Another Moz club chasing ‘CJ’

A Mozambican top-flight football league side Desportivo de Maputo is chasing Blue Eagles and Flames midfielder John ‘CJ’ Banda.

Banda is currently on trials with another Mocambola League side Ferroviario de Nampula in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Eagles vice-general secretary Benjamin Msowoya confirmed Desportivo’s interest in an interview with the Weekend Nation yesterday.

“They have shown serious interest, but we have advised them to wait until after his current trials,” said Msowoya.

Meanwhile, the player has since pleaded with Eagles and the Nampula-based side  to speed up the negotiations so that he can complete his move.

Last month, Banda also underwent trials at Jomo Cosmos where he impressed, but was not signed since the Premier Soccer League (PSL) side’s foreign quota is full.

“Football is  short-term career and I am not getting younger. I have a family that I have to take care of and this is an opportunity I would want to grab,” said CJ.

“I just hope the two sides will reach an agreement that will satisfy both parties as well as help me advance my career .”

Broker of the deal James Pondamale confirmed that negotiations were in progress.

Pondamale said Ferroviaro were hoping to sign CJ on a year-long loan deal.

“We are still talking. But like the player has said, the most important thing is to have the player’s welfare at heart. CJ has contributed a lot at Blue Eagles as well as at national team.

“If you look at the performance of local players at national level, CJ has been the most consistent player. I believe Eagles owe him a lot. Let him go and make a fortune for himself while he is still at his peak.”

If the deal materialises, CJ will be getting K800 000 tax-free monthly salary, a free flat, insurance cover, return air tickets for holidays and a game bonus of between $100 (K75 000) and $300 (K225 300) depending on significance of a game.

“It’s a lucrative deal. He has an outright contract waiting for him,” Pondamale said.

“Since it’s just a loan deal, Eagles will have full ownership of the player. We just want him exposed to foreign clubs and if they are interested in him, they will talk to Eagles.”

Ferroviário de Nampula is based in Nampula and their home stadium is Estádio do Nampula.

From 1993 to 2002, Filipe Nhussi, the current president of Mozambique, served as president of the club. n