Red Arrows striker Ricky Banda collected a double on Wednesday Night’s 2021/22 FAZ Awards Gala in Lusaka, beating former teammate Tresor Tshibwabwa, who recently joined Sekhukhune.
The 21-year-old striker, who was recently linked with a move to AmaZulu, took home both the Zambia Footballer of The Year and the Golden Boot after netting 16 league goals that helped propel Arrows to their second-ever FAZ Super League title last season.
Banda beat off competition from his ex-club mate and defender Tresor Tshibwabwa, who moved to South African PSL club Sekhukhune United in the off-season.
His predecessor for Golden Boot and former Zanaco striker Moses Phiri, who joined Tanzanian champions Young Africans in May, was also on the final shortlist for the FAZ Player of The Year.
Banda’s honours come a fortnight after he scored his debut Chipolopolo The goal in a 4-3 win over Senegal on July 15 in the 2022 COSAFA Cup semifinals in Durban that Zambia went on to lift after beating Namibia 1-0 in the final on July 17.
He is currently on 2022 CHAN qualifying duty ahead of Saturday’s first round, final leg fixture against Mozambique in Lusaka. Banda was not the only Chipolopolo player from the COSAFA/CHAN team to take home an accolade.
Power Dynamos’ 20-year-old midfielder Joshua Mutale won the FAZ Young Player of The Year Award that comes in the wake of his Man of the Match Award in the 2022 COSAFA Cup final.
Mutale beat off competition from Ricky Banda and defender Chipyoka Songa, who recently left, demoted Lusaka Dynamos for Zesco United.
Meanwhile, Arrows collected two more honours on the night.
Chisi Mbewe won the FAZ Coach of the Year Honour, while veteran striker James Chamanga took home the Most Disciplined Player accolade.
Other winners on the night were Mathews Hamalila, who won the Referee of The Year and Thomas Kayela, who won the Best Assistant Referee Award.
And the FAZ Presidential Award went to two Zambia national women’s team personalities. Zambia women’s national team coach Bruce Mwape is one of them and is fresh from qualifying Zambia for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and finishing third at 2022 WAFCON in Morocco.
The other recipient is ex-midfielder Mary Mwakapila, who is out of the game on health grounds.
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