Where Is Lecce Star Lameck Banda? Zambia International Missing as Club Considers Disciplinary Action

Questions are growing around the whereabouts of Zambia international Lameck Banda after the Lecce winger failed to return to the Italian club for pre-season training, with the situation now raising concerns over his future and possible disciplinary action.

Banda was expected to report for duty ahead of Lecce’s preparations for the 2026/27 season, but he did not join the squad and the club has struggled to establish direct contact with him. Lecce has confirmed that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding his delayed return and has warned that disciplinary measures could follow.

The situation initially appeared to be linked to what Banda’s representatives described as passport and bureaucratic problems. However, weeks have now passed, and reports say Lecce remains unable to establish normal communication with the player. A photograph reportedly showing Banda at an airport in Lusaka, Zambia, on July 23 has been one of the few recent public indications of his whereabouts.

Lecce president Saverio Sticchi Damiani has expressed frustration over the situation, saying that regardless of Banda’s intentions, the way he has handled the matter was the wrong approach. The club has therefore moved from simply waiting for his return to examining whether his absence represents a breach of his obligations to the club.

There had also been speculation that Banda’s absence could be connected to his future at Lecce. The Zambian winger was linked with Saudi Arabian club Al-Fateh, with reports suggesting the Saudi side had shown interest in signing him. However, more recent reports indicate that Al-Fateh has turned its attention elsewhere and that there is currently no active offer for Banda, making the situation even harder to explain as a straightforward transfer dispute.

The mystery comes only months after Banda experienced another worrying moment while playing for Lecce. In March, he suddenly collapsed during the closing stages of a Serie A match against Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Medical staff immediately rushed onto the pitch before he was taken to hospital. Thankfully, tests at Cardarelli Hospital came back negative and Banda was discharged the following day.

That previous medical scare inevitably makes his current absence more concerning, although there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents. The available reporting instead points to problems surrounding his return to Lecce and the club’s inability to establish regular contact with him.

The bigger question now is what happens next.

Lecce has made clear that it will investigate the circumstances before deciding what action to take. That could potentially lead to disciplinary measures if the club determines that Banda failed to meet his contractual responsibilities without sufficient justification. Banda, who remains under contract with Lecce through June 2027, therefore faces an uncertain situation as the new season approaches.

For now, the question surrounding one of Zambia’s most recognisable footballers remains remarkably simple: Where is Lameck Banda, and why has he not returned to Lecce?

With the Italian season approaching, the answer could determine whether this ends as a short-lived misunderstanding, a disciplinary dispute or a much bigger breakdown between the player and the club.