“We Won’t Abandon His Family”: FC Platinum Pledges Support After Banda’s Tragic Death
FC Platinum chairman Dumisani Sisale has confirmed that the club will continue to support the late midfielder Brian Banda’s family following his sudden death in a road accident last Sunday.
Banda, aged 29, was laid to rest on Thursday at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo, in a solemn gathering attended by players, club officials, and members of the football community.
The midfielder passed away just as his career was reaching new heights. He had recently made his senior debut during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Rwanda and was receiving consistent national team call-ups, signalling his rising status in Zimbabwean football.
Banda had also renewed his contract with FC Platinum, with approximately 18 months remaining.
At home, the tragedy has left a young family in mourning—his wife, two daughters, and a newborn son he never met.
The baby boy was born two weeks before the accident, and reports suggest that Banda was travelling to meet him when the crash occurred.
Sisale acknowledged the emotional weight of the loss and said the club was considering both immediate and longer-term ways to assist.
“We will discuss this serious matter. But definitely, we will not abruptly cut Brian’s salary. This was an unexpected tragedy and we must handle it with the utmost care,” he said.
Although FC Platinum has no precedent or written policy for such situations, Sisale made it clear that compassion would guide their decision-making.
“This has never happened before at FC Platinum. It is not covered in our policies, but that does not mean we will not honour our obligations,” he stated.
He also revealed an interim gesture of support that the club is considering.
“We will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. As a club, we will sit down and chart a way forward.
“For now, I propose that at least three months of his salary be paid to his family while we evaluate our next steps,” Sisale added.
Sisale, who is contesting the Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairmanship this month, said that Banda’s death should serve as a wake-up call to the football fraternity.
He stressed the need to formalise welfare policies to protect players’ families during active contracts.
“This must be a wake-up call. What happens to a player’s family when tragedy strikes mid-contract?”
The incident has raised broader questions about the preparedness of football institutions to care for the families of athletes lost while in service.
For Banda’s loved ones, the grief is immeasurable—but FC Platinum’s early gesture may signal the beginning of a more compassionate and structured future.
—Nehanda Radio
