Mhone terminates Cosmos contract
Flames winger Micium Mhone has agreed to a mutual termination of his contract with South African National First Division (NDF) side Jomo Cosmos.
This comes in the wake of the player’s refusal to be loaned out to a Swaziland club due to what Cosmos described as a slump in form. Mhone still has five months remaining on his contract.
Cosmos’ local agent Ben Chiwaya and Mhone confirmed the development yesterday.
Said Chiwaya: “I have just been informed by my boss [and Cosmos owner] Jomo Sono that Micium rejected a loan move to Swaziland and, instead, asked for a mutual termination of his deal which has since been granted and both parties have since signed.
“He will be paid his dues in accordance to his personal contract. But it is very unfortunate because the move was aimed at helping the player relaunch his career since he hasn’t played competitive football since September last year.”
Chiwaya also said Mhone would still have been getting what he is entitled to in Swaziland.
“It is a miscalculation on his part and he will regret his move for sure,” added Chiwaya.
On his part, Mhone said: “I can’t play in Swaziland, their top league is an equivalent to the reserve league here. So, it would be two steps backwards.
“I am not after money, all I want is to play football and at top level. I can play for better teams than in the Swaziland league.”
Reacting to Cosmos’ claims that he was not being featured because his form had slumped due to indiscipline, Mhone said: “That is not true, I have been in top form all along, but I suppose it emanates from the issue of transfer fee balance dispute between Cosmos and [my former club] Blue Eagles.”
Cosmos bought Mhone from Eagles at R350 000 (about K19.25 million present rate), but they made a R200 000 down payment, leaving them with a balance of R150 000 (about K8.2 million).
However, Eagles general manager Gabriel Chirwa expressed ignorance on the issue.
“Honestly its news to me, neither Cosmos nor Micium has informed us about that development. We will have to follow it up, otherwise all that we know is that they owe us a balance of R150 000 and we are disappointed that Chiwaya, who facilitated the deal, has not been of much help,” he said.
But Chiwaya said the issue about payment was being handled by Sono himself, “and now that Micium has terminated the contract, I am not sure what will be the repercussions.”
Asked on his next move, Mhone said: “I will have to seek direction from the office of the Inspector General [of Malawi Police Service] since I am here on a two-year unpaid leave. Otherwise, there are other opportunities here.”
Mhone was the only Malawian in the NFD.
