Bullets, Nomads seek to corner players in Tanzania
Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have stepped up the drive to corner their players who sneaked out to Tanzania for greener pasture without clearance.
The three are Bullets’ Aziz Mwakifuna and Misheck Selemani and Nomads’ Balikinyo Mwakanyongo.
The People’s Team chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said in an interview on Monday that Mwakifuna’s issue is now awaiting world football governing body’s Fifa’s verdict.
Bullets sought Fifa intervention through Football Association of Malawi (FAM) after it was established that Mwakifuna was registered by Tanzanian Premier League side Mbeya City under a different name Aziz Andambwire Mambalaswa when he still had a running contract with the People’s Team.
Said Chigoga: “We provided our evidence and proof of player’s ownership when we were asked to do so.”
FAM licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale confirmed that the issue was taken up with Fifa because the Tanzanian Football Federation was not cooperating.
“All the evidence relating to the player’s ownership was sent to Fifa,” he said.
Jangale also said they have received complaints from Bullets and Wanderers relating to Selemani and Mwakanyongo, respectively.
He said: “They both wrote us seeking our intervention on the two players whom they suspect are playing for Tanzanian clubs.
“We took up the issue with the Tanzanian FA and later, we were informed that Tanzania Premier League side Prison FC had contacted Bullets seeking Selemani’s clearance, probably because they were aware of the consequences.”
Chigoga also confirmed having been contacted by Prison officials, saying: “He [Selemani] left without our consent and started training with a Tanzanian team without our consent. A typical form of player tapping.
“When requested by the Tanzanian club to release him, we demanded formal transfer arrangement in which a transfer fee was asked, but the Tanzanian club could not afford to pay.
“In light of this development, Selemani remains our player and cannot join another club without our consent.
“His absence without leave remains valid and will be considered in his future application for ITC [International transfer certificate] or any domestic transfer.”
Wanderers chairperson responsible for public relations and media liaison Clement Stambuli yesterday said they will pursue the matter further.
And commenting on Mwakanyongo, Jangale said Wanderers need to monitor the player and prove that he is playing for a Tanzanian team.
“Of course, we have taken it up with the Tanzanian FA, but in the absence of evidence on which club he is playing for, then our hands are tied,” he said.
