Nomads hook Tigers’ Chester

• Player signs 3-year deal, Tigers cry foul

Azam Tigers gifted midfielder Yamikani Chester has signed a three-year contract with Be Forward Wanderers, ending months of speculation about his future.

However, Tigers yesterday cried foul on the development and accused the Nomads of player tapping, claiming they have not cleared the player and that he is still contracted to them until February next year.

Apparently the Nomads have pulled a fast one on their age-old rivals Nyasa Big Bullets who were also chasing for his signature.

Said Chester: “I am happy to have signed for my childhood team. I have always wanted to play for this team because as a boy, this is the club that I supported.”

Asked if he had sorted out the issue regarding his status with Tigers, Chester said: “I won’t go into technicalities of the matter, suffice to say the issue regarding my resignation from Tigers is being handled by my lawyer [Chance Gondwe].

“But for me to reach this stage [of signing a contract], it means I am certain that there can be no other stumbling blocks.”

The Flames midfielder said he will start training with the Nomads today.

Asked to comment on reports linking him to the People’s Team, Chester said: “They too were interested, but I opted for Wanderers because that is where my heart was and they appeared more serious.”

However, Tigers chairperson Sydney Chikoti was not amused with the development.

“We are not aware of that. Technically, it [the development] constitutes player tapping but considering that the boy resigned, we would expect Wanderers to formalise the process which they haven’t done.

“So, under the circumstances, we will be taking up the issue with Sulom [Super League of Malawi] for their guidance,” he said.

Nomads general secretary Mike Butao refused to comment on the issue yesterday while Chester’s lawyer could not be reached.

However, according to the information gathered by The Nation, Chester is applying clause 10 of his contract which states that: “The player may at any time determine his appointment upon giving one month’s notice to the club in writing or an amount equal to his one month’s benefits with written notice of termination to the player.”

Part of Chester’s letter of termination dated February 9 2017, which The Nation has seen, reads: “I would wish to exercise my right under clause 10 of our contract to terminate the contract with immediate effect. I would further wish to take the option of paying you for the notice as follows: (i) K20 000 being the monthly allowance that I was receiving from the club. (ii) K20 000 being the remainder of the signing on fee. You will note that the contract says that I was given K50 000 for five years, translating to K10 000 per month.

“[Therefore], the total benefits payable as notice is K40 000.I am exercising this right despite the fact that I do not accept the validity of this contract

And in response to Chester’s letter of resignation dated April 25 2017 and signed by Chikoti, Tigers wrote: “Tigers FC has no objection to the termination as allowed for in the contract under clause 10. This constitutes adequate notice to withdraw your services from Azam Tigers being the exit clause. Consequently and as per practice, we seek remedy for us to mutually terminate this contract.

“In the circumstances therefore, we ask that you allow for the remedy to be in either of two forms: (i) Tigers negotiates and agrees a transfer fee with any prospective club you may wish to join or (ii) you buy out the contract at a mutually acceptable rate. Save for these, our hands would be tied in terminating this contract at this point.”