# Brightwell Banda > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Brightwell_Banda > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Brightwell_Banda.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brightwell_Banda > Source revision: 1343890859 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Zambian football coach (1946–2022)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Banda Brightwell | image = | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|9|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Zambia | death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|8|26|1946|9|22|df=y}} | death_place = [Lusaka](/source/Lusaka), Zambia | height = | position = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1968–1970 |clubs1= [Zambia Army](/source/Green_Buffaloes_FC) | manageryears1 = 1971–1980 |managerclubs1 = [Zambia Army](/source/Green_Buffaloes_FC) | manageryears2 = 1976–1986 |managerclubs2 = [Zambia](/source/Zambia_national_football_team) | manageryears3 = 1985–1986 |managerclubs3 = Ndola United | manageryears4 = 2004–2005 |managerclubs4 = Red Arrows }} '''Brightwell Banda''' (22 September 1946 – 26 August 2022) was a Zambian football coach who won Zambia her first ever [Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations](/source/Council_for_East_and_Central_Africa_Football_Associations) ([CECAFA](/source/CECAFA)) Cup in 1984 and was also in charge of Zambia at [CAN 1982](/source/1982_African_Cup_of_Nations) and [CAN 1986](/source/1986_African_Cup_of_Nations). He later coached Zambia's Division I South side Young Eagles in [Chipata](/source/Chipata). ==Career== Banda played his football for Zambia Army (now [Green Buffaloes](/source/Green_Buffaloes_F.C.)) though he never had a great playing career. After getting his coaching badges in [East Germany](/source/East_Germany), He coached [Buffaloes](/source/Buffaloes_F.C.) in the mid-70s and first took charge of Zambia with [Freddie Mwila](/source/Freddie_Mwila) on a temporary basis after Ante Buselic's departure, leading Zambia to the 1976 CECAFA tournament in [Zanzibar](/source/Zanzibar) where they lost to [Uganda](/source/Uganda_national_football_team) in the final. Banda filled in again as the FAZ looked for an expatriate coach and his immediate task was to steer Zambia past Uganda in a World Cup qualifier and he managed this thanks in no small part to [Godfrey Chitalu](/source/Godfrey_Chitalu)’s brace in a 4–2 win on 27 February 1977 in Ndola.Mukwala, John. "Zambia tames Uganda" Times of Zambia, 28 February 1977, p.8 And when Ted Virba was sacked in June 1977 after only two and a half months in charge, Banda was back again for a Cup of Nations qualifier against [Algeria](/source/Algeria_national_football_team) in [Lusaka](/source/Lusaka) which Zambia won 2–0 and qualified to CAN 1978 after a penalty shootout.Kalwisha, Wellington. "We’ve done it – at last!" ''Zambia Daily Mail'', 27 June 1977, p.8 He was back in the saddle again after [Ted Dumitru](/source/Ted_Dumitru)’s abrupt departure in July 1981 and he led Zambia to a 3–2 aggregate victory over [Morocco](/source/Morocco_national_football_team) with a 2–0 second leg victory in Lusaka, a victory which sent Zambia to the 1982 CAN in Libya. Zambia did not have the best of preparations, travelling to Libya without having played any international friendly matches prior to the tournament. Although they lost their opening game to Algeria 1–0, Zambia topped their group with victories over [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia_national_football_team) and [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria_national_football_team) which sent her into the semi-finals where they lost to the hosts 2–1 but salvaged some pride by beating Algeria 2–0 in the third and fourth play-off, a match which the Algerians did not particularly seem interested in. Banda was then replaced by [Bill McGarry](/source/Bill_McGarry) but he bounced back two years later, when he took over from Jeff Butler and led the team to their first ever [CECAFA](/source/CECAFA_Cup) success in Uganda in December 1984. His reward was a promotion from [Lt. Colonel](/source/Lt._Colonel) to full [Colonel](/source/Colonel) in the army. The following year, Banda became the first Zambian to sign a full-time contract as national team coach when he signed a three-year deal and he underlined this when Zambia demolished [Cameroun](/source/Cameroun_national_football_team) 4–1 in Lusaka in a World Cup qualifier and went through to the next round after a 1–1 draw in [Yaoundé](/source/Yaound%C3%A9) in the second leg.Mukoka, Augustine "Banda bemoans state of Zambian football" ''The Post'', 9 February 2010 [https://archive.today/20130201020725/http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=558] (retrieved 2 August 2012) They however lost to [Algeria](/source/Algeria_national_football_team) 3–0 on aggregate to bow out of the race but knocked out [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria_national_football_team) of the CAN ‘86 qualifying run after a 0–0 draw in [Lagos](/source/Lagos) and 1–0 win in Lusaka. Zambia also failed to defend their CECAFA crown in October which was won by hosts [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe_national_football_team). After a disappointing first round exit at [Egypt ‘86](/source/1986_African_Cup_of_Nations) which Banda attributed to inadequate preparations, he was relieved of his duties and he went back to his army post.Anon. "Coach Banda dropped" ''Times of Zambia'', 9 September 1986, p.8 He later served as Technical Advisor of Zambian Premier league side [Zanaco](/source/Zanaco_F.C.) and when [Red Arrows](/source/Red_Arrows_F.C.) won their first and only premier league title in 2004, a decision was taken by the teams’ management early the following season to replace the championship winning coach Mathews Phiri with Banda. The reason given for this rather controversial move was the need for someone with more experience to lead Arrows to the group stage of the [CAF Champions League](/source/CAF_Champions_League). It was no easy task as Arrows faced defending champions [Enyimba](/source/Enyimba_F.C.) of Nigeria. After losing the first leg 3–0, Arrows geared up for the home leg hoping for an upset but were thrashed 6–1 to send them packing. Banda was dismissed shortly after that. After some time out of the limelight, Banda resurfaced as coach of Young Eagles and the retired army officer was confident of leading the team to the Premier League. ==Later life and death== Banda later lived in [Chipata](/source/Chipata).{{cite news |last1=Lumba |first1=Hildah |last2=Chimfwembe |first2=Moses |title=Brightwell Banda: First local Chipolopolo coach |url=http://www.times.co.zm/?p=41574 |access-date=17 March 2026 |work=[Times of Zambia](/source/Times_of_Zambia) |date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225175620/http://www.times.co.zm/?p=41574 |archive-date=25 December 2019}} He died on 26 August 2022, at the age of 75.{{cite news |title=Zambia : Coach Brightwell Banda Dies |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2022/08/26/coach-brightwell-banda-dies/ |access-date=17 November 2024 |work=Lusaka Times |date=26 August 2024}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{Zambia squad 1986 African Cup of Nations}} {{Zambia national football team managers}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Banda, Brightwell}} Category:1946 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Zambian men's footballers Category:Green Buffaloes F.C. players Category:Zambian football managers Category:1986 African Cup of Nations managers Category:Zambia national football team managers Category:Red Arrows F.C. managers Category:Men's association football players not categorized by position --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Brightwell Banda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brightwell_Banda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brightwell_Banda?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.