By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, October 5, Mana: Chitipa United Football Club (FC) Assistant Coach, Gift Nathaniel Mkamanga, has been laid to rest on Saturday at his home Kanyenjele village in the area of Senior Chief Mwabulambya in Chitipa district.

The 35-year-old Mkamanga died on Thursday in Blantyre while attending the ongoing CAF B coaching course at Mpira House.

Relatives and football fraternity gathered at Chitipa Stadium in the morning for body viewing before a church service at Kanyenjele CCAP Church, which was followed by the burial ceremony in the afternoon.

In his eulogy, Vice Chairperson for Chitipa United (FC), Mike Yobe, described the death of Mkamanga as a loss to the team.

Yobe said that they are speechless as he was a talented coach with bright future.

“Everyone has a talent. We can find someone but not the same talent as that of Gift. So it's a loss because he was the backbone of the team. He has been with the team from SIMSO up to the TNM Super League.

We will remember him as developmental coach of Chitipa United. He nurtured young talent and most of the players in Chitipa United FC are his brain children whom he coached from SIMSO,” Yobe said.

He said that Mkamanga will be remembered in many aspects such as personal character, behavior adding that to say it all, Mkamanga was a good person.

“All remaining games in the league will be played in memorial of Gift. And you will see the team winning all the remaining games,” he said.

Vice Chairperson for Coaches Association of Malawi, McNebert Kazuwa, said that the association is deeply touched with the loss of Gift Mkamanga.

Kazuwa described late Gift as somebody who had the potential of propelling in his coaching career.

“Gift was somebody who knew his work and losing him is a big blow to us. We would rather urge upcoming coaches to learn from what Gift was doing.

He has been a very good coach and he was somebody who was dedicated to duty and with his experience he would have been a very good coach not only for Chitipa but for the country as whole,” Kazuwa said.

Notable faces who attended the funeral ceremony among others were Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, Vice President for Football Association of Malawi, Dr. Lameck Zetu Khonje, FAM Technical Director, Benjamin Kumwenda,

Others were Super League of Malawi Vice General Secretary, Donnex Chilongo, Northern Region Football Association General Secretary, Masiya Nyasulu, Former Chitipa United Coach, Macdonald Nginde Mtemetera, Karonga United FC General Secretary, Ramsey Simwaka.

Mkamanga, Born on March 19, 1989, has survived with a wife.