It’s with no doubt that these two Luka’s have done extremely well as NAPSA Stars FC central defenders. The two are not only an inseparable duo on the pitch, but also share same birthday month, with Banda’s birthday being on 6th April 1995 and Ng’uni’s being on the 18th.April 1995.
The just-ended 2019/2020 season has seen these two players enjoying a lot of game time and only missing two games each from the 27 games played.
Luka Banda explains how exciting it has been working with Ng’uni saying the two enjoy the best friendship both on and off the pitch.
“We’ve known each other since way back when he was just at National Assembly and I was just joining the senior team from the junior team Young Napsa. He has always been like a brother to me and this is why we enjoy working together well,” Banda explains.
Banda joined the senior team from our Young Napsa squad while Ng’uni joined from National Assembly in the 2018 season.
Nguni only saw himself enjoying game time in the last match of the Transitional League Season when the player was given a chance by coach Mohamed Fathi to play that last game and he proved his point to earn a place in the Coach’s starting 11.
He explains to Napsa Stars FC media how he knew that his time to start featuring in the first 11 would come.
“Football is all about working hard and I did just that until I started having my game time. I’m happy to be working with Luka Banda because he has been my friend for a long time and he would always encourage me even when I never used to have my game time,
“We enjoy a good relationship on the pitch and we are always correcting each other when we make mistakes, and that pushes us to work even harder,” Ng’uni said.
The player also adds that he gets a lot of guidance from Left Back Bornwell Silengo who is always advising him to keep working hard.
And when asked on how he feels to have helped the team qualify for continental football for the first time, Ng’uni said it has been an exciting feeling with the player looking forward for the competition.
“It will be my first time and just being part of this team is the most exciting and humbling feeling for me. I’m looking forward to work hard and expose myself because that is the most important thing for us as players,” Nguni adds.
And Luka Banda who has enjoyed his game time since 2017 when the team was under the leadership of Tenant Chilumba, says working with Ng’uni has been exciting because the two share the best relationship.
“We understand each other well and our communication is very good in such a way that sometimes we would just look at each other and know what each of us need to do. We are always correcting each other and that has pushed us to do better,
“It’s not only Luka Banda but the rest of the back four with likes of Bornwell Silengo and Aaron Kabwe. We have a good relationship and this pushes us to work harder,” Banda said.