Masiye laid to rest: Ex-Silver and Malawi keeper
Former international and Silver Strikers FC goalkeeper Ganizani Masiye was laid to rest on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Masiye Village in Lilongwe’s Area 25 (Dzenza), where scores of people including sports men gathered to pay their last respects.
Masiye, who until his death was general secretary for Central Region Football Committee (CRFC) died on Friday, October 26, 2012 at Partners in Hope Private Hospital after succumbing to abdominal cancer.
Amongst the sportsmen, who gathered to pay their last respects at Masiye Village, where his parents settled in the early 80s were Principal Secretary for Sports Justin Saidi, Sports Council board member and Ex-Sulom member Gibson Mkanda, FAM second vice president Pikawo Ngalamila, Sulom president Innocent Botoman, CRFC chairman Austin Ajawa and Central Region Football League chairman Dini Josiah Banda.
The named officials, including Silver Strikers chairman MacDonald Mafuta Mwale, Blue Eagles chairman Elijah Kachikuwo and Reserve Bank Governor Charles Chuka also laid their wreaths at Masiye’s grave.
Speaking at the village, Saidi, Ajawa and Fam executive member Paul Mzungu described Masiye’s death as a great loss for the soccer fraternity.
The officials described late Masiye as a humble man, who had greatly contributed to the development of football in Malawi.
Survived by a wife and three children, the late Masiye played for the Malawi national football team, the Flames from 1987 before retiring in the late 90s after picking an injury in a domestic game involving Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers at MDC Stadium in Chilomoni, Blantyre.
As a mark of respect to the fallen hero, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) postponed a league game involving Blue Eagles FC, which his first born son plays for and Kamuzu Barracks.
A minute silence was also observed in all Super League games played over the weekend.
The late Masiye was born on December 27, 1966.