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| Sports |
| Demand contracts, Kaudza urge players |
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by
Leonard Sharra, 28 November 2003
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15:36:10
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Fam’s spokesman George Kaudza Masina said on Thursday players have themselves to blame for not insisting on signing contracts if clubs dump them unceremoniously.
Kaudza Masina’s comments follow latest developments in Silver Strikers camp where six players have been laid off and offered what they consider peanuts for their upkeep.
The players include former Michiru Castles goalkeeper Chingongwa Mtawali, midfielders Chinji Majawa and Victor Maliro and strikers Jones ‘Speedlink’ Nkhwazi formerly of Bakili Bullets, Dyton Chizuze and Maurice Chikalipo, the lad who steered the bankers to last year’s BP Top 8 finals with a golden goal strike against Bakili Bullets.
Kaudza Masina said what has happened to Silver players should act as a lesson to other players.
“At the beginning of the season, Fam stated that players should sign contracts with their clubs. But most players only signed the normal registration forms. I only know of few players like Phillip Nyasulu who signed real contracts with their clubs. Had the players at Silver signed contracts with their club, they could not have found themselves into this situation,” said the spokesman.
He added: “Legally Silver may have no case to answer because of the absence of a contract but still the club has a moral obligation to give the players a token of appreciation for the services they have rendered to the team. I don’t think K4,000 is enough token considering the state of our economy,” said Masina.
Kaudza Masina also suggested that players should form agents or a union, which should handle their deals with clubs.
The players told the Weekend Nation that they were called by team manager Cuthbert Mtawali after Wednesday’s training session and informed they would be loaned to other clubs until their performances improve.
There was total confusion at the Silver Stadium after the announcement as the players demanded their full dues.
“We want our money in full. They cannot give us K2,000($19) (each) after all the good services we have rendered to the club. Some of us have got families and what are we going to do with such peanuts,” shouted one player.
Another one remarked: “They should not even loan us to other teams after indicating that our performance has dwindled. Let them give us clearances so that we join teams of our choice.”
Maliro, who once played for MDC United and Super Escom, openly threatened to manhandle Mtawali if he did not get his full dues.
The K2,000 was half the amount each of the players was to receive as upkeep for December and the players wanted the money in full.
Speaking in an interview after the incidents, Mtawali explained that the club had not forsaken the players: “We are saying these players should join other clubs on loan and depending on their performance, we may need them back. May be they were getting too much money at Silver and after experiencing a different life they may improve.
“We can’t just let them go to other clubs for free. Nkhwazi was fired from Bullets but we ended up paying about K100,000 for him. Wanderers also laid off some of its players but they are with Civo on loan. The players have no say on this issue. It’s up to the club to decide,” said Mtawali.
He said they were targeting Civo and Blue Eagles as some of the teams to loan the players.
On the money issue, Mtawali said there were misunderstandings on the transactions “but everything has been sorted out with the executive.”
“We give the boys their upkeep at the beginning of each month and when they were paid on October 31, they thought the money was for that month. But that money was meant for this month (November). However, the issue has been resolved and they will get their full upkeep (K4,000 each) for December,” said Mtawali.
Mtawali ruled out the possibility of giving the players any tokens for the services they have rendered to the club.
“You know yourself that there is no pension scheme in football. The boys’ contracts with the club expired at the end of the season and we are building a team for the coming season.
“What has started is just the beginning of a clean-sweep and more will follow. We want to remain with a manageable list after receiving players from other teams.”
Among other players, the bankers want to recruit are Rodrick Kamanga, Derick Somanje and Davie Moya (Blue Eagles), Beyard Wazili and Harold Chimombo from Dwasco, Jacob Ngwira (Admarc Tigers), Prince Chihana (MDC United) and Mike Banda (UFC).
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