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Sulom’s legal affairs and disciplinary committee declared on Monday that following Bakili Bullets’ failure to meet Friday’s call-off point to pay about K2.5 million ($2,315) transfer fees balance for nine key players, they have all automatically returned to their previous clubs.
The players in question are Kachibowo Malunga, Maupo Msowoya, Mapopa Musukwa (MDC United), Emmanuel Chipatala (Super Escom), Chiku Kanyenda, Fundi Akidu (Admarc Tigers), Trust Lunda, Grey Nyirenda and Wisdom Ndlovu (Dwasco).
The committee’s chair George Bakuwa stated on Monday that there was no need to complicate the matter when the agreement to which the Bullets were part of, was loud and clear.
“I don’t see the reason why this issue should be made difficult. The agreement was between the Bullets and the other teams to the effect that if they failed to pay the money by the agreed date (July 31) then the players would automatically return to their respective teams.
“The issue is simple and straight forward but the problem is that it would appear no one wants to take this responsibility at Sulom for whatever reason and that is why they have referred the issue to us. But the players are no longer Bullets property,” said Bakuwa, a lawyer by profession.
He also said the Bullets are supposed to lose points in their Sunday’s BMSL game against Mafco in which they featured four of the players: Kanyenda, Akidu, Chipatala and Ndlovu while Lunda was on the bench. The Bullets came from behind to win 2-1.
“They are supposed to lose those three points for featuring illegal players,” said Bakuwa.
Bakuwa dropped another bombshell saying the Bullets are not supposed to use these players in Sunday’s Group A Caf Champions League Group A match against Ivory Coast’s Africa Sports.
“Unless they start fresh negotiations with the players’ respective clubs, they are not supposed to use these players on Sunday because they do not belong to them,” stressed Bakuwa.
The Sulom disciplinary boss said his committee will meet on Wednesday to look at the issue which he insisted was “a straight forward case.”
MDC’s team manager Simon Mkandawire, Escom’s vice treasurer Kennan Mwalughali, Tigers team manager Sammy Ngwira and Dwasco’s general secretary Johnny Mdokhwe welcomed the development.
Mkandawire said: “At long last a fair game is being played though long overdue. This system of dancing to a tune of one club should stop. We welcome back our players and we expect them to report for training tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Mwalughali said: “It’s good that justice has finally prevailed, we have been denied justice for a long, long time on the matter.”
Bullets’ vice general secretary Ibrahim Patel could not be drawn to comment on the issue yesterday saying: “In fact I am with one of our trustees Mr Yusuf Matumula and we are discussing the same issue right now.”
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