Jacob Banda, a Zesco United veteran goalkeeper, says the team will rebound strongly next season after enduring a tough season in the 2025-26 season.

Banda spent over 15 years at Zesco United where he won eight league titles before retiring in 2021. He made 1,000 appearances for Zega Mambo.

Banda, who is now the club’s goalkeeper coach, added that the team started last season shruggingly but picked up form towards the end of the season.

The Ndola giants missed out on continental football after ending the season in 10th position.

“It was a difficult season, but by the grace of God, we managed to finish not in a good position but a respectable position because we had a bad season just from the beginning,” he stated.

Banda has assured the fans that the club will work to reclaim their position in the Zambian Super League next season.

“We can only promise fans that we will do well next season,” Banda assured.

He also explained how he has adapted to being a coach after actively playing for the club.

“It’s been great so far as a goalkeeper coach; my goal after retiring was to help future goalies and do what I used to do; that was my dream,” he said.

He admitted, “There is a lot of work to do because what you are thinking is not what the goalkeeper is thinking.” It is easy when you are on the pitch; you can do what you are thinking, but when there is another person, you tend to wonder, ‘Is he going to do what we trained?'”

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