FAM clears Bullets, Silver to sign new players for CAF tourneys
FAM says although the domestic transfer window is closed, clubs taking part in the 2021/22 CAF club tournaments—Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers—can sign new players from other teams.
Bullets are set to take part in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League while Silver will participate in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale yesterday said: “It [CAF club tourneys] is a totally different registration and so the participating teams are free to negotiate for new players so long as they agree with their clubs.”
Bullets have made just one addition to their provisional squad by roping in former Mighty Wanderers forward Babatunde Adepoju for the continental showpiece, taking the number of registered players to 23, meaning they can still take on board 17 more players to reach 40 which is the maximum.
On the other hand, the Central Bankers have registered 32 players and still have room for eight more.
On whether the two teams can also sign players on loan from other teams, the FAM official said: “That is possible, but it would be tricky because it would mean using them specifically for the CAF tournaments and not local competitions during the agreed period.”
Ironically, Silver board chairperson Victor Madhlopa was quoted by Zodiak Broadcasting Station yesterday as having said that they intend to sign four players on loan.
He said the four players that head coach Dan Kabwe has recommended are Muhammad Sulumba (Civil Service United), Gastin Simukonda (Moyale FC), Chikoti Chirwa (Red Lions) and Chrispin Mhangama (Karonga United).
Madhlopa confirmed the intention in an interview yesterday, saying: “The coaches would like to take that route for purposes of our participation in CAF.
“When the names are submitted, we will be engaging the concerned clubs on that possibility. We feel this will benefit the clubs and the players involved, besides Silver.”
Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said in view of the clarification, they will wait to hear from their coach Callisto Pasuwa on the possibility of roping in more players.
However, according to the CAF club tourneys’ rules and regulations, the two teams will have to pay a $250 (about K204 500) fee for each player as normal registration closed on July 15.
The continental tournaments will kick off on September 10.
