The football fraternity is mourning the death of Flames’ founder member Jimmy Mkwanda who died on Saturday.
Mkwanda’s son Chifundo said the former midfielder, who died on Saturday, battled stroke for the past six months and was diagnosed with Covid-19 last Friday.
He was laid to rest yesterday at his home village in Traditional Authority Kuntumanji in Zomba.
Mkwanda, who was born on January 15 1946, was part of the first national football team alongside retired Chief Justice Richard Banda.
He also played alongside Yasin and Alaudin Osman, Boniface Maganga and the late William Green Malunga at Wanderers.
“He was one of the best midfielders the country has ever produced. Despite being pint-sized, he was very skilful and hard-working. He was also friendly and cheerful. This is a big loss to Malawi football. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said Yasin Osman.
Mkwanda was also a golfer and he was part of the Malawi team that hosted the Zone V1 Games in 1994 and a member of Blantyre Sports Club.
In a related development, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu’s father Soka Manda has died.
Nyamilandu, who was in Cameroon for Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee meeting, cut short the trip to attend his father’s funeral held Saturday at Misesa Cemetery in Blantyre.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda yesterday sent condolence to Nyamilandu’s family on behalf of the association and the football fraternity.
“Our sincere condolences to the FAM president and his family on this huge loss. May God grant you and the family the healing, comfort and grace in this period of grieving.
“Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time,” stated Gunda through FAM’s website www.fam.mw.
