Former Malawi National Football Team and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers centreback James Sangala has defied all the odds to graduate with a Masters of Arts in Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations from the University of Malawi.
Sangala was among the students, who graduated on Thursday in Zomba as part of a series of graduation sessions for the university.
In an interview, the soft-spoken, who is now working for Football Association of Malawi as Technical Support Manager, said he was excited to have graduated as it was not easy.
He was said he inspired by his mother and wife.
Said Sangala: “I am excited to have reached this far with my academics. It hasn’t been easy, but God has been faithful.
“I owe this to my mum and my wife. My mum always wanted us to focus on school. She didn’t even want us to pursue football as a career. Then came my wife later on the path. She encouraged me to go back to school.”
He said he graduated with Theodora Kaliu Chapusa from our class. “Of course there were three more from the previous cohorts but the same programme”.
Meanwhile, a cross section of people congratulated him for the milestone, saying he is exemplary among football players.
Wrote FAM competitions and media director Gomezgani Zakazaka on his Facebook Page: “James Sangala joined the FA as Youth Development Officer. He was still an active footballer. After almost 15 years of playing professional, he decided to go back to school.
“He enrolled for evening classes at Chichiri Private School and sat for his MSCE around May/June 2015. Two years later, he did his Diploma in management at MUBAS. Then in 2017, he proceeded to Catholic University for his Bachelor’s in HR. The former Flames captain has graduated and is now a Master. What a story and journey my captain.”
FAM also posted on its Facebook Page congratulatory message, saying: “Congratulations to the Football Association of Malawi’s Technical Support Manager James Sangala on graduating with a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations.”
Commenting on his feat further, Sangala said he enrolled at Continuing Education Centre at MUBAS, he did Advanced Diploma in Business Management.
After that, he enrolledc with The Catholic University of Malawi, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management.
