Lameck Banda disappearance leaves Lecce fearing ‘not normal’ situation

Lecce sporting director Stefano Trinchera says the club are increasingly worried about the unexplained disappearance of Zambia international Lameck Banda, who has failed to report back for pre-season and cannot be contacted by the Serie A side.

The 25-year-old has been absent since Lecce began their preparations for the new campaign on 12 July, and the club say they have had no success in reaching him or his representatives for around two weeks.

Trinchera told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: “We have not received any news about our player Lameck Banda for two weeks, neither from him nor from his agents. We have started to fear that something has happened to him that has nothing to do with football.”

He added: “I have begun to think that what is behind this situation is not a strategy to obtain something from Lecce, but perhaps some personal problems. Unfortunately, we too have started to think in these terms, because what is happening is extremely not normal.”

Club president Saverio Sticchi Damiani echoed those concerns, describing the case as unprecedented during his time in charge.

“I have not faced a situation like this in 11 years,” he said. “The player has completely disappeared. I do not know the reasons for this behaviour, and I hope there are no more serious problems that we are unaware of.”

Transfer interest and early club response

According to Corriere dello Sport, Saudi Pro League club Al Fateh had submitted a substantial offer for Banda. The report states that, in light of his absence, the Saudi side have since diverted their attention to alternative transfer targets.

Lecce initially played down the situation, saying Banda was dealing with administrative issues linked to his passport which were preventing him from leaving his home country.

During that period, the forward posted a video clip showing him playing football with friends, before the footage was later deleted. Despite that brief public appearance, Lecce say they have not been able to re-establish contact with him.

Last known movements in Zambia

The last confirmed sighting of Banda was on 23 July, when he was seen with his wife at Lusaka Airport in Zambia. From that point, the club and media outlets alike have been unable to verify his whereabouts.

Lecce have not disclosed any formal disciplinary steps and have focused instead on expressing concern for the player’s wellbeing, stressing that the nature of his disappearance appears to go beyond sporting or contractual tensions.

Key figure in Lecce’s survival

Banda joined Lecce in 2022 and has since made 104 Serie A appearances for the club, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists.

Last season he played a central role in helping Lecce avoid relegation from Serie A, contributing five goals and four assists in 32 league matches.

Despite his absence, Lecce are continuing their preparations for the new season. The Apulia club are set to begin their competitive fixtures with a Coppa Italia round-of-64 tie against Palermo in mid-August.

As things stand, Lecce remain in the dark over Banda’s situation, with senior figures at the club emphasising both their professional frustration and growing personal concern over a case they insist is “not normal”.