Women’s football star retires from national duty

Malawi women’s football star Linda Kasenda has retired from national duty after a 15-year service.

In a letter to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) copied to Skippers FC and National Women’s Football Association, the 32-year-old said she wants to give a chance to up-and-coming players.

Reads the letter in part: “I hereby write to inform you of my decision to retire from the Malawi Women’s National Football Team with effect from January 3 2020.

“I have taken this decision upon reflecting on my 15-year football career and I believe I should give room to deserving young and [up-and-coming] talent to take over from where I have left off.”

She commended FAM for giving her an opportunity to play for the national team.

“It was such an honour and privilege to play for the national women’s football team. I would like to wish the Malawi women’s national team all the best in its future endeavours,” said Kasenda.

In an interview,  the prolific forward said made the decision in good faith and she will continue playing for Skippers and coaching at Mpira M’mudzi Wathu.

“I was still in the first 11 and last year during Cosafa, I  played all games and in the game against Comoros I scored eight goals and I was named player-of-the-match,” said Kasenda. “I can say last year was one of my  best seasons, but it’s time to leave the stage.”

National Women Football Association chairperson Suzgo Ngwira applauded Kasenda for contributing towards the development of women football in the country.

“Linda has been an asset for the national team and she is a legend. We wish her well in her future endeavour,” she said.

Immediate past Malawi national women’s team assistant coach and DD Sunshine coach Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi applauded her for being dedicated to the national team.

“She was one of the long-serving national team players and helped a lot of youngsters from club level up to the national team. As she has said in her letter that she wants to give youngsters a chance, as a coach I respect that and I wish her all the best,” he said.

Kasenda started her career at Zomba City Queens before moving to DD Sunshine. She now plays for Skippers. She said her chance to play professional football in South Africa and Zimbabwe did not materialise because she did not want to leave her employment at Tingathe Project at Baylor College of Medicine.