were not happy with Banda’s move to Tanzania”

Just after the expiry of his four-month contract at the Club, Peter Banda “forced” his way out of the team after being offered a huge amount of money by Tanzania Club, Singida FC who were ready to give him MK130 Million as a signing-on fee.

However, the player didn’t play a single game for the team as Singida are serving a FIFA Ban. It remains yet to be known if the Club honored the signing fee.

According to Reports, Peter Banda’s agent and team of lawyers are set to report Singida Black Stars to FIFA. For almost five months, the Club refused to pay Banda his salaries. Understand: His signing-on fees (USD 80,000) haven’t been paid either. They also don’t answer his calls or messages.

Banda returned to Malawi and he was ready to rejoin Bullets, as per sources. However, The People’s Team hierarchy still values the talent of the player but they feel like Banda didn’t leave the Club on “good terms.”

Reports suggest that Peter was not happy with his playing minutes last season as his manager felt like his client was good enough to start games.

“Banda is still connected to Bullets, he is still a Bullets son but the Club is not ready to allow him to return to the team. Bullets wanted to keep him after knowing that he is having injuries.

“They wanted him to be with the team until he regained his fitness level and became an injury-free player. The management feels like the player let them down,” added the sources.