Mwakilama’s body arrives Friday

The body of the departed Malawi Under-20 national football team striker Abel Mwakilama who died on Friday in Portgal, will arrive in the country this Friday from.

A statement released by the deceased’s family states that the body of the 19-year-old former Portuguese regional league side Sporting Clube de Esmoriz’s forward will arrive through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe around 10 am.

“Date for burial will be communicated later but burial place is Ikwembe village, Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga District. The full programme will be ready upon arrival of the body,” the statement reads in part.

While in Portugal, the fifth-born in a family of six played a total of 12 games and scored 12 goals for Esmoriz. He was in the starting line-up in seven games. Before he succumbed to Malaria on Friday, Mwakilama was one of the Junior Flames’ reliable players.

He last featured for the Under-20 national team over two weeks ago against Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in the first leg of the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Under-20 Championship qualifier at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Junior Flames coach Meke Mwase said: “We will greatly miss his services in the junior national team and that is why we dedicated our qualification into the next round to him. May his soul rest in eternal peace.” n