Thomas Nyirenda, affectionately known as 'Dela Rue' among his teammates and fans, will retire from active football at the end of the 2023-24 season. Thomas, 40, opted to retire from football following a fascinating career that saw him make significant contributions to the Zambia National Football Team, Zambian clubs, and the wider community. "After several years of doing what I've always wanted to do, I've decided to retire from active football. It brings me tremendous joy to have retired at Konkola Blades, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity. "In this journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the FAZ, Konkola Blades management, my family members, Konkola Blades fans, and my closest friends, not to mention all of the coaches who supported me and teammates who have gone above and beyond being teammates. They've been with me through good and bad times," he remarked. Thomas stated that he may be away from playing football, but he will always be available to contribute to the future success of his childhood club, Konkola Blades. And Club Chairperson Davy Mubita has expressed gratitude for Thomas' contributions to Konkola Blades and other clubs both in Zambia and abroad, characterizing him as a selfless and humble leader who promoted team spirit with a desire to win. The Chairman has also wished Thomas the best of luck in his future ambitions, and he hopes that the captain will always be available to lend his experience to the club as he has progressed up the ranks at Blades. Thomas's career highlights are playing for Konkola Mine Police, Konkola Blades, ZANACO FC, and Power Dynamos. And in Mozambique, he played for Ferroviario da Beira, and UDS before returning to Konkola Blades. He was a regular feature in the Zambia National Soccer Team in the period between 2009 to 2013. Data was made avaliable via Konkola blades social media. Thank you Thomas. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.