The soccer fraternity is mourning the demise of former soccer star and coach Dean Pinto who died on Saturday morning.
Pinto succumbed to malaria and jaundice and was laid to rest the same day.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu described Pinto’s demise as a great shock.
“Dean had great passion for the game and even when he was not actively involved in the game, he freely offered technical and administrative advice.
“His death comes as a huge blow to the soccer fraternity and our thoughts are with his family during this trying time.
We pray that the almighty God should comfort them and provide them with strength,” said Nyamilandu.
During his playing days in the 1980s, Pinto starred for Hardware Stars, Limbe Leaf Wanderers (now Be Forward Wanderers) and Azam Tigers (now Azam Tigers).
Flames coach Ernest Mtawali,’who played alongside Pinto at Hardware Stars described him as a cheerful person who had great passion for the game.
When he retired from active football, Pinto had stints as coach with the now defunct MDC United and Escom United.