TWO time African Rally Champion Herminder Singh Bhandhair popularly knows as Muna Singh Sr brought honour to this country as he lived like one of us with humility and kindness, President Hakainde Hichilema disclosed.
President Hichilema sent his condolences to the Singh family and motor sport family.
“The nation mourns the passing of Muna Singh Sr and call upon us all to pray for the family during this trying time,” said President Hichilema.
Singh, 53, died yesterday at Narayana Health Hospital in Bangalore,
India, following a liver complication, with Minister of Youth, Sports and ArtsE Elvis Nkandu describing his demise as a huge blow not only for the motorsport but the sports fraternity entirely.
Zambia Daily Mail reports that Muna and his co-driver David Sihoka were a marvel to watch
during their heyday.
Nkandu said Muna raised the Zambian flag on the continent with flawless and impeccable driving skills.
“His immense contribution to the growth of motorsport in our country is embedded in our memories and will forever be cherished.”
“On behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I wish to send my heartfelt condolences and prayer of comfort to the late Muna Singh Senior’s family and the entire motorsport fraternity on the loss of a true legend,” Nkandu said as quoted by the Zambia Daily Mail.
And Zambia Motor Sport Association (ZMSA) president Sam Ching’ambu said: “It’s a huge loss to the notorsport fraternity and a big gap he has left.
He was not just a sportsman in terms of driving, he was an administrator, a counsellor, a
teacher.. Muna was everything to the sport. There is nobody among the drivers, navigators and officials who has not passed in his hands. He had this passion, even when you didn’t ask him for anything, he would just come and advise. He was a pillar for motorsport.”
Muna’s last position at ZMSA was rally commissioner and also served as a Federation
Internationale de l’Automobile official as well as an international observer.
Chingambu said Condolences messages have been coming in from across the continent and locally including Ndola-based reigning Africa and national champion Leroy Gomes.
National Sports Council of Zambia acting general secretary Raphael Mulenga told Zambia Daily Mail that the sports fraternity has lost a true legend, describing his death as a shock.
Muna, who was born in a motorsport family, had two African titles and won several local championships.
His father, Guru, was one of the initiators of the sport, winning a number of national
titles.
He passed on the baton to his brother, Satwant, who dominated local and continental rallies for over two decades. Satwant won several national titles and unrivalled eight African crowns.
Muna’s sons Muna Junior and Jassy have also followed the lineage, with the latter having
won the African title in 2013 while the former dominated the National Championship, winning four consecutive titles collectively.
Zambia has won 13 African titles, 11 by the Singh family, with the other two courtesy of Mohammed Essa, who was victorious in 2012, while Gomes triumphed last year, Zambia Daily mail reports.
