Barely 24 hours after asking for prayers, former Jomo Cosmos and Polokwane City striker Esau Kanyenda lost the fight against cancer at the age of 43.
His death appeared to have been sudden. The Malawian was always in good spirits on his official Facebook account, talking football.
On Monday, however, he dropped a bombshell, and the football community was left reeling.
“Hello everyone!! Just to let you know that I’m diagnosed with liver cancer here in the UK (United Kingdom). I’m fighting for this. Need your prayers,” posted Kanyenda.
And on Tuesday, the Malawian Football Association confirmed Kanyenda has passed away.
“The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Malawi National Football Team striker, Esau ‘Mamba’ Kanyenda. Kanyenda passed away this morning in the United Kingdom,” confirmed the association.
“Kanyenda was a key member of the Malawi squad that qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in 2010—the country’s second AFCON appearance. His contribution to the game and the nation remains etched in the history of Malawian football. He played 72 times for the Flames, starting 63 matches and nine as a sub. He scored 22 goals and is the joint fifth top goal scorer.
“On behalf of the entire football fraternity, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those affected by this great loss.”
In South African football circles, Kanyenda was nicknamed “Black Mamba” for his striking instincts.
He arrived in SA back in 2001, and in his first season, he netted 18 goals in 28 starts—finishing just one goal shy of winning the PSL Top Goal Scorer award for 2001-02.
He played a crucial role in Ezenkosi’s Coca-Cola Cup success in 2002, scoring four goals in the four matches played in that competition that year.
After two years of fine performances in front of goal for Ezenkosi, he moved to Russia to play for FC Rostov before earning a big-money move to that country’s giants, Lokomotiv Moscow.
Kanyenda stayed in Russia until 2012, when he moved for a brief stint in Denmark with B93, and on his return to South Africa, he featured for Polokwane City for five years until 2017 and returned to his homeland.
African Times sends its deepest condolences to Kanyenda’s family and friends. May his soul repose peacefully.
