Football Kenya Federation has expressed its deep condolences to the Family of the late Dr Saulos Chilima and the entire nation for the passing of the “patriotic” citizen.
Kenya opted for Malawi as their home ground following CAF’s stance on certifying stadia in their homeland and the Harambee Stars have been in Malawi since last week.
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However, their crucial game against Ivory Coast was affected by the announcement of the tragic death of Dr Chilima and eight others.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Football Kenya Federation Head of Media Communication and Public Relations, Kenn Okaka described Chilima’s demise as saddening.
“The kindness and encouragement from the people [in Malawi] has been truly remarkable and has made our stay much more enjoyable.
“However, it is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Malawi’s Vice President on the day of our game against Ivory Coast. This loss is deeply saddening, and our thoughts are with the people of Malawi during this difficult time.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the entire nation and especially to the family and loved ones of the Vice President. The resilience and graciousness shown by the people of Malawi, even in the face of such a significant loss, are truly admirable.
“We stand with you in mourning and hope for comfort and peace for all affected by this tragedy. May God bless the people of Malawi. Your strength and spirit in these trying times are an inspiration to us all,” he writes on his Facebook page.
Kenya played a barren stalemate against heavyweight, Ivory Coast who are the Champions of the 2023 African Cup of Nations to return home with two points from two games after playing a 1-all stalemate against Burundi in their first game.
“I want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for the incredible support and hospitality we’ve received from the people of Malawi during our time in Lilongwe.
“It’s clear that Lilongwe is a fantastic place for Kenya, not just as a venue for football matches but also for the warmth and welcoming spirit extended to us by the local community,” he added.
Football Kenya Federation’s mourning comes after the Football Association of Malawi also mourned the demise of Chilima who died after the crashing of the aircraft in Chikangwa Forest.
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