Babatunde’s switch takes dramatic twist

Mighty Wanderers have faulted their arch-rivals Nyasa Big Bullets regarding the signing of Nigerian forward Babatunde Adepoju, saying the People’s Team signed him before the expiry of his contract.

The lanky forward signed a three-year deal with Bullets on Thursday as a free agent on the assumption that his contract at Lali Lubani Road expired on June 3.

But Wanderers chairperson Chancy Gondwe claims that Babatunde’s two-and-a half-year contract expires at midnight today and they expect Bullets to pay for signing Babatunde without their consent.

He said: “They signed a player who had an outstanding contract with us. They should have waited till the expiry of his contract on 3 July 2021 though he was not in our plans.

“His contract did not expire on 3 June, 2021. This being the case, they could not have signed him for free.

“They signed our player when he had a contract with our club. We shall wait for them to engage us now on the price. They signed him without our consent.”

“July 3 was not very far. This being the case, we wait to hear from them on how they signed our player, who was not a free agent.

“Otherwise, we as Wanderers family, wish him all the best as he plays for Bullets.

“Since no player can be registered outside the transfer window, we wish him all the best as he plays for a team of his choice from the next  footballing season,” he said.

The Nomads boss also claimed that Babatunde was excess luggage considering goal conversion rate; hence, the move not to offer him a new contract.

However, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga played down Gondwe’s claims, saying: “We followed all the procedures.”

On his part, Babatunde said he is surprised with the Nomads’ change of tune having earlier confirmed through the press that his contract had indeed expired.