FAM nullifies Kamwendo transfer

 Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Player Status Committee has ruled that Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos forward Promise Kamwendo’s transfer to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers is invalid.

The player, who initially wanted to join FCB Nyasa Bullets before changing his mind and penned a three-year deal with Wanderers after his club had received K3 million transfer fee from the People’s Team, has been ordered to return to his club until the expiry of his contract on December 31.

Dedza have also been found guilty of being at the centre of the controversy and fined K3 million and ordered refund transfer fees received from both Wanderers and Bullets.

Wanderers were also found guilty of flouting player transfer procedures and fined K4 million.

On his part, Kamwendo has been told to refund the K6 million signing-on fee which he pocketed from Wanderers.

With the transfer window closed, the development means Kamwendo will have to wait for the next transfer window in January 2025 before he can change clubs.

FAM player status committee, which is headed by FAM executive member Daud Mtanthiko, however, bemoaned Dedza’s conduct.

The verdict reads further: “The indecisiveness demonstrated by the first respondent can be directly identified as the primary cause of the conflict.

“It is particularly perplexing that the first respondent accepted payment from the petitioner, only to provide banking details to the fourth respondent two days later and subsequently accept a payment from them for the same player. This behaviour confounds the committee and is absolutely a conduct that should not be tolerated.”

The committee, however, says both Wanderers and Bullets did not conclude the transfer deal.

But Wanderers have been fined for signing a contract with a player contracted to another club.

Wanderers chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi in an interview said he was consulting their lawyers on the matter.

His Bullets counterpart Albert Chigoga said they were satisfied with the verdict.

However, he said FAM should have banned Wanderers from transfers as well.

“Partially, the verdict has addressed our petition to our satisfaction,” said Chigoga.

On his part, Dedza Dynamos chief executive officer Flellah Kulemelo said he was shocked by the verdict.

Soccer analyst Patrick Zgambo said the verdict is a wake-up call for players and clubs who use shortcuts in player transfer deals.