The 2022 Swedish Allsvenskan league which began on 2 April and came to an end on 6 November was Zambian Midfielder Emmanuel Banda’s best season ever in Europe.
The Chipolopolo star who suffered a series of injuries the previous season in which he only scored 4 goals and contributed with 4 assists in 22 appearances had a slight increase in his numbers this season at Djurgarden IF.
Banda played more games in the 2022 season as he made 27 league appearances and doubled his numbers with more assists having scored 4 goals and provided 4 assists in just 8 starts.
Despite his tally in the league being stagnant, the Zambian international was directly involved in 12 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions and helped his team finish as group F winners with 16 points in the Europa Conference League where he became the second Zambian to score in that competition after Patson Daka.
Banda scored a goal in the qualifiers of the Conference league as well as two goals and an assist in the group stage.
He scored an overall tally of 7 goals across all competitions and provided 5 assists for Swedish side Djurgarden IF- the most he has ever done from the time he went to Europe.
In July 2017, Banda moved to Belgian First Divison A side K.V.Oostende on a three-year contract and made 28 appearances in which he scored only two goals and provided one assist.
He was later loaned to French side in January 2019 before signing a three-year contract with the Swedish giants Djurgårdens IF in February 2020.
The 25-year-old midfielder has since made 75 competitive appearances for the club and scored 12 goals with 7 assists in the last three years in Sweden despite being in and out with injuries.
This was his third season at the club and it’s seen him outscore his stats since he moved to Europe and also got him the highest accolade ever in his career in Sweden when he was nominated for the UEFA Europa conference league player of the week after scoring and assisting against Molde in that competition.
Banda took to social media to celebrate his success in the just-ended season: “What a season it has been. Sad that we didn’t win the league but super proud of the many goals I attained with the team and individually. I am proud that my team made it to the European games and finished top of the group but the greatest achievement has been me scoring the most number of goals and assists in a single season so far in my career.”
While many fans are now tipping him to make a move to a top European club, Banda is focused on his current club’s next assignments in the Europa Conference league and also the National team where he is expected to join the Chipolopolo camp who will play Israel on 17 November 2022 ahead of the Africa Cup qualifiers which are set to resume in March next year.
