Missing Bullets player joins Tanzania club
Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder Aziz Mwakifuna risks a Fifa ban for breach of contract after joining a Tanzanian top-flight league side without the blessings of the club.
The player is turning out for Mbeya City despite having a three-year contract with the People’s Team which runs up to September 30 2022.
His latest appearance for Mbeya City was against Mtibwa Sugar in an NBC Premier League match on Saturday at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, according to Mbeya FC Facebook Page.
The defending midfielder has been registered as Aziz Andambwire by Mbeya City.
His last appearance for Bullets was against Ntopwa FC in January this year in which he sustained an injury.
Reports then started filtering through in May that Mwakifuna had gone absent without leave, but the player in a posting on his Facebook page played down the issue, saying he was nursing the injury in his native Tanzania.
In an interview yesterday, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said they are aware of the developments having conducted their own investigations.
He said: “We are very much aware of the issue and we are in the process of filing a complaint to Fifa through FAM [Football Association of Malawi].
“It baffles us that he is playing competitive football for a professional club in Tanzania without our consent and when he has a running contract with us.
“And that the Tanzanian club signed a player who is contracted to another team, raises more questions than answers. Anyway, to cut the long story short, we are on it and let’s see what will come out.”
Mwakifuna joined Bullets from Karonga United in August 2019.
He could not be reached for his reaction yesterday as his mobile phone went unanswered yesterday.
In a separate interview, FAM licencing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said they are aware of the issue, but will only take it up after getting a complaint from Bullets.
“But if it is proved to be true then he risks a ban and the Tanzanian club could be fined heavily,” he said.
