Tigers challenge FAM on Chester
Azam Tigers have questioned Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) move to clear midfielder Yamikani Chester to join Be Forward Wanderers, arguing that proper procedures were not followed.
The Kau-Kau Boys have since sought FAM president Walter Nyamilandu’s intervention on the matter.
Part of the letter, dated April 25 and signed by Tigers’ chairperson Sydney Chikoti, which The Nation has seen, reads: “We write to seek immediate clarification on factors taken into consideration by FAM in allowing the said Yamikani Chester to sign a contract with a fellow Premier League [Super League] team without the involvement of Azam Tigers.”
Tigers further argue that there were some crucial facts that FAM did not consider when it allowed the transfer and signing of the player by the Nomads, citing clause 10 which Chester exercised to terminate his contract.
“The clause does not have such narrow interpretation as purportedly understood by the player. [And that] when strictly applied, the clause allows the player to resign on notice and see out his contract without signing for another team,” reads part of the letter.
Tigers also argue that where the player resigns and wishes to join another team, rules and regulations are automatically triggered and come into play.
And in an interview, Chikoti said in that regard, the available options would be that upon his resignation, Tigers would not stand in the player’s way, “but retains the right to negotiate and agree a transfer fee with the [interested club] or that upon his resignation, the player is at liberty to buy out his contract and in that case, we can also not stand in his way.”
He says that the contract is for five years and was due to expire next year, “and, therefore clause 10 of the contract does not render the contract nugatory on notice.”
However, Nyamilandu could not be reached for comment yesterday, but the association’s transfer matching system manager Casper Jangale said Tigers do not have a case against the player because he followed the process in accordance with his contract.
“I think it is not fair to exploit these players. Chester exercised the buy-out option and made the necessary offer to Tigers. He was also copying us every transaction that he made and Tigers were not responding until he eventually signed for Wanderers.
“So, in our case, there was no breach whatsoever on the part of the player, rather what we observed was negligence on the part of Tigers and, therefore, he [Chester] could not be put at ransom.
“If they have issues, they [Tigers] should write us in accordance with the contract and not otherwise,” he said.
Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao yesterday refused to comment on the issue. Chester signed a three-year deal with the Nomads. n
