Hundreds of people converged at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo yesterday to lay to rest Warriors and FC Platinum midfielder Brian Banda.
Banda died in a car accident which also claimed two lives along the Zvishavane-Filabusi Road on Sunday.
He was 29.
Football leaders, including ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi and his deputy Kennedy Ndebele, Premier Soccer League (PSL) acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rodwell Thabe, current and former players, as well as fans from various teams, were present to pay their last respects to Banda.
It was a sombre atmosphere as family, friends and teammates of Banda struggled to comprehend the diminutive midfielder’s death.
Banda’s wife and mother, as well as the player’s two-week-old son, whom he had not met, were present.
A visibly distraught FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza described Banda as a talented player who gave his all for the game, insisting that he had lost a son, not necessarily a player he was coaching.
“I’m not speaking as a coach, but rather as a father, and I have lost a son,” said Mapeza.
Magwizi paid tribute to Banda, saying there are no words to describe the loss.
“There are no words that can ever fully capture the grief. No truth, not enough; no speech can cater for the pain that a young man, husband, teammate, and leader [brought] every time he stepped onto the pitch,” said Magwizi.
Warriors striker Prince Dube, who was Banda’s teammate at Highlanders as well as the national team, fought back tears when asked to speak about the late midfielder.
All Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matchday19 fixtures will observe a moment of silence before kick-off to honour Banda.
