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| Sports |
| Bakili Bullets fall prey to Silver: Chipatala, Malidadi join the Lilongwe side |
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by
Leonard Sharra, 25 January 2005
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11:23:52
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The once powerful Bakili Bullets’ empire is slowly but steadily falling apart with latest developments showing the ‘people’s team’ is falling prey to Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) sponsored-side Silver Strikers which is on the verge of getting three top players from the Bakili Muluzi Super League (BMSL) champions.
Already the bankers have roped in skilful striker Dick Malidadi who was recruited by the Bullets at the start of last season from police outfit Blue Eagles.
Malidadi, who ditched the police service after tempting offers from Bullets, enjoyed a hero’s welcome at Silver on Sunday after hitting the banker’s equaliser against Bullets in an exciting friendly match plated at Silver Stadium.
The Bullets had taken a 51st minute lead courtesy of Enyimba-bound Fischer Kondowe and Malidadi cancelled it with a 74th minute strike after coming from the bench.
There are also strong indications that former Bullets’ captain Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda, who ditched the club in controversial circumstances to join Zimbabwe Premier League champions Caps United, and left winger Emmanuel Chipatala are joining the central back side.
Information reaching Nation Online indicates that both players will be reporting for training this afternoon. There are also reports that the bankers are hoping to get the players for free because they signed one-year contracts with the Bullets.
Silver’s vice chairman Patrick Uka, who has been at the centre of the bankers moves to get on board new faces, confirmed Malidadi’s move to his camp but chose to keep a tight lead on the other two international stars.
“You have already seen Malidadi in our camp. All I can say is the player approached us and we have welcomed him. We are yet to secure his clearance. As for the other two players, let’s just watch the developments,” said Uka.
Bullets’ chairman Hassam Jussab said he was aware that Malidadi and Chipatala had crossed over to the bankers’ camp.
“I am aware that Malidadi and Chipatala are moving to Silver but we have not received any official communication from Silver. As for Peter Mponda, we referred his issue to our lawyers.
“Fam gave us thirty days to provide proof that we met the contractual agreements with the player and our position is that every team that is going to get him has to pay us,” said Jussab.
Mponda, who went to Zimbabwe on Monday, came back on Friday. Caps United is suspicious of his moves.
The Bullets’ boss also ruled out Silver’s prospects of getting Malidadi and Chipatala for free
“Whether the players signed six month contracts with us, they still have to pay us because these players are registered with us. Jimmy Zakazaka had completed a one-year contract at Silver but we still paid K750,000 when we signed him last season,” Jussab.
He then went on to disclose price tags for the two players: “Malidadi is going at K1.2m and Chipatala is pegged at K1.8m. This is subject to negotiations.”
The two players could not be traced on Monday for their comments.
The exodus of the players in Bullets come hot on the heels of the tag of war between the executive and sponsor former president Bakili Muluzi. The sponsor says he is deliberately holding on to the sponsorship until the executive explains how it spent the K15 million meant for five years in less than a year.
Because of lack of money, the team started preparations for the new season late, forcing coach Kinnah Phiri to use his own funds for the players transport to and from training. The team has also not held an annual general meeting (AGM) to elect a new executive.
Muluzi has since said he will just release ‘starter pack’ sponsorship until the executive sorts out the problems.
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