The theme for this year’s event is ‘Protection: Your goal. Say no to Drugs. A statement from the foundation says companies and individuals interested in partnering them can contact Donnex Chilonga on 0999 371 020.
Tears are flowing and tributes pouring in for Flames legend Esau Kanyenda who succumbed to liver cancer in England yesterday. Considered as one of the best forwards to have emerged on the domestic scene, the ‘Black Mamba’, 43, passed on in the presence of some of his family members. Esau’s elder brother, Christopher, said the former Flames hitman was diagnosed with liver cancer last month.
He was stable until Saturday when he was admitted to a hospital. “Then yesterday [Monday], they discharged him, but his condition deteriorated this morning before he passed on at home at around 10am.” Christopher said as a family, they were yet to agree on funeral arrangements. “We are still discussing with family members who are that side, including our father, and once we agree, we will issue a statement,” he said.
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Esau’s former agent Ben Chiwaya, who facilitated his first-ever foreign move to South African club Jomo Cosmos in 2001, said his death is a big blow to Malawi football. He said: “I have facilitated many Malawian top players’ moves to South Africa and beyond and to me, Esau was the most successful and it wasn’t by chance that he was the first Malawian to play in the Uefa Champions League. “Esau was very disciplined and highly focused, he knew what he wanted to achieve in his career.
I remember before we signed him at Cosmos, we used to draft him into the youth team during our trips to Europe as part of his development process and he always gave his all. “Actually, I was talking to [Jomos Cosmos FC owner] Jomo Sono a while ago and he is shocked.” Esau’s former teammate at Flames and Mighty Wanderers Joseph Kamwendo said his death is a big loss to Malawi football.
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