FAM opens football transfer window

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says the local transfer window opened on January 1 and will run for 84 days.

The association’s club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said in an interview yesterday that the first registration period will run up to March 25.

He said: “The use of Fifa Transfer Matching System [TMS] will strictly be followed as the transfer system is mandatory and no transfer done outside the system will be recognised. FAM also expects all signings to go through the system via the Domestic Transfer Matching System [DTMS].

“The Mpira Connect is back again as the registration platform. It should not be confused as the player transfer system, but rather a registration system.

“Clubs are also being reminded that no connect, no football and no DTMS, no transfer.”

Jangale said FAM expects all transfers to go through Fifa TMS under the DTMS section.

“Issues of training compensation which is commonly mistaken for transfer fee as well as solidarity fees, have to be applied,” he said.

Jangale also urged clubs and players to follow the transfer procedures to avoid punishment.

“This is the period in which clubs are involved in player-tapping and they shouldn’t say they were not warned,” he said.

Jangale said the clubs only entered into transfer agreements and not the actual registration process.

“But there was nothing wrong with that as long as the procedures were followed,” he said.

Some clubs have since already hit the market, notably Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets.

The Nomads have bought five players, namely Gaddie Chirwa from Blue Eagles, Christopher Kumwembe from Civil Service United (Civo), Mphatso Kamanga from Karonga United, Dalitso Khungwa and Emmanuel Nyirenda from Mighty Waka-Waka Tigers.

The Nomads have also promoted one player from their reserve side.

The club’s director responsible for technical committee Limbani Magomero said they have completed new signings.

He said: “These were players that our coach [Mark Harrison] recommended after the end of the season and we are done.”

Chirwa has set the record as the most expensive player on the domestic scene, having been sold at K7.5 million from Eagles.

Initially, the Malawi Police Service outfit pegged him at K15 million, but after further negotiations, the cops came down to K9 million before settling for K7.5 million.

On the other hand, the People’s Team has taken on board former Silver Strikers forward Maxwell Gastin Phodo as a free agent and Chawanangwa Gumbo from Ekwendeni Hammers.

But Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said they will be guided by the technical panel on which areas need to be strengthened.

“Should there be need to beef up the squad further, they will advise us,” he said.

Civo general secretary Ronald Chiwaula said they will concentrate on beefing up their squad with youthful players.