LIWEWE

THE death of retired veteran Zambian football commentator Dennis Liwewe is a big loss not only to Zambia as a country but the entire African continent, if not the world at large.
Regardless of knowing about his ill-health in the recent past, his death still came as a surprise to me.
The young generation may not know what a great commentator Liwewe was.
But those of us who had the opportunity to listen to his voice from the commentary box on the radio as he calculated the degrees and angles from the twists and turns made by players as they ran around with the ball on the football pitch will never forget.
Listening to Liwewe’ commentary on the radio was like watching the game live from the terraces. It was captivating.
BBC’s journalist Farayi Mungazi once referred to Liwewe as a rare breed of people who can read the ingredients on a tin of soup and make it sound as dramatic as a penalty shoot-out.
Liwewe’s death is even more painful because it has come only 6 days before the 21st anniversary of the Gabon Air Disaster, a tragedy he once revealed caused him so much pain in his entire life.
Dennis Liwewe was a hard worker and very passionate about football, especially Zambian football. There will never be another Dennis Liwewe.
We can only thank our Heavenly Father for giving us this great son of Africa. But above all, we are grateful that the good Lord allowed Liwewe to see Zambia lift the Africa Cup of Nations.
We say thank Mr Liwewe for the great memories. Thank you for being the Voice of Football not only here in Zambia but the entire continent of Africa.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.

KAMPA SENKWE
Kitwe