(By Vinjeru Ngwira)
As life moves like a silent cycle, no one truly knows how their journey will unfold. No one imagines their path will end with pain, struggle, or sorrow. Yet, for some, fate takes a harsher turn, one filled with unexpected heartbreak.
James Mhango was born with the gift of football, a natural talent with every quality of a promising star. On the pitch, he showed passion, skill, and a heart full of dreams. But along the way, those dreams began to fade, clouded by the cruel hand of misfortune.
A former player for Sanweka FC, now known as Mzuzu City Hammers FC, Mhango’s future once seemed bright. But what could have been a triumphant career came to a painful standstill. The game he loved started slipping away from him.
In 2016, after representing Sanweka FC, Mhango fell ill. He would later be diagnosed with malevolent melanoma cancer, a devastating condition that changed the course of his life.
Now 26, and living in Chibavi Township in Mzuzu, Mhango’s health challenges from 2017 to 2022 pulled him completely out of the sport. The body that once chased dreams on the field could no longer keep up.
By 2022, the illness had worsened. The only option left to save his life was to amputate his leg. The procedure was done at Mzuzu Central Hospital. Though it gave him a chance at survival, it also meant saying goodbye to football forever.
Since the amputation, Mhango’s life has been a constant struggle. Every day is a fight to survive. But amid the pain, he found a new path, he took up the challenge to coach Chibavi Real Stars FC. Still, life is not easy. He continues to battle the weight of poverty and loss.
“I weep when I hear my former teammates like Masiya Manda and Edgar Magagana playing in the Super League,” Mhango says with a heavy heart. His voice trembles with memories of the past and dreams that now seem so far away.
Life has never been the same. All the little jobs that once brought him hope are gone. Each day is a reminder of what he lost, and yet, in his brokenness, he continues to push forward, quietly holding on to the little light that remains.
Now, Mhango struggles just to survive. Even the most basic needs, food, shelter, and a way to earn a living, remain painfully out of reach. He longs for something, anything, that could help him place even the smallest meal on the table.