By The Forum
Members of Parliament on Wednesday observed a minute of silence in honour of former Malawi national football team striker Esau “Black Mamba” Kanyenda, who died on Tuesday from liver cancer.
The tribute followed a motion by Nsanje South West legislator Walter Nyamilandu, himself a former Flames player and former Football Association of Malawi president. Nyamilandu asked the Speaker to allow the House to acknowledge Kanyenda’s service to the nation, describing him as a gifted and dedicated player who represented Malawi with pride on the international stage.
Kanyenda died a day after publicly revealing his diagnosis on his Facebook page.
“Just to let you know that I’m diagnosed with liver cancer here in the UK,” he wrote, asking followers for their prayers.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Patricia Wiskes described Kanyenda’s death as a great loss to the nation.
“My condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire football fraternity. May his legacy inspire future generations,” she said.
Kanyenda, who retired in 2017, was widely regarded as one of Malawi’s finest footballers. The forward earned the nickname “Black Mamba” for his clinical finishing and sharp movement. He played locally for Dwasco FC and Mighty Wanderers before moving abroad, where he featured for Jomo Cosmos and Polokwane City in South Africa, and for Rostov, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Dynamo Bryansk in Russia.
Esau “Black Mamba” Kanyenda was 43.
