Kanyenda laid to rest

The body of Malawi football legend Esau Kanyenda was yesterday laid to rest in Manchester, UK, two months after he succumbed to liver cancer. The funeral ceremony, monitored on Mpira Television, was meant to celebrate the life of the fallen legend. But, still, family members, including his father, children, relations and friends, wearing either black or dark attire, gathered at Blackley Chapel with crestfallen faces around the casket, which was draped in Malawi’s national flag.

In his eulogy, Malawi High Commissioner to the UK Thomas Bisika described the late Kanyenda as more than a footballer. “Today, we gather not only to mourn his passing, but celebrate a life that brought pride, joy and inspiration to countless Malawians both at home and in the diaspora,” he said. “Esau Kanyenda was a national symbol of talent, discipline, resilience and patriotism.

Through his dedication to the game, he wore the national colours with honour and reminded us what it means to serve one’s country with commitment and humility.” Bisika said the late Kanyenda’s contribution to Malawi football came at a time when the sport is now perceived as a powerful role in uniting the nation. One of Kanyenda’s six children, Nathan, also walked to the podium with a sombre face to pay his tribute. “I am standing here on behalf of my mother, my siblings and the Kanyenda and Chibwana family.

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Over 400 goals scored, numerous international caps for Malawi, becoming the fifth all-time scorer for his country. To the world, he was a goal-scorer, but to us he was the best dad,” he said. Here at home, Football Legends Association (FLA) organised a special event yesterday at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in honour of their fallen colleague.

In attendance was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata and FLA board chairperson Jim Kalua, who is also Malawi national Council of Sports board chairperson. The late Kanyenda was a prolific striker, who played for Dwasco FC and Mighty Wanderers locally and had stints in foreign league clubs in South Africa and Russia. In South Africa, he played for Jomo Cosmos and Polokwane City while in Russia he had stints with Rostov and Lokomotiv Moscow, among others.

He also featured for the national team between 1999 and 2017, scoring 22 goals in 72 appearances. Kanyenda was the first Malawian player to feature in the Uefa Champions League while at Locomotiv and was the first Malawian to win the Cosafa Cup Player of the Tournament in 2002.

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