Kanyenda to take coaching role, hangs up boots
Polokwane City and former Malawiinternational Striker Esau Kanyenda
has officially announced his retirement from active football after playing for close to two decades, saying he will consider a role in technical area.
Kanyenda , who was rumoured to be heading back home to end his footballcareer at Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, revealed he will now focus on grooming himself as a coach.
“I am hanging my boots now,” he told South Africa’s leading Soccer Magazine Kick Off.
“Next up for me is coaching because it is something that has always been on my mind. I am actually going back home to pursue coaching with the help of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) who have indicated that they will assist by sending me to coaching courses” explained Kanyenda.
The former Flames hitman who was nicknamed ‘Black Mamba’ during his
hay days claimed he received offers from South Africa’s National First Division clubs but after taking some careful considerations, he thought it wise to go back home and start a coaching course.
Polokwane City official Tincy Tema described Kanyenda as a ‘true gentleman’ who served the club wholeheartedly.
“Kanyenda is a true gentleman who has served the club with us and is actually someone that we would have liked to keep if there were other opportunities within the club. We wish him well in all that he plans to do next,” Tema said.
Kanyenda’s contract expired at the end of last month.
The player launched his football career at a youth football team FC Welfare in Malawi before joining Dwasco where he played for between 1999 and 2001.
He then joined South African Premier League side Jomo Cosmos in 2001 after being spotted by club owner Jomo Sono at one of the Cosafa Cup Under 17 Championship.
In his debut season at Cosmos, Kanyenda scored 18 goals in 28 starts.
At the pick of his career, Kanyenda played in Russia, Denmark and France.
He is the only Malawian player to have played in the Uefa Champions League while playing for Locomotive Moscow.
Apart from Lokomotive, Black Mamba also played for Rostov, Kamaz, Dynamo Bryansk, B93 and Rotor Volgograd.
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Thank you very much Esau Kanyenda you have done alot for this country through out your carrier as far as football is concerned. you have tried to put your country on the map, you are the only malawian player who played UCL in europe during your time at Rostov in Russia, you have scored some vital goals for the flames, you helped helpless Flames to qualify for AFCON 2010….#True_Malawian_legend #thumbs_up #Respect