Blue Eagles FC have refunded Silver Strikers K3.5 million meant for the botched transfer of midfielder Vitumbiko Kumwenda.
The Central Bankers deposited the sum into the Eagles’ bank account after securing the transfer of the 26-year-old from the Malawi Police Service (MPS) outfit but the deal flopped at the eleventh hour after the player opted to buy out his contract and join Be Forward Wanderers.
According to Silver’s marketing and communications officer David Daniel Dauda, Eagles vice-general secretary William Nkhoma delivered the cheque to the Central Bankers.
“Eagles agreed to pay back the money for the failed deal and the Police Headquarters’ team has lived up to their word,” he said in a report posted on Silver’s Facebook page.
Dauda said all processes were done with Eagles two months ago, including an agreement on the player’s personal terms, but Kumwenda changed his mind on the day he was expected to sign contract with the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM)-sponsored club.
Thereafter, Silver wrote Eagles to officially withdraw their interest in the player and to ask the Area 30 team to reverse the process, including refunding the initial bank deposit.
Silver chief executive officer Thokozani Chimbali has since commended Eagles for the sportsmanship they have displayed by refunding the money.
Eagles chairperson Alexander Ngwale yesterday said they had to refund Silver after Kumwenda decided to but out his contract and join the Nomads.
“We have just done what we were supposed to do,” he said.
Initially, Wanderers offered K3 million for Kumwenda’s services but Eagles rejected it because it was K500 000 less than what they were looking for.
This prompted the Nomads to pull out of the deal. Kumwenda was not happy that Eagles did not let him join Wanderers and he decided to terminate his contract with the Lilongwe-based cops.
Eagles lodged a complaint over the player’s behaviour to Football Association of Malawi, which ended up nullifying the deal.
A few months later, Silver expressed interest in the player and reached an agreement with Eagles but Kumwenda’s heart seemed to be with the Nomads.
