Times Of Swaziland: TEXAN PHIRI PASSES AWAY

TEXAN PHIRI PASSES AWAY
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BY NTOKOZO MAGONGO on 28/05/2020 00:48:00


MBABANE – Well-travelled Zambian coach, Texan Phiri, who spent half of his
coaching career in the country, has passed on.
He succumbed to death yesterday in his home country, Zambia. Phiri is renowned
for leading local teams, which include Royal Leopard, Young Buffaloes, XI Men in
Flight, Manzini Sundowns (Now Denver Sundowns), Tambuti, Malanti Chiefs and
Tambuti.
He then joined Botswana Ecco City Greens in 2016 before going back home to
Zambia, where he was leading Eastlands Football Academy. A source close to the
matter confirmed yesterday. “It is true that he passed away on Wednesday
morning but I don’t have many details concerning his death,” said a source.
Mark
Phiri was among the Zambian Coaches who left a huge mark in the local football
and others include Jan Simulambo, George Chikokola and Francis ‘Mkhulu’
Banda among others.
He won the SwaziBank Cup (Now EswatiniBank Cup) in 2011 with Royal Leopard and
it was in his first season with the police side, which he joined after having
steered Malanti Chiefs to third position in 2010 in the MTN Premier League and
that was then the club’s best finish in the league in history.
Phiri’s friends were already sending their condolences after Chipolopolo Die
Hard fans website released a tribute to Phiri.
“Thoughts and prayers are with the Phiri family following bereavement in the
pillar of the family in well-travelled Zambian coach Texan Phiri, who passed on
in the early hours of today (Yesterday). Phiri, who was a Profound Warriors
legend, has left a big mark on the football landscape not only in Zambia but in
Southern Africa where he coached teams like Royal Leopard, Young Buffaloes and
most recently Tambuti FC.
His biggest high was when he went to Botswana to take over the coaching job at
Francistown based outfit Ecco City Greens.
The late coach made them giant killers and thus endearing him to the Ecco City
Greens faithful or mamoja as they are affectionately referred to,” reads the
tribute.
The website described Phiri’s death as a big blow to the Zambian Football
fraternity and he returnd home late last year and was coaching Livingstone-based
side Eastlands Football Academy and was still on the wanted list of two clubs in
the region.
Young Buffaloes Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sandile Gwebu said they were not
yet aware of the matter when called yesterday afternoon.