Soccer fraternity have expressed shock over the sad demise of the National Coaches Association Chairperson Stuart Mbolembole.

The former Flames team manager and Be Forward Wanderers coach died on Thursday evening at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre where he was admitted.

Meanwhile, tributes are pouring for the departed coach.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president water Nyamilandu has described Mbolembole as a reliable asset which the football mother body has lost.

Nyamilandu said: “He was an asset to FAM whom we were greatly relying on, for instance, when appointing national coaches, he was instrumental so it’s a great shock to us and the nation at large.”

Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve coach, Enosi Chatama, said apart from being a mentor, Mbolembole was also like a father to the country’s coaches.

“He was an inspiration to many and a father to us as coaches considering that he was always at the center of uniting us in the country.”

He described Mbolembole as a hero who took the country’s football at greater heights.

The late Mbolembole was appointed National Coaches Association Chairperson in the early 2020.

Mbolembole will be laid to rest on Saturday in Chinamwali Township in Zomba City.