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 ‘Blessings Tembo’s contract has two expiry dates’

 

There is a new twist to the transfer saga of Silver Strikers’ captain Blessings Tembo to Be Forward Wanderers following a revelation that copies of his contract with the Bankers have different expiry dates.

While Tembo’s agent Juma Katswiri claims the player’s contract expired on December 29 2017, Silver general secretary Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda argues it will run up to June 30 2018.

At the centre of controversy: Tembo

The player has signed a three-year contract with Wanderers but Silver claim this is illegal as the player is still contracted to them.

“We proceeded with the transfer of the player as a free agent to Wanderers because his copy of contract shows it expired on December 29 2017. It is surprising to hear Silver claiming the deal is valid until June 30 2018,” Katswiri said.

On his part, Chakaka-Nyirenda said: “It is illegal for Tembo to sign for any other club because he is still contracted to Silver. Wanderers rushed to sign the player and that was a mistake.”

But  Football Association of Malawi (FAM) matching systems and player transfer manager Casper Jangale said they will go ahead to finalise Tembo’s contract with Wanderers unless they receive an official complaint from Silver.

“At present, Wanderers have submitted to FAM their latest contract with Tembo and we will proceed to finalise the process,” he said.

A similar scenario occurred in 2016 when Jafalie Chande made a move from Nyasa Big Bullets to Wanderers. Then, his copy indicated February as expiry date but Bullets’ copy showed August.

According Jangale, players are free to start negotiations with any club once their contracts are at least six months to expiry. But it is illegal for the players to sign a contract with any club before the expiry date.

Soccer analyst George Kaudza Masina yesterday said Tembo’s move to Wanderers is a big blow to Silver and, as such, they might be deliberately coming up with excuses to save their face.

“The problem with our football administrators is that they lack transparency. How can a player have two contracts; definitely, this means one is not the right one,” he said

“Silver officials are on record that the player’s contract expired and they were negotiating with Tembo on contract extension. They were only stunned that Wanderers pulled a fast one on them. It’s high time our football administrators knew when to start negotiations with players than waiting until the last minute.”

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One Comment

  1. It’s not that it has 2 expiry dates but that Malawi is a corrupt country and fraudsters get away with a crime .
    Obviously the officials forged the copy amd if it was a proper county someone would have ended in jail.

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