Civo suspend Zoya, Lanjesi

Civo United have suspended their captain Emmanuel Zoya and his deputy John Lanjesi for signing a pre-contract with Nyasa Big Bullets.

According to the suspension letter, the two have been slapped with the punishment for contravening Fifa rules.

“I would like to inform you that you have been suspended until further notice. This is due to pre-contract you signed with Nyasa Big Bullets which is contrary to Fifa transfer rules. Basing on this suspension, all your contractual benefits have been put on hold,” reads the letter signed by Civo general secretary Charles Mwenda.

However, the letter does not specify which articles of the player transfer rules the players have contravened.

Meanwhile, the two players have not been attending training sessions with the club for the whole week.

The duo signed pre-contracts with Bullets since they are in their last six months of their contracts with Civo.

With six months or less remaining on an existing contract, Fifa rules allow players to negotiate with other clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement.

The pre-contract, indicates their ability to move to their intended club on a free transfer once the contract expires.

However, the transfer rules also allow a pre-contract to be cancelled by both parties but upon payment of compensation.

According to Bullets vice-general secretary Kelvin Moyo, the club is still in talks with Civo on the players’ transfers.

Fifa transfer rules further state that although a pre-contract agreement is usually signed to secure the future registration of a player, an agreement can be reached where the club gaining the registration can pay a fee to the other club to sign the player earlier.

Zoya and Lanjesi have both been offered three-year contracts at Bullets.

The duo was already unveiled by Bullets during the launch of the team’s sponsorship from Nyasa Manufacturing Company.

Bullets had to apologise to Civo for contravening Fifa rules by unveiling players who were not yet signed. n