The sports fraternity has joined the nation in mourning the death of State Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, who died in a plane crash on Monday.
The plane carrying Chilima and eight others went missing on Monday before the wreckage was found without survivors.
Eight others died in the fateful crash.
Malawi National Council of Sports Board Chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise expressed shock at the death.
“We are gutted because of the manner of his demise. He is the man who championed reforms and when the President [Lazarus Chakwera] appointed him to head the reforms, he took it with both hands. We send our sincere condolences to the President, Chilima’s family and the other families who died in the crash.
“Personally, I knew him because he was two or three classes behind me at Chancellor College [now the University of Malawi]. It is difficult for me at a personal level to accept but, at the same time, we must accept. He has left a legacy,” Madise said.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) led the football fraternity in condoling with the nation, saying it had lost a great person.
“DR Chilima was a visionary and transformative leader who placed the interests of the nation above his. He shall be remembered for his enormous contributions to sports and football in particular. Among others, Dr Chilima played a crucial role as chairman of the fundraising committee that raised funds for the first ever Fam Cup in 2005 when the country played the whole season without a corporate sponsor.
“He was also the chairperson of the Fam Competitions Committee and was instrumental in securing the Standard Bank Cup sponsorship in 2007,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, Chilima was scheduled to meet Fifa President Gianni Infantino, who arrived in the country last night.
Fam said most of the activities for the Fifa president in Malawi have been cancelled.
“The Fifa president plans to pay his solemn homage to President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the bereaved family and the nation at large,” the statement reads.
TNM Super League defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets also said they were saddened by the death of Chilima.
“We convey our heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the head of State Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera and all the bereaved families,” Bullets said in a statement.
Chilima was a prominent golfer, having participated in a number of tournaments.
He was also key in fundraising tournaments for close to 10 years.
One of the renowned golfers in the country Brian Coombes, who was also a close friend to Chilima, was shocked by the death.
“He was my golfing partner and very close friend for many years. We walked the golf course together and spent precious moments in laughter, victory and defeat. He taught me how to accept defeat with grace and victory with dignity. A humble human being. Irreplaceable to me,” Coombes said.
Golf Union of Malawi outgoing president Gift Chidya Gondwe said the golf fraternity was shocked.
“He was one of us as patron and golfer and we are deeply shocked. We will greatly miss him for his kind gesture in golf,” Gondwe said.
Apart from playing golf, Chilima participated in sports activities including Standard Bank’s Be More Race and basketball.
On his part, Basketball Association of Malawi General Secretary Peter Gomani said Chilima would be remembered for his dedication to basketball.
“His death has robbed the country of a true sports personality. He was a basketball player and was key in the refurbishment of Civo Basketball Court. He also helped us a lot to secure sponsorship for Mo 626 College Basketball,” Gomani said.
Netball Association of Malawi interim committee General Secretary Yamikani Kauma said the association was devastated with Chilima’s death.
“We are equally distressed and condole with bereaved families and the nation,” Kauma said.
Chilima, 51, and eight others were confirmed dead after the plane they were travelling in was found in Chikangawa Forest, Mzimba District, after it went missing on Monday
