FAM plays tough on Kafoteka

FAM has taken a tough stance on veteran defender Elvis Kafoteka, saying he cannot join a local team unless the association gets written consent from his Rwandan club APR.

Kafoteka is still contracted to APR until 2014, but he claims to have come to a mutual agreement with the club to join a local team of his choice. He fell out with APR last year.

He has since signed a short-term contract with Mighty Wanderers, but Football Association of Malawi (FAM) commercial manager Casper Jangale yesterday said unless the player provides documentation [from APR] to prove that he is free to join a local team, he cannot be allowed to play.

“In as far as our records are concerned, he is still contracted to the Rwandan club and there is need for APR to communicate to us through the Rwandan FA that he is free to join a local club.

“Apparently, the player claims that he misplaced the document from APR and we have since contacted the club through the Rwandan Football Federation (RFF) to give us their position and if anything reverse his international transfer certificate (ITC) to enable him to join a local team,” said Jangale.

He also said the world football governing body, Fifa, is following Malawi’s international player transfer issues with keen interest following the controversy that surrounded local players moves to Mozambique and DR Congo.

“So, we do not want to take chances. As soon as we get a clearance from APR, he will be allowed to join a local team of his choice.

“It is not that we are blocking him from joining any team, but we just want to be on the safe side and that the procedures must be followed,” said Jangale.

However, Kafoteka claimed that APR agreed to release him before the expiry of his contract on condition that he should join a local team.

“They gave me a letter but it seems I misplaced it. But I have all the hope that they [APR] will issue the clearance,” said Kafoteka.

Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda, who doubles as their legal adviser, said they are hoping to get Kafoteka’s ITC before the end of the week.

Kafoteka dumped APR last year claiming that the Rwandan club was not fulfilling its contractual obligations.