Tabitha barred to play in FAM U20 final
The National Women Football Committee (NWFC) has, through their Central Region affiliate, rejected DD Sunshine’s proposal to register Sweden-based robust striker Tabitha Chawinga for participation in this Saturday’s FAM Under-20 Women’s Cup regional finals.
DD Sunshine director David Dube confirmed that they wanted to, during Chawinga’s four months off season break that started last month, secure her loan release from the new Swedish second tier side Olle Karnvednsik IF for the Central Region finals.
“It seems the Central Region Women Committee Football (CRWFC) has problems with Tabitha playing in the women’s FAM Cup. They say Tabitha is already developed She is here until February,” said Dube.
The NWFC chairperson Severia Chalira confirmed that their Central Region affiliates had put their foot down over the Sweden third tier women football league Golden Boot Awardee for 2014.
“I was informed indeed that DD Sunshine wanted to feature Tabitha in FAM Cup on the basis that she is Under-20. According to the rules, Tabitha is a professional player. The idea of introducing this cup was to give opportunity to up-and-coming players to showcase and develop their talent to the level of Tabitha and others,” Chalira explained.
But Dube said yesterday, while he appreciates that the FAM Cup is developmental, the issue should not be overlooked: “What about the other players who would have gained from the experience by playing with her?”
“The other stumbling block is that the Sweden Football Association has not cleared her.”
FAM transfer matching system manager Casper Jangale, who on behalf of the association cleared Chawinga to Sweden mid this year, confirmed.
“First, I asked DD for the player’s contract as well as letter from her club consenting that she can play here on loan. I am yet to get the documents,” said Jangale on Friday.
Before coming home for the breather, Tabitha, 18, signed for the second tier league Swedish team after winning the Golden Boot Award with 39 goals in her debut season with a third tier league side Krokom/Dvarsatts.
Fifa player transfer regulations allow agreements between teams on loaning players. For example, veteran Frank Lampard of New York City in the United States currently plays for English Premier League champions Manchester City while waiting for next season to start.
“A professional may be loaned to another club on the basis of a written agreement between him and the clubs concerned,” reads www.fifa.com.
