
Lusaka, Zambia, March 03: Zambian soccer clubs, Nkana Red Devils and Power Dynamos Football Club have resolved their tug of war on the ownership of international defender Christopher Munthali.
Officials from both clubs have confirmed the development which means the player will now play for Nkana this season on permanent basis after serving the club in 2013 on a loan deal.
He said the two clubs entered into negotiations to resolve the matter amicably in the interest of the player and to maintain the two clubs cordial relationship.
“From now onwards, he will be Nkana [Football club] player. We did what is best for the player as well as our relationship that we have to maintain,” he told a local daily.
Also confirming the matter, Dynamos, Chief Executive Officer, and Ricky Mamfunda said the negotiations that sealed the deal had delayed abit because some parties involved in the matter were not around at some stages.
“Munthali is now Nkana player. We concluded [transfer deal negotiations] last night (Tuesday).There was just a delay in completing negotiations because some parties were not around. Otherwise it is an outright purchase,” said Mamfunda.
However, the two clubs have remained tight-lipped on the amount of money that has changed hands to facilitate the deal of the player move who is currently serving a two months ban.
“We are not going to disclose the amount because that is our policy but we can confirm that we have got him permanently and the club to club agreement has been done,” said Nkana Chief Executive Officer, Ken Mwansa.
Mwansa added: “We will [now] have to sit down with the player... to negotiate personal terms with him. Basically the dust has now settled. We may have lost the boardroom decision but I think in the long-run, we have achieved what we wanted.”
He described as a classy player who will add more value to the club squad though his side lost its case at the FA court.
But local media quoted sources close to the deal as saying that Munthali has gone on ZK150, 000 price tag.
Munthali ditched Dynamos for Nkana where he signed a three year deal amidst claims that the contract that tied him to the former had expired in December last year.
The move angered Dynamos who successfully lodged a complaint with Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) disciplinary committee who slapped the player with two months ban and fined Nkana ZK10, 000 for violating transfer procedures.
The ban Munthali is serving came into effect on February 10 and will last on April 10 this year.