Yasin Osman: Malawi's first footballer to be sold for a transfer fee passes on

Malawi football legend Yasin Osman, the country's first player to be sold in 1968, died after a short illness on Monday.

Osman died aged 75 in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre, leaving behind a distinguished legacy as Malawi’s greatest strikers for club and country in a football career that ran its full cycle.

He was, until his death, serving as technical director for Mighty Wanderers, his childhood club he played for in the mid-1960s before crossing the floor to join Bata Bullets for 100 Sterling Pounds, the first time a transfer involved a fee in Malawi football history.

Osman’s switch from Wanderers to Bullets was the genesis of Malawi’s biggest local club derby in Blantyre. Osman scored 22 goals in 68 games for Malawi between 1966 and 1975. He also served as a club and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) administrator, technical director, and national team coach.

Osman was FAM's General Secretary between 1996-1999 and 2005-2007, also managing other local clubs such as Michiru Blue Cross, Moneymen, and Escom United.

Meanwhile, there is an outpouring of tributes for the departed legend with FAM saying, 'the football fraternity will forever remember the contributions of Mr. Osman to Malawi football and his legacy will live forever'.'