Former Azam Tigers and national football team midfield star Ibra Mwase died on Sunday afternoon after an illness and was laid to rest on Monday afternoon in Mbayani in Blantyre.
According to Football Players Association of Malawi (FPAM) chairperson Ojukwu Malunga, Mwase, 49, who starred for the Flames in the 1980s, succumbed to body pains at Mlambe Hospital in Blantyre at around 3pm.
“He had been complaining of general body pains for the past two weeks. The late Ibra was one of the best midfielders to grace the local soccer fields in the 1980s,” mourned Malunga.
He was also a key member of the Flames squad which won the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup in 1988 and part of the squad that reached the finals of the same tournament, the following year.
Mwase also coached Tigers when they were still called Admarc Tigers and led them to the final of inaugural FAMcup in 2005 where they lost to Mighty Wanderers on post match penalties..
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu described Mwase’s demise as big loss to Malawi football.
“Of course, he was no longer active in football at the time of his death, but his contribution was immense and he was one of the most talented midfielders of generation.
“On behalf of the soccer fraternity and FAM I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and our prayers are with them,” said Nyamilandu.
Tigers technical director Robin Alufandika also described Mwase’s death as shocking and a big loss to Malawi football.
He hailed fromthe area of Traditional Authority Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay.