Ex-Pirates stars Gabadinho, Kamwendo pay tribute to PSL great Kanyenda

Former Orlando Pirates’ Malawian stars Joseph Kamwendo and Gabadinho Mhango have led the way in paying tribute to former Premier Soccer League (PSL) star Esau Kanyenda who died on Tuesday.

 

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The former Jomo Cosmos and Polokwane City FC forward breathed his last on Tuesday at the age of 43 after battling liver cancer in the United Kingdom where he was based after retiring from active football in 2018.

Former Lokomotiv Moscow player Kanyenda was a national teammate for the ex-Pirates players Gabadinho and Kamwendo.

The former Dwasco United player retired around 2013, and passed over the button of Malawi’s Flames’ scorer-in-chief’s mantle to striker Gabadinho.

Gabadinho Mhango and Kanyenda’s 11 jersey

As the news spread of the passing of the Flames legend, the Richards Bay FC attacker Gabadinho took to his Facebook page to mourn his national team mentor.

“A true legend of the game. He honoured me with his number 11 jersey for the Flames. I will always treasure the time we shared and the many lessons I learned from him. Rest in power. The Mamba rests,” the PSL star said.

Kamwendo, too, shared memories of the quality time he spent with Kanyenda in the Flames and at Mighty Wanderers between 2003 and 2013.

“I first knew Esau, affectionately called Black Mamba for his deadly scoring instincts, long before I became a recognised player. I was still in primary school, looking up at him with admiration and dreaming of one day sharing the pitch with a legend like him,” the ex-TP Mazembe star wrote on his Facebook page.

“When I finally made my breakthrough and joined the national team, Esau was among the senior players who guided me with wisdom, humility, and kindness. He was always warm, always encouraging, always willing to lift others up.”

“Later in his illustrious career, we reunited at Mighty Wanderers. Those moments on the pitch together were special in 2017 and remain one of the best of my proudest memories.”

Olympique Lyonnais’ Malawi women’s captain Tabitha Chawinga also mourned the Flames legend.

“Still in shock. Losing a friend so suddenly has left me frozen between fear and disbelief. Life can be so fragile, and today it has reminded me just how quickly everything can change. My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the family. Rest in peace, my friend, Black Mamba!,” she said.

The last club that Kanyenda played for was Wanderers in Malawi before he relocated to the UK in 2018. The Nomads, too, released a statement mourning him.

“Esau once proudly wore the Mighty Wanderers jersey and remains one of the great legends to have graced Lali Lubani, He was a genuine representative of Malawian football both domestically and abroad thanks to his talent and commitment to the game.

“His demise is not just a big loss to the Mighty Wanderers family but also to the entire football fraternity in Malawi. We are glad for the legacy he leaves behind,” Wanderers said.

In Malawi, Members of Parliament observed a moment of silence to honour Kanyenda, following a motion Football Association of Malawi President, Walter Nyamilandu, who is now a legislator.

Kanyenda was a top striker who made his breakthrough at Jomo Cosmos, then a top-flight league team in South Africa, before he went to play for Rostov FC and Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia and other clubs. He returned to South Africa to join Polokwane City leading them from the National First Division back to the Betway Premiership.

The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations star for Malawi wound up his playing career at Wanderers FC in Malawi.