Remembering the life of Esau Black Mamba Kanyenda
Back in 2000 there emerged a small boy from the sugarcane growing district of Nkhotakota.
Donning the green colours of super league outfit DWASCO FC, the boy was on a mission.
A mission to establish himself as a household football name at a time Malawi football fans were being entertained by lethal strikers in names like Jones Nkhwazi, Andrew Chikhosi as well as the Mpinganjira brothers Albert and Bob.
So that 2000-2001 marked the birth of the name Esau Kanyenda.
A name that would go all the way to reverberate among Malawi footballs’ walls.
In that season ,Mamba as Kanyenda was fondly scored an unprecedented 17 goals to finish as the second top goal scorer behind current Mighty Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira.
It therefore came as no surprise that at the end of that season, South Africa’s Jomo Cosmos FC came knocking, and in no time a deal was sealed.
That was the beginning of a 15 year professional career for a small boy from Nkhotakota in which he conquered Europe where he starred for FC Rostov in Russia and helping Malawi qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Kanyenda was truly creating his own legacy status, scoring all the important goals for the flames.
But as the saying goals, all good things must surely come to an end and in 2017, Mamba thought enough was enough and it was time to return home and grace the TNM super league at least for 2 more season.
So in that year, Mamba joined Mighty Wanderers from South Africa’s Polokwane City.
At Wanderers Kanyenda formed a deadly combination with Jaffalie Chande, guiding the Lali Lubani boys to glory in his maiden season scoring 8 goals.
In 2018,the Mamba returned to the field of play for one more throw of the dice.
In that season, Mamba netted 6 league goals before taking a bow.
He would later relocate to the United Kingdom where he has been residing up until his death on 2 December 2025.
In his retirement life, the lethal forward was making meaningful contributions on matters relating to Malawi football, becoming a voice of authority on football matters.
As the legend rests, Malawi football mourns a man who gave it all for the flag.
Physically we part, but forever well shall remain.
Rest easy Black Mamba.
