Women’s football pays tribute to pioneer Dube
National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) has paid tribute to the game’s pioneer David Dube who died yesterday at his home in Likuni, Lilongwe after a long illness.
The former Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive member is credited as the founder of women’s football.
NWFA chairperson Suzgo Ngwira said Dube, who formed DD Sunshine in 1999, contributed immensely towards the development of the sport.
She said: “I am at loss of words. We have lost an icon. We have lost a legend. We have lost someone who has contributed greatly to the development of women’s football.
“Mr. Dube will always be remembered as far as Malawi women’s football is concerned. He was there when women’s football was launched in 1999.
“He took part in the starting of women’s football by forming his own team DD Sunshine which stands for his name.
“The club has been a force to reckon with and recently it was bought by Silver Strikers Football Club.”
Dube, 63, groomed Malawi women’s football icons Tabitha Chawinga, who plays for Italian Serie A club Inter Milan and her sister Temwa who plays for China’s Super League side Wuhan Jianghan.
He scouted the sisters from their village in Rumphi and took them to Lilongwe where they became stars and eventually launched their international careers that took them to China and Italy.
Tabitha later took over financing DD Sunshine as Dube’s health deteriorated after suffering a severe stroke in 2012..
The Scorchers captain said Dube was like a father to her.
She said: “I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the passing on of the father and founder of DD Sunshine who groomed and nurtured me to be where I am today. May you rest well Mr. David Dube.”
Dube, who served as Central Region Football Coaches Association treasurer and as FAM executive committee member from 2007 to 2011, will be buried tomorrow at Likuni.
