Green Buffaloes crowned Champions of the inaugural Barbra Banda Foundation Annual Women’s Challenge Cup
By Aaron Mubanga | February 13, 2021
Green Buffaloes Women’s football club were crowned champions of the inaugural Barbra Banda Foundation Annual Women’s Challenge Cup after they beat Bauleni United Sports Academy (BUSA) 3-1 in a final played at the New Bauleni Community Stadium on Saturday.
Bauleni United which was made up mostly of Zambia U-20 and U-17 Women’s national team players started strong with some good interchange of passes and nearly went ahead in the early stages if not for their wastefulness in the final third.
Zambia Women’s national team midfielder Irene ‘Xavi’ Lungu put the Zambia Army-sponsored outfit with a brilliant free kick in the 17th minute. Jackline ‘Balotelli’ Masenke added a second twelve minutes later with a brilliant strike that left Memory in the BUSA goal with no chance.
In the second half, BUSA came back a better team and nearly pulled one back with a brilliant free-kick from Maweta Gloria Chilenga only for Aisha Mbwana in the Green Buffaloes goal to pull off an even better save. Maweta had another chance to pull a goal back but her header went wide off the goal.
Irene Lungu added a third goal in the 67th minute with another brilliantly taken set-piece. Skipper Salome Phiri pulled one back for BUSA with a header but it was a little too late as Buffaloes held on to win the match 3-1 and lift the inaugural Annual Women’s Challenge Cup.
The Sponsor of the tournament Barbra Banda confirmed that this tournament will be an ongoing thing.
“I just want to thank everyone who has been there for me and the teams who took part in the tournament. To my fellow players, I wish you all the best. This is not the last tournament hence all I need is support,” she said.
Green Buffaloes Women’s football club President, Colonel Priscilla Katoba who was the guest of honor at the event pledged to continue supporting the agenda of promoting Women’s football.
Nkwazi Queens finished third after they saw off Luyando Foundation Girls in the third and fourth playoff 5-4 on post-match penalties and walked away with a K2,000 while Luyando Foundation Girls pocketed K1,500. The winners Green Buffaloes walked away with K2000, a set of Jersey and winners trophy while BUSA walked away with K2,500 and a runners-up trophy.
Green Buffaloes striker Jackline Masenke bagged the top goalscorer award with four goals, All-Stars were recognized as the most improved team while Irene Lungu won the player of the tournament.
2021 Barbara Banda Foundation and BUSA Women’s Challenge Cup |Saturday, 13th February 2021,
BUSA 1-3 Green Buffaloes
(Salome Phiri | Irene ‘Xavi’ Lungu x2, Jackeline Masenke )