BB, Silver fight over Chawanangwa ensues

While Silver Strikers have said striker Chawanangwa Kaonga is not for sale, Big Bullets are said to have already registered him for the CAF Champions League to beat a December 30 2014 deadline for registration of players.

Bullets say they will seek the intervention of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to ensure that Silver allow them to buy Kaonga.

“We understand Silver’s position. It is not easy to let go of one of your top players, especially to rival teams. But things are different and Silver will be fighting a losing battle because it is the player who has expressed interest to join us,” said Big Bullets general secretary Harold Fote in an interview yesterday.

“We are ready to pay Silver for the services of the player and, according to the Chiwembe Declaration, the maximum we can pay for a local player is K3 million. Kaonga wants to join us and for Silver to block his move, they are infringing on the players interest for the gain of the club, which is a crime in football. We are engaging FAM on this. If a player wants out, you cannot force him to stay,” said Fote.

Silver treasurer Fred Kalonga said Kaonga is valued at K10 million and they already have offers for him from Mozambique and South Africa.

In a December 30 letter addressed to Fote and copied to FAM and Super League of Malawi (Sulom), Silver have made it clear that Kaonga is not for sale.

However, despite the refusal, Silver have thanked Bullets for taking the right approach by writing the club on their intention, saying that marks professionalism.

In a related development, Fote has denied claims by Silver that he is using money to entice Kaonga to join Bullets, saying he cannot do such a thing.

Kaonga refused to say anything on the matter when contacted yesterday. n