Hasting Kapenuka dies: Tributes pour in for revered Malawi football administrator
Former team manager of Mighty Wanderers and of the country’s renowned football administrators, Hastings Kapenuka died Tuesday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirmed the death of Kapenuka.
“It is a sad day for Malawi football,” said Nyamilandu, who was a player at Wanderers when Kapenuka was manager.
“Anyone who was ever worked with Hastings Kapaneuka would be able to tell you what a good man he was, but not only that, what a great sportman in particular he was,” said Nyamilandu.
The FAM boss said Kapenuka revived Southern Region Football League by securing Arkay Plastics sponsorship at the time the league was almost extinct.
Kapenuka also played his football in Tigers FC.
Tigers chairman Sydney Chikoti said “Kapenuka is without doubt one of the greatest football administrators in Malawi history .”
Kapenuka was also one of the founders of Super League of Malawi (Sulom) where he served as its first vice chairman.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said Kapenuka played a crucial role in the development of football.
“We will miss him having served at club, Sulom and Fam level,” Banda said.
Former Sulom president Henry Chibowa described the death of Kapenuka as a big blow to football administration.
“He was fantastic, I’ve got nothing but praise for him.,” said Chibowa.
And former Sulom chairman Sunduzwayo Madise said Kapenuka was a team player.
“He will be greatly missed,” said Madise.
Sports journalists also paid tribute to Kapenuka.
A close friend to Kapenuka, Thom Chiumia of Nyasa Times also paid his tribute, saying Kapenuka was “such a fantastic guy. He was a football fanatic, it’s so sad and I really can’t believe it.”
He served as Wanderers team manager, moved to Sulom and then Southern Region Football League (SRFL) as chairperson where he served for two terms of four years.
He bowed down as SRFL chairperson in 2011 after losing to Trouble Kalua who is heading the league.
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