Domestic football powerhouses FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers say unless otherwise, they are done on the transfer market and have since switched their focus to preparing for the new season.
The People’s Team has signed eight new players with two set to be unveiled next week while their rivals, the Nomads, have taken on board five new players.
On the other hand, the Bankers have signed five new players.
In an interview yesterday, Bullets acting chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Chigoga said they are happy that everything went according to plan.
“There are just two more to unveil, but in as far as signing players is concerned, we are done and it’s time to step up our preparations for the new season.” he said.
“We are satisfied with the signings. We could not have done any better. I know other clubs are waxing lyrical about their signings. Ours are objective and strategic. We got the players we wanted and believe can improve the squad and not aiming at preventing opponents from signing them. The depth of our squad left a lot to be desired. This is now sorted.”
I Courtesy of Silver Strikers
On whether they missed any of their targets, Chigoga said: “No regrets at all. We have one or two starlets to unveil. These will shake the transfer market. Top lads!”
One of the players yet to be unveiled by Bullets is striker Clever Kalambo, who already signed a pre-contract. He was also being sought by fellow big guns, Silver and Wanderers, but by the time they made their first moves, he had already committed to the red and white side of town.
The other new signings at Bullets are goalkeepers Maclean Mwale from Karonga United and Pilirani Mapira from Silver, defenders Emmanuel Kaunga from Silver and Ahmed Kang’unde from Wanderers and strikers George Chaomba and Dastan Banda, formerly of Creck Sporting Club and Civil Service, respectively.
On his part, Wanderers CEO Panganeni Ndovi also said they are done with signing new players.
“We are very much satisfied with our new signings on the basis that they have proven to be very good players from where they are coming and once they integrate with the others, we will be on the fast lane,” he said.
On whether they missed out on some targets, Ndovi said: “Of course, I would say we missed out on some targeted players, but we had a number of options.”
The Nomads have signed goalkeeper Jacob Anyandwile from Chitipa United, defenders Peter Ng’ambi from Civil Service United, Alex Kambirinya from Mighty Tigers and Dalitso Nahipa from Creck Sporting Club as well as striker Lameck Mithi from Moyale FC.
Silver have also said they have completed new signings. The club’s board chairperson George Kaudza Masina said: “We are good to go. We have given the coaching panel all the players they asked for.”
Silver have signed goalkeeper Christopher Mikuwa from Mafco FC, midfielder Yankho Billiat from Civil Service, defenders Eric Atsiga and Lumbani Nyondo, formerly of Chitipa United and striker Mally Malango also from Chitipa United.
But Weekend Nation has established that the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side is on the verge of completing the signing of an unidentified player who turns out for an Under-23 side which is competing in the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Under- 23 National Championship.
Meanwhile, both Bullets and Wanderers have expressed concerns over what they described as bloated transfer fees set by some clubs whenever they expressed interest to sign players.
The two teams told Zodiak Broadcasting Station in separate interviews on the need for the Football Association of Malawi to introduce clear and fair regulations governing player transfers, particularly on how transfer fees are determined.
Ndovi said there is a need to properly regulate player pricing.
“We need to have proper regulations in place to bring sanity to all this. Other countries have structured systems and we also need to follow suit,” he was quoted as saying.
On his part, Chigoga said: “You find that a player is sold at a lower price to other teams, but when we express interest the price suddenly goes up.”
