Malawi football pays tribute as Chibowa’s tombstone is unveiled
The tombstone of former Super League of Malawi (SULOM) secretary general ex-Mighty Wanderers FC general secretary Henry Chibowa has been unveiled at HHI Cemetery in Blantyre, in an emotional ceremony bringing together family and prominent figures from Malawian football.
Chibowa’s sons, Henry Jnr and Goodwin, were among family members who laid wreaths at the graveside, marking a poignant milestone two years after their father’s passing.
The ceremony drew a host of dignitaries from across Malawi’s football fraternity, reflecting the enormous respect Chibowa commanded during his decades at the helm of the domestic game.
Notable attendees included FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Vice President Escort Chinula, Mighty Wanderers director David Kanyenda, former Mighty Wanderers chairman Humphreys Mvula, and former Bullets trustee and SULOM member Gaston Mwenelupembe – a turnout underlining Chibowa’s influence across Malawi’s fiercest football rivalry, having earned respect from figures on both sides of the Wanderers-Bullets divide.
Chibowa served as SULOM secretary general, a tenure during which he played a central role in shaping the modern structure of Malawian domestic football, overseeing the league through a period of significant growth and professionalisation.
Before moving into administration, Chibowa had a playing career that began at Spearhead, before he turned out for the University of Malawi and later joined Wanderers, where he hung up his boots following an injury.
He subsequently moved into team management, taking charge of Uniprint, formerly known as Hardware Stars, guiding the club to a prestigious trophy despite its limited financial resources at the time.
His success at Uniprint led to Wanderers calling on him, amid considerable demand, to take up the role of general secretary, a position in which he went on to oversee further success for the club
He died on 8 August 2023, at the age of 58, succumbing to kidney failure at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre – a loss that was deeply felt across the country’s football community at the time.
Thursday’s unveiling ceremony offered mourners a fresh opportunity to reflect on Chibowa’s lasting legacy, with those present paying tribute to a man widely regarded as one of the most influential administrators in the history of Malawian football, whose contribution to the domestic game continues to be remembered years after his passing.
