A dark cloud fell over the Mighty Wanderers family on Monday as they learnt about the death of their former British coach Eddie May.
According to BBC, May 68, who steered the Nomads to the inaugural FAM Cup [now Standard Bank Cup] glory in 2005, died on Saturday.
Under May, the Nomads also finished as Super League runners-up twice.
May’s former club Cardiff City confirmed his death at the weekend, but Nation Online could not establish the cause of his death as of Monday.
The Nomads captain Foster Namwela described May as a brilliant tactician.
“He was a fantastic coach. A complete tactician who helped improve many players, including myself.
“Eddie was a result-oriented coach who was open with players. I will remember him most for inspiring us to win the FAM Cup. May his soul rest in peace,” said Namwela
The Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda said they learnt of May’s death with utmost shock.
“We are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Eddie. We enjoyed success during his tenure as coach.
“We feel proud to have been the first local team to engage a European coach in Eddie. The information we have is that his body was buried on Sunday, but we will convey our condolences to his family,” said Kanyenda.
In a statement on Cardiff City’s official website, chief executive officer Alan Whiteley said: “On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to pass on our sincere condolences to Eddie May’s family at this sad time.
“We will be honoured this week to collectively show our respects and appreciation to a man who will forever and rightly be remembered as an integral part of modern Cardiff City history.”
May managed the Cardiff City for almost four years in which they won the 1992-93 Division Three title.
Cardiff also won the Welsh Cup that season with a 5-0 win over Rhyl and went on to beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup in 1994.
Epping-born defender, May, played for Dagenham, Southend, Wrexham, Chicago Sting and Swansea City in his 13-year playing career.
Apart from Mighty Wanderers, May also managed Newport County, Torquay United, Brentford and Highlanders in Zimbabwe.
His coaching career also included spells in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Saudia Arabia, Finland and the Republic of Ireland. He also managed Barry Town, Llanelli and Haverfordwest County in Wales.
He made more than 300 appearances for Wrexham after joining the north Wales club from Southend in 1968.
In an eight-year spell at the Racecourse, he was a member of the side which won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1970 and a Welsh Cup winner two years later.
He captained the side to the European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final in 1976 before they lost to Anderlecht.
In a statement Wrexham said: “The club is deeply saddened to hear of Eddie’s passing and we can only send our sincere condolences to his family and friends at such a distressing time.”
May left Wrexham to join Swansea in 1976 and he finished his playing career at Vetch.
There will be a tribute to May before Cardiff’s home game with Leeds next Saturday while the players will wear black armbands in the match against Derby County on Tuesday.
