Football fraternity mourns Josiah Banda

The soccer fraternity has mourned football administrator and sponsor Dean Josiah Banda who died yesterday at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Banda’s brother, Marshal, and  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Nicholas Daudi confirmed yesterday that he has died of Covid-19.

In an interview yesterday, Civo general secretary Ronald Chiwaula said Banda supported the club and served as a board of directors’ member.

“It’s a great loss to the Civo family. He was passionate and loved the team. He could spend his money to meet some of the club’s costs,” he said.

Super League of Malawi president Tiya Somba-Banda described Banda as a selfless man, saying he let Japanese reconditioned vehicle car dealer, Be Forward Limited sponsor, Wanderers instead of his club Epac.

“In 2014, he was contacted on the intention of Be Forward Limited to come to Malawi. We organised a tournament which eventually led the company to sponsor Wanderers.

“This demonstrates how selfless he was because he could have asked Be Forward to sponsor his team Epac,” he said.

Renowned football commentator and member of Parliament Mike Bango, who was close to the deceased,  hailed him as a passionate football administrator.

“I am saddened with his death. The man had passion to develop sports especially football. He came into sports to help and not to get back profits,” he said.

Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) general secretary Blackson Malamula said his body will always cherish the relationship it established with Josiah Banda.

“It’s a blow to all football lovers. Massa had a good working relationship dating back to 2007 as Epac owner. He used to rope in a lot of our students [players]. He could pay school fees for them. He also sponsored a tournament for Lilongwe Urban schools,” he said

The body of Josiah Banda, who also served as DPP regional governor for the Central Region, was expected to be buried in Lilongwe yesterday.