Silver accuse Chitsulo of abscondment

Silver Strikers FC have accused their key forward Tony Chitsulo of being in breach of contract by abandoning the club to train with Mighty Wanderers without following proper procedures.

The Under-20 international unceremoniously dumped Silver a fortnight ago in search of a new lease of life at Lali Lubani Road.

Silver’s chairperson Dr. McDonald Mafuta-Mwale, who was the player’s guardian in Lilongwe, also accused the player of abscondment.

“Tony is on a three-year contract with us until 2014 and his move to ditch the club is in breach of that contract as he is also insured and anything can happen to him while at Wanderers,” said Mafuta-Mwale.

He also accused Wanderers of being disrespectful by taking the player on board outside the transfer window.

“We are also not amused by Wanderers’ conduct because they should have known that the transfer window is not yet open and their actions are tantamount to player-tapping. Maybe it was because we follow jungle rules and [we] get away with them,” said Mafuta-Mwale.

He said they will not accept Nomads’ request for a loan deal.

“The issue of releasing the player on loan is definitely out. If anything, we will assess if they are capable of buying the player outright, that is when we can start negotiating,” he said.

Mafuta-Mwale also said Chitsulo took a French leave from the club and that the Bankers have sought Sulom’s intervention on issues surrounding the player’s movement.

Chitsulo could not be reached for comment on Monday, but Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda claimed he went to Lali Lubani Road out of his own volition.

“We wrote them [Silver] and they are yet to reply. If and when they advise us terms of the prospective deal, we shall oblige.

“If we wanted to poach a player from Silver, then we would have gone for Rhodrick Gonani or Clement Mvula. We hope we can reach an amicable resolve at the earliest time in the interest of the player and the game,” said Kanyenda.

Sulom has since announced that the transfer window will reopen on September 28.