Late Yasin ‘Teach’ Osman honoured with a moment of silence before kick off of Blantyre Derby

* The man who made this derby interesting to date as the very first player to be sold from Mighty Wanderers to Bullets back in the days

By Duncan Mlanjira

Late Yasin Osman, the star player who brought to the fore the rivalry between Mighty Wanderers and Bata Bullets when he defected to the Bullets in 1968, has been honoured with a moment of silence before kick off of the Blantyre Derby between the two sides at Kamuzu Stadium.

Yasin passed on at the age of 75 last month and as the two teams trooped out for the match, they carried in front of them his portrait onto the pitch where a moment of silence was observed at the centre.

Yasin made this derby interesting to date as he ignited the rivalry back then when he was sold off to the Bullets at 100 Malawian pounds, which was quite a huge sum at that time — going into Malawi soccer history as the first player ever to be sold. 

His defection angered Wanderers faithful and though he soon returned to the Lali Lubani Road, the fierce rivalry on the pitch and outside of it among the supporters remained to date.

In his tribute on Nyasa Big Bullets Media after Yasin passed on, Nyasa Big Bullets club president, Konrad Buckle described him as “a football icon, revered by the entire football fraternity”, adding that the football legend “was admired for his exceptional skill, leadership, integrity and unwavering dedication to the game — as a player, coach and administrator.

“Osman was also known for his detailed and accurate recollection of Bullets’ formation in 1967 — a testament to his deep connection to the club’s history,” he said,  in reference to Yasin’s move to Bullets.

“A legendary figure in Malawi football, he was one of the few footballers to have represented both of the Blantyre City’s iconic teams, Wanderers and Bullets, and becoming the first player in Malawian history to be transferred for a fee of £100 in 1970 moving from Wanderers to Bullets.

“Though his time at our club lasted less than three seasons before his return to Lali Lubani Road, his impact was indelible. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of footballers to come.”

True to this sense, Yasin Osman was an extraordinaire sportsman, who played in the national team alongside other Malawian soccer legends such as Kinnah ‘Electric’ Phiri, Charles Kagwa, Henry Moyo, Kanjedza Kamwendo, Damiano Malefula, Henry Kapalamula, Mustafa Munshi, Dennis Saidi, Spy Msiska, Elywin Mwafulirwa, Mike Mkuntha, Bosco Munthali, Thom Kazembe and Topsy Msuku.

He was part of the national team’s first-ever international title in 1978 and ‘79 in winning the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup and in his tribute, renowned football analyst, Charles ‘Grandmaster’ Nyirenda described Yasin as an “institution not only at Mighty Wanderers FC by Malawian football as a whole”.

In its analysis of this afternoon’s Blantyre Derby, Super League of Malawi (SULOM) describes it as being “beyond a football match” as history is told of how Bullets were born from Malawi’s oldest football club (Mighty Wanderers), “which was founded way back in 1962 by some Portuguese migrants and the club has transitioned in names from the Yamaha Wanderers days to Limbe Leaf then Telecom Wanderers and now to just being called Mighty Wanderers”.

“However, four years after its existence some officials within the club’s hierarchy having conspired with some key players thought of an exit plan from the country’s oldest football club and 1967 marked the birth of Nyasaland Bullets which later became, Blantyre City Stars, Bata Bullets, Total Big Bullets, Bakili Bullets and now Nyasa Big Bullets — all this because of change in sponsorship.

“That would now mark the beginning of this bitter rivalry [and] from the days of Yasin Osman, Kinnah Phiri, Jack Chamangwana, Gilbert Chirwa, Meck Mwase, Bob & Albert Mpinganjira to the current generation, the Blantyre derby has always maintained its billing as Malawi’s most sought after football fixture come rain or sunshine. Football fans have been treated to 58 years of drama and emotions.”