The Southern Courier enjoyed a chat with the lanky goalkeeper, Stanford Banda, and discovered some interesting facts.
He started playing soccer at the age of nine in 2016, playing centre-back because he could quickly read the game.
“I was mastering the game as a sweeper and I was good at it. Five years later, I developed into a goalkeeper. In 2021, Iker Casillas from Spain inspired me so I thought I could make it as a goalkeeper,” he said.
Banda noted that in early 2021 he was walking with his brother and friends at Rotunda Park, Turffontein, when he saw Black City Aces training.
“I saw it was fun. I told myself that the following day I was going to join them. Coach Sipho Shiba told me that I’m a goalkeeper, which I shied away from. He started training me and in three months, I improved to become one of the best goalkeepers in the southern suburbs.
“I played for Black City Aces where I achieved a lot, such as playing in big tournaments.
“There are two tournaments that I will never forget. The first one was when I was involved in penalty shootouts since I played as a goalkeeper, the second one was captaining Hoërskool Die Fakkel and the tournament was hosted by the Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi.
“I was the goalkeeper of the tournament, securing three clean sheets,” noted Banda.
In 2023, Banda was called by Randolph Hoods, the senior coach of Robertsham Callies. It helped to improve him in tough games. This year he went back to his former team, Black City Aces, and that’s where he had an opportunity to attend trials in Lenasia through Hola Skoko Football Club.
He was then selected to do the final tryouts in Villaviciosa De Odón, Spain.
