The Malawian Government have confirmed the death of former national team coach and ex-player Jack ‘Africa’ Chamangwane, aged 61.
In a statement, the government says Chamangwane, who was working as Technical Director for TNM Super League Defending Champions Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, died on Sunday evening at hospital in the country’s capital where he was admitted with high blood pressure.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender is the country’s second most capped player with 133 international appearances.
His Career
According to a profile posted by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) a week before his demise, Jack started in all the matches and was never a substitute.
He made his debut in a friendly match against Kenya on 10 July 1975 in Lilongwe as an 18 year old. Flames won this game 3-1 with legend Kinna Phiri getting a brace while Isaac Muhura scored the other goal.
In the next two years, Jack played in all the 28 games that took place and even scored his first ever goal in a 2-0 win over Botswana in a friendly match away in Gaborone in 1977.
He also played in all the matches played in 1980 (13) and 1982 (7). On 3rd October 1982, in an African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Zimbabwe in Harare, Jack made his 100th appearance as Malawi won 2-0.
Jack played under seven coaches during his eleven years with the Flames starting with Brazilian Wander Moreira, followed by caretaker for one game Hydri Kondwani, Englishmen George Curtis and Ted Powell. This was then followed by two Malawians, caretaker Alex Masanjala and Henry Moyo while his last coach was Danny McLennan from Scotland.
The defender played his last match for the Flames on 16th April 1985 in Maputo against Mozambique in an African Cup of Nations 2nd leg qualifier which ended 1all on aggregate and Malawi lost 6-5 on penalties.
In 1986 Jack left for South Africa where he played for giants Kaizer Chiefs. He coached Chiefs in 1988 before being replaced by Jeff Butler whom he replaced again in 1989. He also coached Young Africans of Tanzania in 2006.
Jack was Flames coach in 1998 for 13 games with a record of 1 win 6 draws and 6 loses. He then served as FAM technical director between 2009 and 2013. He was part of the Flames technical team at the 2010 Afcon .
Between 2014 and 2015 he served as Flames assistance coach under Young Chimodzi.
