LONDON-(MaraviPost)-The family of the late former Flames striker, Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda, has clarified that the decision to bury him in England is not due to financial challenges but rather a matter of practicality and emotional closeness for his children.

Contrary to rumours circulating on social media, the family insists that they are not struggling to repatriate the body to Malawi.

Family spokesperson Peter Makossah said the children of the late football icon unanimously chose United Kingdom as their father’s final resting place because it is the only home they have known for years.

All of Kanyenda’s children live in the United Kingdom and they want the burial site to be easily accessible to them.

Makossah noted that many people have been calling to offer financial support, assuming the family could not afford to transport the body to Malawi.

He said while the family appreciates the goodwill, the situation has been misunderstood. He stressed that the issue is not money but the children’s desire to have their father’s grave within reach.

“In the UK, visiting a grave is simple. There are no traditional restrictions or requirements to seek approval before going,” Makossah explained.

“The children want to honour their father in a way that allows them to visit his resting place whenever they feel emotionally ready,”he added.

He further highlighted that if the late football legend were buried in Malawi, his children would struggle with long-distance travel, both financially and emotionally.

According to the family, Kanyenda was very close to his children and burying him near them is the best way to preserve that bond even after death.

Although the family has already agreed on the burial location, Makossah said the exact date of the funeral has not yet been set. This is because medical specialists in the UK are still completing a thorough postmortem examination to document the cause of death, which is a standard procedure in such cases.

The funeral is therefore expected to take place sometime in January next year, after all medical and legal formalities have been finalised. The family has assured the public that they will communicate the official funeral programme once everything is confirmed.

Esau Kanyenda passed away last week at the age of 43 after battling liver cancer.

His death has shaken the football fraternity, as he was widely celebrated for his sharp scoring ability and his remarkable contribution to the Malawi national football team, the Flames.

Throughout his career, Kanyenda became a household name, playing both locally and internationally.

He left a legacy that inspired many young football players who saw him as proof that talent, discipline and determination can take a Malawian athlete onto the world stage.

The Maravi Post