By Tionge Kampondeni
Former Malawi national football team striker Esau Kanyenda, who revealed on Monday that he was battling liver cancer, has died in the United Kingdom.
Kanyenda announced his illness in a Facebook post, appealing for prayers from his supporters.
He wrote, Hello everyone!! Just to let you know that I’m diagnosed with liver cancer here in the UK. I’m fighting for this. Need your prayers.
Although his close family members could not be reached, founder of Legends Association in Malawi, Jim Kalua, confirmed the death in a phone interview. He said the football fraternity is shocked by the sudden passing of the retired striker.
“I spoke to MacDonald, Esaus brother, who told me that Esau died at 10 am UK time today. It is shocking how quickly this has happened, as only yesterday we learned he was battling cancer,” Kalua said.
Kanyenda is remembered as one of Malawi’s most accomplished forwards. He began his career in the First Division with FC Welfare in Dwangwa, where he was spotted by Jomo Sono, owner of South Africas Jomo Cosmos, during the Cosafa Under 17 tournament in 1999.He later joined the Jomo Cosmos youth team alongside Peter Mponda and participated in two tours of Italy, finishing as the second top goal scorer on both occasions.
Kanyenda played for FC Dwasco in Malawis Super League from 1999 to 2001 before moving to Jomo Cosmos in the South African Premier League from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, he signed for FC Rostov in Russia and went on to feature for several clubs including FC Lokomotiv Moscow, FC KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny, Rotor Volgograd on loan, and Dynamo Bryansk on loan.
In 2012, he joined Denmark’s B93 before returning to South Africa to play for Polokwane City.
The former striker represented the Malawi national team between 2000 and 2015, earning multiple caps and scoring several important goals. He later returned home and joined Mighty Wanderers, contributing to the clubs 2017 TNM Super League title, their most recent league victory.
As condolences continue to pour in, Mighty Wanderers paid tribute on social media, posting, Short of words! Rest well Esau Black Mamba Kanyenda. Forever in our hearts, RIP.
Burial arrangements are yet to be announced.
