Former Nyasa Big Bullets technical director (TD) Billy Tewesa has challenged the club to clear the air and reveal the identity of the official implicated in striker Muhammad Sulumba’s transfer-fee part payment from South African club Polokwane City.
Tewesa claims he has been a subject of ridicule because his dismissal coincided with revelations about an unnamed official who admitted having received R70 000 (about K3.5 million) as transfer-fee part payment from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit which was not declared to the People’s Team.
“Everywhere I go, be it at markets, church and in town, people have been asking me if my firing had anything to do with the controversy surrounding Sulumba’s transfer-fee, I am being implicated.
“Just a couple of days ago, my family sent a delegation to ask me if the reports were true so that they could help. But I am not surprised considering the period of my firing and the revelations about the missing money. But I told them that I was fired because the club wanted to do away with the TD post and it had nothing to do with the issue of Sulumba’s transfer fee.
“So, in the spirit of fairness, I have asked the club through the GS to come out in the open and reveal the identity of the implicated official. After all, why are they shielding him when he already made a confession in writing. Is there something that they [club] are hiding perhaps?” wondered Tewesa on Saturday.
However, Bullets general secretary Kelvin Moyo said it would be premature to disclose the identity of the official at this stage as the issue is still under investigation.
“Mr. Tewesa raised his concerns on the issue, but I pleaded for his patience because this issue was referred to FAM [Football Association of Malawi] and we are waiting for their guidance.
“Of course, confessions were made but there were also conditions attached. It is not like we are shielding anyone or hiding something. We are just trying to follow the normal procedures.
“As and when the right time comes, the public will be told the truth. In fact, it is not only him. There are many supporters who have been making inquiries on the matter, but for now our plea is that they should remain patient,” he said.
Revelations about the transfer-fee payment came to light after Bullets blocked Sulumba’s international transfer clearance (ITC). Polokwane’s owner and chairperson Johnny Mogaladi claimed that he had already made a R70 000 down payment out of the agreed R240 000 through a former top official. n
