Former star player Chiza Nyirongo takes people down memory lane reminiscing of MDC United

Chiza Nyirongo (left) and the great Soccer Saints * Fans fondly remember Frank Pilato Sinalo; Clifton Msiya; Kingsley Maulidi; Davies Wansambo; Daniel Dzinkambani; John Dzimbili and many other stars * Fantastic group of players! Well-sponsored team some greedy and lousy politicians finished off both the Corporation and its team! By Duncan Mlanjira One football club that contributed great stars for the national team of  yesteryears is MDC United — the Soccer Saints that disbanded when its sponsors Malawi…

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Honouring Kayakangu Malange: Basketballer extraordinaire who shone brightest on local scene

  By Duncan Mlanjira On the international scene, Malawi’s basketball has always ranked the lowest, but locally the sport exuded a lot of glamour in the past. Sadly the sport lost that enchantment and all we can do for the moment is to reminisce of the good old days. The sports Mecca, Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC), has groomed and nurtured countless of stars — from football, tennis, taekwondo, boxing, netball, volleyball and basketball. Writing an ODE on the legendary…

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Honouring Francis Songo: One of rare breeds who played as striker, midfielder and defender

By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi’s international legend Francis Songo has been described as one of the rare breeds of football, who in his long span of a career he played as a striker, midfielder and finally in defence. And he has only played for two clubs locally — first with defunct Railways United before joining Silver Strikers where he ended his career in 2000. Growing up in Blantyre in Kanjedza Township, where every youth knew and wanted just one passion,…

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Honouring Young Chimodzi: ‘Jack Chamangwana was and will always be my mentor’

By Duncan Mlanjira Former Malawi national football team maestro, Young ‘Ayugo’ Chimodzi retired from the international scene in 1996 having served for 19 years (1977-1996) and the teammate he says he admired most and was his mentor was another genius on the field — late Jack Africa Chamangwana. His generation of international players included the likes of Jack, Kinnah Phiri, Barnet Gondwe, Clifton Msiya, Jonathan Billie, Holman Malunga, Donnex Gondwe, Clement Mkwalula, Gilbert Chirwa, Dennis Saidi, Harry Waya, Thom…

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Honouring Peace Chawinga-Kaluwa: The netball legend who played for Queens for two decades

By Duncan Mlanjira Malawi national netball team, the Queens are one of the most glamorous teams on the international scene having impressed at the very highest stage of the sport, whose giants are nations like New Zealand, Australia, England and Jamaica. But despite Malawi failing to break into the top five in the world of international netball, the Queens are still regarded as a strong force to reckon with and all these giants, New Zealand, Australia, England and Jamaica…

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Honouring Acton Munthali: I was inspired by Harry ‘Barbed’ Waya

  By Duncan Mlanjira Late Harry ‘Barbed’ Waya is one legend every older generation die hard Big Bullets supporter hold dear and one former great player, Acton Munthali says he too reveres this legend and that he was inspired by this great player right from his childhood. “I really liked him in my childhood days,” he says. “All the time, I tried to emulate his style and I called myself ‘Harry Waya’ when playing street football with my friends…

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Honouring Jack ‘Africa’ Chamangwana; Two years after passing on

  By Duncan Mlanjira  It’s been two years since one of Malawi’s most revered international football player, Jack ‘Africa’ Chamangwana passed on (30 April 1957-6 May 2018). After a long stint with Mighty Wanderers, then known as Yamaha Wanderers, Jack left for greener pastures in South Africa where he marveled his Kaiser Chiefs fans and earned the nickname ‘Black Stone’. The legends he played alongside with in the Malawi national football team included Donnex Gondwe, Clement Mkwalula, Gilbert Chirwa,…

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More fond sentiments pour in for Zitto; ‘His compliment on your skills was the ultimate endorsement’

  By Duncan Mlanjira Following Maravi Express’ publication of the profile honouring Malawi’s basketball extraordinaire, Zitto Phillips, more fond sentiments poured in for the legend on social media. Kayakangu Malange said Zitto was and still is an open person: “He would tell you the blunt and candid truth. If you didn’t cut it for him, he would tell you to improve or tell you to utilize your strength rather than waste time with on weak area.  “If you made…

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Honouring Zitto Phillips; Malawi’s basketballer extraordinaire of all time

By Duncan Mlanjira At his peak from the 1980s to the 90s, Zitto Phillips’ contribution to Malawi’s basketball attracted huge crowds and made the game very glamorous. Zitto is a man of few words and very modest to talk about himself when contacted but those who were close to him — those whom he inspired to give their best and are legends of the game themselves — do attest that the basketballer extraordinaire, is still regarded as Malawi’s greatest…

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