No progress on Nthala, Namwela deals

Three weeks after expressing interest to sign Mighty Wanderers captain and defence pillar Foster Namwela, Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League club FC Platinum has not made any attempt to seal the deal.

In a related development, there also appears to be no progress in the prospective move involving Flames first-choice goaltender Simplex Nthala to South African Premier Soccer League side Santos.

The delay on Namwela’s deal raises doubts as to whether the Zimbabwean side will take him on board as he has also not been included in the list of players for the CAF Champions League as well as the Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premiership campaign.

Nomads vice-general secretary Richard Kambalame on Thursday said there is still no word from FC Platiunm.

“The last time we communicated was over three weeks ago when we agreed on the $10 000 [about K1.6 million] transfer fee. Since then, we have not heard anything from them,” Kambalame said.

But former Nomads Zimbabwean mentor Rahman Gumbo, now in charge of FC Platinum, said he had recommended Namwela to the club management.

“I endorsed that we should sign Foster [Namwela] and the rest is in hands of the executive committee,” Gumbo said from Zimbabwe.

According to Zimbabwean press reports, Platinum FC has assembled a squad of several seasoned and youth players whom they expect to make a big impression both at home and on the continent.

In an interview on Wednesday, Nthala said he has not heard anything from either his current Mozambican team Liga Maculmana or Santos regarding his prospective move.

“I have been waiting for an air ticket [from Santos] and up to now, there has been no word from either them or Maculmana. So, I am just waiting,” Nthala said.

Santos also made a commitment to sign the towering goalkeeper during the current transfer window after he impressed during trials earlier this year.