Zonda’s family seek truth through prayers, fasting

Pilirani Zonda’s family has resorted to seeking God’s intervention in search of the truth about the controversy surrounding his contract with Epac FC.

The family members are holding overnight prayers and fasting in Lilongwe.

Pilirani’s brother, Ephraim, who is a member of the Great Angels gospel music group, is reported to have sent to Epac general secretary, Roy Mdechi, a text message on Thursday explaining the development.

“Bro, this night 33 people are taking prayers the whole night just to cry to God for the truth to prevail. Tomorrow, all of us will take fasting and prayers for this matter so that God Almighty should intervene,” reads the message.

“Ngati Pilirani adasayina contract yanu, tiwona. Koma ngati munasayinila ndinu koma mukubisa kunena, God will come in coz zonse zomwe munapanga, ndizomwe munapanga dzulo tikudziwa. Ngati mumawopa Mulungu mumve chomwe ndikunena. Ambuye adalitse. (If Pilirani signed your contract, we will see. But if it is you who signed and you are failing to reveal, God will come in because we know everything you did. If you fear God, understand my words. God bless)”, the message adds.

While arguing that such information was not meant for the press, Mdechi said: “All of us believe in God. Let them do the fasting and hold the prayers. But what I believe is that the player has not been open to his relatives about what actually happened.”

Mdechi, who signed the contract on Epac’s behalf, insisted that Zonda signed the document.

Mdechi argued that Zonda could not have been receiving upkeep allowances if he was not on contract with the team. He said, currently, out of their 26-member squad, it is only Mischek Malaisha, Suzgo Chirwa and Kelvin Thotho who have no contracts with Epac and do not get the stipend.

Epac claim Zonda has a contract with them until December 31 2015 and they have produced a copy of the contract with a signature said to be Zonda’s, but the player insists the signature is not his.

The controversy between Epac and Zonda comes as the club is demanding a K2.5 million transfer fee for Big Bullets to sign him. But the player says Bullets should not pay the money because he is a free agent.

Zonda has since sought the intervention of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), and player transfer systems manager Casper Jangale has said he will ask Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and Epac to submit the original contract for authentication.