Tribute to Ganizani Masiye

It is becoming scary that in recent times, Fridays are bringing unpleasant Malawi football news.

The curse of Friday paid an unwelcome visit again, this time robbing Malawi football of former national team and Silver Strikers’ goalkeeping great Ganizani Masiye.

His death on Friday, exactly two weeks after the death of another football legend Henry Moyo, evoked fond memories.

Rewind to the golden days of Masiye’s career.

It is like yesterday. The MDC Stadium is packed to its seams held spellbound by a 1995 Gillet Super League contest of pride between Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers.

The game flows from one end to the other for the men in blue. Just like a cool breeze from Michiru Mountain.

Ganizani Masiye leaps between the sticks on the northern side of the pitch. On the other end, his opposite number Kenneth Kandulu is going about business in his usual quiet demeanour.

Billiat Mkwapatila and Wilton Kaunda are the big Wanderers’ bouncers making themselves felt to Silver attackers.

Silver’s midfielder-in-chief Dave Maleta (deceased) cannot stop making surging runs down the left-wing; often cutting inside to add numbers in attack.

Silver defenders Francis Songo and Young Chimodzi are having a hell of a time dealing with Wanderers’ naughty attackers Bob and Albert Mpinganjira.

The game is still goalless. There are no qualms from fans of either side over the quality of play. It is football party time in Blantyre and you cannot complain.

As the game enters second half, Silver are losing their grip on the game. The blue and white side of the pitch can sense a goal, but certainly not in the manner that it comes.

Then that moment comes. The moment when everything that is supposed to go wrong for a team just takes that bad route for the Bankers.

Then a Wanderers clever and cheeky through ball slices Silver guard open and with it their fans’ breath.

Onto the end of the looping through pass emerges an antelope of a midfielder called Thom Milanzi. Instinct tells Masiye to leave the line and narrow the angle on Milanzi.

And as he does, leaping and flicking the ball into the net, Milanzi catches the shoulder of diving Masiye.

A crack of the bones can be heard from the terraces followed by Masiye’s deep groan, which eventually gives way to crying.

“Maine…kaya ndimabwereranji ine…nkadadziwa sindikadabwera [I regret turning up for the game],” on his back Masiye cries helpless, the sight of his broken shoulder drawing, then instantly scampering away players from either side.

That was my last sight of Masiye having a dance with domestic football as a player.

A text message from a Lilongwe source was on Friday morning followed by official confirmation by FAM media officer and commercial manager Casper Jangale.

“The ‘coolcat’ is gone and will be sadly missed by the football family,” wrote Jangale.

“A great servant of Malawi football having played for the national team, probably his 1st game on July 8 1987 in Lilongwe against Burundi and his last on June 28 1997 against Namibia in Windhoek. May his ever shining soul Rest In Peace.”

Masiye graduated from being a player to Silver team manager, general secretary before, last year, being roped in Blue Eagles’ technical panel.

So that is it, Masiye’s vast goalkeeping experience was not used by the national team. He was not trained to impart the knowledge to up-and-coming ‘keepers whereas wrong people were preferred.

But you can be certain that long and elaborate eulogies by FAM were made at Masiye’s funeral.