Panel hears Kajoke ‘ownership’ case
Proceedings during the player ownership case hearing involving Hassan Kajoke, FCB Nyasa Bullets and Silver Strikers on Tuesday revealed that the Central Bankers signed the striker in January, three months before the expiry of his contract.
Kajoke admitted signing the contract and receiving K3.9 million from Silver despite having a running contract with Bullets.
In his submission, former Silver chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali said the club proceeded to sign the player on January 4 without checking his status with FAM or Bullets “on trust” since his manager Ken Mvula “was a friend”.
FAM Player Status Committee by chairperson Felister Dossi heard submissions from Silver representative Chrispine Sibande, Bullets’ chief administration officer Albert Chigoga, Kajoke and Mvula.led
Mvula, on the other hand, told the committee that he advised Silver to check with FAM or Bullets on the player’s status.
He also denied having signed as a witness in the contract and claimed his signature was forged.
But in his submission, Sibande, a lawyer, called on FAM to ban Kajoke as petitioned on April 19 due to his dishonesty.
He said Kajoke was not supposed to be playing after breaching an agreement with Silver by signing another contract with Bullets when he already had an existing contract with the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side.
Taking his turn, Chigoga wonderedwhy Silver went on to sign the player on January 4 when he was still contracted to Bullets.
He said Fifa Player Status Regulations do not allow a player to move willy-nilly even when his contract is about to expire.
He said: “It does not matter whether a player has six months or two years remaining to the expiry of the contract. A player must sign a new contract with another club only when the contract expires or when the two parties have agreed.”
But Silver argued that the player told them that his contract with Bullets expired on December 31 2022.
The hearing also revealed that Bullets complained to FAM about Silver’s alleged player tapping on January 18.
But when the association contacted Silver on the matter, the Central Bankers denied signing the player although the affidavits presented to FAM showed they did.
Silver also paid Kajoke a salary from January to March before the striker eventually returned to Bullets.
According to FAM licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale. all along, the player’s status never changed as Bullets registered him for the 2023 season while Silver never registered him with the association.
He said the Player Status Committee will come up with a ruling after assessing the submissions.
According to Fifa Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players Article 18.3, a club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.
The Article further reads: “A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months. Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.”
Silver through their lawyers Nankhuni & Partners petitioned FAM to declare that Kajoke, who is the first respondent in the petition, signed a valid contract with the club which runs from January 4 2023 to January 3 2026.
The petition also wants FAM to ban Kajoke from any competitive football matches for any team until he pays back the K3.9 million as signing-on fee as well as monthly upkeep allowances he received.
