Turkey deal flops

Turkey-based players’ agency International Pelican Sports has threatened to report Nyasa Big Bullets, Ekwendeni Hammers, Karonga United and Bangwe All Stars to Fifa for “violation of players’ rights”.

The threat follows the agency’s failure to get the local clubs’ nod to sign for free five Malawi Under-23 National Football Team players, who underwent trials at the agency’s training centre in Istanbul, Turkey.

Through a statement on its Facebook page, the agency states in part: “The players, who are adapting and training in the centre of CampProfi Istanbul, are under serious pressure from Malawi football circles.

The players’ rights to represent themselves and international conventions on the freedom of athletes are seriously violated.

“Under these conditions, it is impossible for young players to adapt to Europe. Pelican Agency is preparing to prepare a report on the subject and send information to the relevant committee of Fifa.”

Blessing Mpokela and Alick Lungu of Nyasa Big Bullets, Chawanangwa Gumbo of Ekwendeni Hammers, Karonga United’s Mphatso Kamanga and Bangwe All Stars’ Fanizo Mwansambo were expected to return home on Tuesday.

They were on trials after impressing during the Under-23 international friendly matches that Sports Edge and Africa-TMS organised two months ago.

Misunderstandings arose between Pelican and the local clubs to which the players belong after the agency expressed interest to sign the players for free to play for Pelican FC in the Turkish lower league.

Negotiations collapsed after the Malawian clubs pegged the players at 100 000 euros (about K100 million) each.

The agency offered to sign the players for their lower league outfit Pelican Football Club as free agents with the option that if another club buys them, the clubs would receive 50 percent of the transfer fee.

However, Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said in an interview that they rejected the offer.

He said: “We told them to get the players at 100 000 euros each so that we are done for good.”

Nevertheless, the agency on Tuesday argued it was willing to pay the clubs, but it was frustrated by “gross violation of the players’ rights”.

The agency said in a statement: “We were ready to pay them [the clubs]. There were no problems in this regard, and an agreement was even reached. They [clubs] simply violated all international norms by banning players from signing agent contracts. Clubs that oppress young players with the psychology of slavery should not be justified,” the agency explained.

But Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga and KarongaUnited general secretary Ramzy Simwaka on Tuesday said they were not afraid of being reported to Fifa because they stand for the truth.

“Let them go ahead and report to Fifa. We cannot be cowed into submission. We know very well what we are doing and there is no violation at all,” Chigoga said.

On his part, Simwaka said: “We cannot be tricked to accept deals that do not show any consideration to appreciate the clubs that developed the players.”

Football Association of Malawi general secretary Alfred Gunda said they have not breached any agreement beacuse what FAM signed with the agency is a memorandum of understanding.

“The agency has since been advised to negotiate with the clubs so that the players can return to Turkey at an appropriate time. We remain committed to facilitating transfer of players to Europe as long as the agents can agree favourable terms with owners of the clubs.

“It is apparent that both parties need time to reflect on a settlement that is mutually acceptable by considering all options on the table.”