‘Chande contract used as loan collateral’
Former Nyasa Big Bullets executive committee used want-out midfielder Jaffalie Chande’s original contract as collateral when they obtained a loan in 2014, mediation talks initiated by Football Association of Malawi (FAM) have revealed.
According to a source, who was part of the mediation, both Chande and Nyasa Big Bullets failed to produce the original ‘contracts’.
Bullets chairman Sam Chilunga told the mediation meeting that former marketing manager Dan Mbebuwa confessed having given the contract to a loan shark as collateral.
Chande on the other hand, also failed to produce his purported contract which he claims already expired, saying it was with his parents in Lilongwe.
Minutes from the meeting, which we have seen, confirmed the developments.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda has since referred the matter to the association’s disciplinary committee after failing to resolve the matter after two meetings.
“The two meetings were aimed at finding a solution to the standoff between the two parties. However, FAM has managed to gather enough information and documents that will be passed on to the disciplinary committee to determine the future of this matter.
“In the meantime, the player will wait for the determination before returning to the field of play. It is expected that the FAM’s disciplinary committee will meet in due course to determine the issue at hand.”
FAM GS’s determination comes after he also failed summon former Bullets general secretary Harold Fote, who is a key witness in the case.
Fote was supposed to appear before the mediation talks to testify since both parties claim he signed the contracts.
The former Bullets GS confirmed having been summoned by FAM, but said he gave the association conditions.
Fote said: “The first one is that I cannot travel to Blantyre during mid-week because I am working here [in Lilongwe] which is my base. I am also being threatened by some people through anonymous calls and I reported the matter to Police. FAM offered me accommodation at their hotel in Chiwembe, but I have turned it down on the basis that my security is not guaranteed.”
Be Forward Wanderers, who signed Chande on three-year contract, have protested against what they described as harassment being meted out to Chande.
Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao said: “We believe this is a simple transfer issue which should not take up to a month to resolve. FAM has documents from both the player and his former club. Verification is a one-day process so we are shocked and dismayed by the whole thing. What exactly is the problem? We take Jaffalie [Chande] as a player duly contracted to us so even though we are not party to the proceedings, we believe we retain the right to be officially updated by FAM of all proceedings.
“We are also surprised that Bullets supporters are allowed into meetings, more specifically Mr Stone Mwamadi. How can he be part of the procedural process at FAM on one hand and on the other hand sneak out to the police to have the same boy arrested? The police have summoned Jaffalie three times now and on Monday they said they were “releasing” him on bail.” n
