Chikondi Magalasi

It was a final bite for one Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda who laid to rest today in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Kanyenda, who scored 178 career goals, died on December 2—just a day after he had announced that he was diagnosed with liver cancer in the UK.

The former Mighty Wanderers and Jomo Cosmos striker died at the age of 43 and it was his decision to be buried in the UK according to family members.

Among the notable attendees at the funeral was former Football Association of Malawi (FAM) official Casper Jangale, former FCB Nyasa Big Bullets official Billy Tewesa, former Malawi’s Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, Malawi High Commissioner to the UK Dr Thomas Bisika among others.

Speaking during the ceremony, his son Nathan Kanyenda said he will remember his dad as a man who told them a number of pieces of advices.

“I leant that it is possible to be a star but remain humble. Dad loved local stuff like songs, he used to love [Joseph] Nkasa songs and [Thomas] Chibade. We have hope that dad is with the father in heaven for to be absent in the body, is to be present with the Lord,” he said.

Another son MacDonald and daughter Agnes said they will miss their dad who they described as a loved father.

“It hurts because dad is gone for good,” said Agnes.

Back home, the Football Legends Association honoured Kanyenda as his funeral was broadcast on the big screen at Bingu National Stadium, where many people followed the ceremony.

In Malawi, Black Mamba played for Dwasco and Wanderers. He helped Wanderers to win the Super League in 2017 before retiring.

Kanyenda had stints with several foreign clubs in South Africa and Russia, and he will always be remembered as the only Malawian to have played in the UEFA Champions League, to date.

The former striker scored 22 goals in 72 appearances for the Malawi National Men’s Football team, the Flames.