Bangwe All-Stars demand refund after failed transfer

TNM Super League rookies Bangwe-All Stars are demanding a refund of K1.2 million from Luannar FC meant for the club’s striker Innocent Mwakabano’s transfer after the ‘deal’ fell through.

The player is now on  the verge of signing for TNM Super League side Mafco FC after training with the Bangwe-based outfit for only three days before returning to his base in Lilongwe.

In an interview, Jika said they discussed the player’s transfer with Pofera as Luannar’s representative and issued a K1.2 million payment as transfer fee for the player.

He said they spotted the 21-year-old striker early February when the Malawi national football team was in camp in Lilongwe in  preparation for a friendly match against Lesotho.

He said: “After negotiations [with Jegwe], we agreed on a K1.2 million transfer fee.

“Money was sent to Mr. Pofera Jegwe, who is Luanar FC head coach, and we asked him to provide a clearance so that we could officially sign and register the player.”

Jika said him and his team manager Steven Madeira were representing Bangwe in the deal.

In a separate interview, Madeira said they were surprised that Jegwe did not send the  clearance as promised.

On why they did not wait for an official agreement signing and also why they dealt with the coach instead of Luannar FC management, Madeira said they did it out of trust.

He said: “To that effect, We got a letter from Jegwe signed by Luannar GS, which he claimed to be a clearance when in actual fact, it wasn’t.”

Madeira also said the player travelled to Blantyre and trained with their team for three days upon issuing the transfer fee payment.

He said: “Then, all-of-a-sudden, we were informed by his fellow players that he had returned to Lilongwe.

“We did not make an effort to follow up with him because our assumption was that he was not willing to play for us and we appeared to be making no headway in the transfer process.”

But in an interview, Jegwe could neither confirm nor deny receiving money from Bangwe All-Stars, saying the issue was between him and Bangwe.

The player’s manager and father Godfrey Makabano, who is also Mafco team manager, confirmed that the player has joined the Malawi Defence Force team in Salima.

He said Mafco have since written Luanar seeking the player’s clearance.

Said Mwakabano: “The player is a free agent because his contract with Luanar expired. He has made a decision to join Mafco and we want to register him.

“He is a good player and we wanted to register him as soon as possible so that he can play our away game against [FCB Nyasa] Bullets [on Sunday],” he said.

Mwakabano also expressed ignorance on the negotiations with Bangwe All Stars.

Luanar FC media specialist Patricia Ngwale said what they know is that the player went to Bangwe for trials and that “Jegwe does not handle the club’s finances”.