Permit delay worries Gerald Jnr
Flames blossoming winger Gerald Phiri Jnr has spoken out about his frustration over the delay of his permanent residence permit in South Africa which continues to deny him game time.
Phiri has been reduced to a sideshow since signing for South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Bidvest Wits in July due to delays in the processing of his paperwork.
“This is now the fourth month, but there is nothing yet. I haven’t heard anything from the authorities.
“It is a bit frustrating, but then I have no choice, all I have to do is keep on waiting. I am still training hard with the team though,” he said in a telephone interview from Johannesburg yesterday.
Phiri is the only Malawian player based in South Africa yet to be registered by the league.
Flames coach Ernest Mtawali said: “The chap is a genius and I am sure if he were playing, he would set the PSL alight. The solace is that the set-up in South Africa is very professional and he can still keep fit by training, but then he still needs to play competitive football.”
Kickoff.com recently reported that Phiri will have to wait longer before being available to play as Bidvest Wits continue to work on his registration with the PSL.
Phiri signed for Wits from Zimbabwean club Caps United. He is hailed as one of Malawi’s brightest football prospects who could scale lofty heights.
His registration was initially delayed by a temporary ban on his former Zimbabwean club Caps United that prohibited them from transferring players, but those sanctions were lifted towards the end of August, paving the way for the completion of Phiri’s move.
However, further delays related to paperwork have meant he remains unregistered three months into the season.
“We are still working on that issue and are still working on his registration. He is still training with the rest of the squad,” a Wits official was quoted by Kickoffas having said.
Wits still have one foreign spot open after registering Papy Faty, Wangu Gome, Kris Bright and Joaquim Lupeta as four of the five foreign players each club is allowed to register.
