Nomads dealt Chester blow

FAM has told Be Forward Wanderers that they cannot register Yamikani Chester on the assumption that he is a free agent until the next transfer window reopens on May 22.

The former US-based attacker recently agreed to a mutual termination of his contract with Czech third-tier side MFK Vyskov.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) licencing and compliance manager Casper Jangale yesterday said the Nomads have been pushing the association to register Chester ahead of Saturday’s Blantyre derby against their age-old rivals Nyasa big Bullets.

Said Jangale: “They [Wanderers] have been pressing for his registration on the assumption that he is a free agent. But first, we need to get a clearance from his former Czech club through the Czech FA that he is indeed a free agent and even if we get the clearance, Wanderers won’t still be able to use him because the local transfer window is closed until May 22.

“It is not automatic that a free agent can be registered at any time. Those days are long gone, we are now in a digital world in which everything is done electronically.”

Jangale said it is for a similar reason that Silver Strikers cannot register former Mozambique-based midfielder Frank Banda.

“He too is a free agent, having terminated his contract with UD Songo last December, but we told them that his registration can only be processed when the next transfer window opens,” he said.

Nomads chairperson Chancy Gondwe yesterday confirmed having taken Chester on board on a short-term deal, but referred The Nation to general secretary Fadwick Matemba.

“Yes, the agreement has been reached, but for more details, get in touch with the GS,” he said.

Matemba was not available for comment.

The player’s local representative Gift Mkandawire also confirmed that the deal with Wanderers has been finalised.

He said: “We have finalised the deal with a clause that he can leave any time an opportunity opens up elsewhere.”