No Cosmos move for Gabadini

So this is it. Big Bullets red-hot youthful forward will not be allowed to try his luck with a foreign club until he completes his secondary education.

This was agreed during a meeting involving the player’s sister, a Mrs Singini, and Bullets representatives after South African National First Division (NFD) side Jomo Cosmos showed interest to take him on board.

Cosmos have since said they have no problems with the development much as they would have loved to sign the 20-year-old rising star.

Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire said Gabadini’s sister thinks the lad should concentrate on his studies first before embracing professional football abroad.

“We met the player’s sister and we explained to her that Cosmos were interested to assess the player, but her position was that while she acknowledges Cosmos’ appreciation of her young brother’s talent, it would be wise to let him concentrate on his studies first.

“Apparently that was also our position. But since we did not want to be seen to be blocking him [Gabadini] from prospects of a bright future, we called him to get his position and he also agreed with the suggestion,” said Mkandawire.

However, at the time of the interview with The Nation, Bullets had not yet communicated to Cosmos’ local agent Ben Chiwaya regarding the development.

“I will call Ben [Chiwaya] just now to inform him about the development,” said Mkandawire.

Gabadini himself confirmed in a brief separate interview that he had agreed with his sister’s suggestion.

“It is indeed like that. We agreed with my sister that it is important that I pursue my studies first,” said Gabadini.

Chiwaya said while their plans were also to send the lad to school in Johannesburg, they respect the decision.

“Much as we regret the development, we do not have a problem because I already discussed the issue of the player’s education with Cosmos owner Jomo Sono and the plans were that we would have found a proper school for him.

“At Cosmos, we always encourage young players to go to school and we have a number of players in our academy who go to school and Gabadini would have been put under that programme because we value the importance of education.

“Nevertheless, if that is the decision, then well and good. All we can say is that he is a good player with a bright future and we hope to get him after he completes his secondary education,” said Chiwaya.

Gabadini did not sit for his Junior Certificate examination this year for unexplained reasons.

Recently, players’ agent Kondie Msungama and seasoned football commentator Moses Dossi also said the player needs to develop before he can play beyond the borders. The duo also said the player needs to concentrate on his studies.