Nyasa Big Bullets duo of Mike Mkwate and Precious Sambani has missed the South Africa transfer window after failing to get an international transfer certificate (ITC).
Mkwate last week signed a contract with GladAfrica Championship outfit Polokwane City after he was offered an outright deal while Sambani passed trials at Lemontville Golden Arrows.
But at the close of the transfer window on February 15, the players’ ITC had not been processed.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) club licensing, player transfer and compliance manager Casper Jangale confirmed that there was no request for the players’ clearances.
“At the close of the transfer window on February 15 at mid-night, there was no ITC request for a Malawian player in the system,” he said.
Polokwane did not respond to a questionnaire on Mkwate’s predicament.
But Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said they had cleared Mkwate to join Polokwane and that the ITC was the South African club’s responsibility.
He said: “As a club, we have done our part to ensure the player completes his transfer to Polokwane City FC. ITC application is the responsibility of the club signing a player from a foreign club. Thus, it is the responsibility of Polokwane City FC to do the needful.”
The next transfer window is in June, meaning Mkwate cannot play for the new club until the ITC is issued.
Bullets, however, are willing to have the player on loan as he is waiting for the ITC, according to Chigoga.
“We will weigh the options when presented to us. Let’s wait and see,” he said.
Meanwhile, the club says is still negotiating with Golden Arrows on Sambani’s deal with the DStv Championship outfit.
“Sambani is back home after undergoing successful trials. Bullets and Golden Arrows will continue talks of a deal,” he said.
If successful, Sambani will be a third Bullets player to join a foreign club after Peter Banda also clinched a deal with Moldova top-flight league outfit Sheriff Tiraspol which also has former Bullets defender Charles Petro.
