FAM bashed over Ibrah Mwase funeral

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) came under fire for failing to give befitting last respects to former Tigers and national team midfielder Ibrah Mwase.

Mwase died at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital after a short illness. But the conspicuous absence of the FAM brass raised eyebrows as Mwase was interred in Mbayani Township, Blantyre.

FAM was officially represented by youthful officers in Club Licence Manager Casper Jangale, Competition Offcer Gomegzani Zakazaka and Welfare Officer James Sangala despite that Mwase was a key member of the national team in the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in 1988.

He was part of the team that won bronze in the All Africa Games in Kenya in 1987.

One of Mwase’s teammate at Tigers, described FAM’s action as shameful.

He said Tigers Technical Director Robin Alufandika assisted financially including buying the coffin that late Mwase’s body was laid.

“This is sad because Ibra Mwase was not an ordinary player. He played football at higher level and was key national team player,” he said.

“FAM should have sent high profile administrators and also took charge of the funeral.”

He said the association only offered a K50,000 to help with the funeral arrangements of the player who once coached Malawi Under-20 national team which participated in the Cosafa tournament in Durban in 2006.

Stewart Mbolembole, former Malawi national football team manager delivered the eulogy.

He was also a promising coach who inspired Admarc Tigers under his tutelage in the mid 2000s.

Mwase, who hails from Nkhata Bay, is survived by two children.