Ex-Malawi, Wanderers goalie dead: Kenneth Kandulu

Death has robbed Malawi of another former national football team and Mighty Wanderers goalkeeping great, Kenneth Kandulu.

The former Flames goaltender died Sunday morning at his residence in Manase Township, Blantyre after succumbing to Kidney failure.

“He was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital two weeks ago and the doctors discharged him last Thursday. Unfortunately, he passed away this morning [Sunday] around 11.00am at his house,” Malawi’s Former Football Players Association (FFPA) Chairperson for Southern Region, Ojukwu Malunga, told Nyasa Times.

The late Kandulu has been suffering from kidney failure for about a year now and has been in and out of hospital seeking help.

According to Malunga, a former Flames defender, burial is scheduled to take place at his home in Thyolo.

“At the moment, we are waiting for his father who stays in Mulanje for burial arrangements but most likely he will be laid to rest at his home in Thyolo,” said Malunga, who played alongside late Kandulu at Wanderers for six years and also in the national team for five years.

Malunga said his body (Former Football Players Association) would greatly miss Kandulu’s contribution as he was one of the pioneers of the grouping.

“He was part of the formation of the body and was in the forefront in ensuring that our objectives were achieved. Unfortunately, lately his illness affected him.

“During his playing days he was a man who gave his all in his service to the nation as well as the club, he will be greatly missed,” grieved Malunga, whose association had been in the forefront fundraising for the departed former player who had been struggling financially due to his prolonged illness.

At some point, Malunga sent a passionate appeal to the soccer fraternity to help their friend who he said as a former Flames and Mighty Wanderers goalkeeper, deserved assistance from the country’s soccer lovers.

“We should not only love our players when they entertain us on the pitch. This is the time that everybody involved in the game should love our stars,” Malunga said when he visited the player at the hospital to present some cash from well-wishers.

Born on July 2, 1971, late Kandulu popularly known amongst his friends as Mboba started playing for Wanderers in 1989 and was drafted into the national team in 1991 until he retired in 2000.

He was in the Flames squad in 1999 when Malawi beat Tanzania 3-2 during an Independence Day Celebrations match at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

His death comes barely a year after the nation also lost another former Flames and Silver Strikers goalkeeper, Ganizani Masiye.

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