Babatunde’s appeal case begins
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Appeals Committee is today expected to start hearing the transfer case involving striker Babatunde Adepoju from Be Forward Wanderers to Silver Strikers.
Fam Club Licencing and Compliance Manager, Casper Jangale, who is also responsible for Transfer Matching System, said concerned parties have been summoned to appear before the committee.
“The much awaited case will proceed on Saturday [today]. Submissions were made and all the parties have been notified. The issue will be concluded shortly,” Jangale said.
Wanderers General Secretary Victor Maunde said they were expecting the Appeals Committee to uphold the verdict which Fam earlier made stating that Babatunde’s transfer from Wanderers to Silver was concluded.
“We want to finalise the matter as you know Silver brought another issue of the late Tony Chitsulo to counter Babatunde’s case. Nevertheless, we know we have a strong case because Fam already ruled against them [Silver] place,” Maunde said.
Silver Chief Executive Officer Thokozani Chimbali believes justice would prevail.
“We are good to go. We made our case clear that Wanderers must also pay us the transfer fee of the late Tony Chitsulo transfer which they failed to honour some years ago. The initial transfer fee was K1.5 million but it was calculated using a compound interest rate. It is our hope that Fam will address the matter with sober mind,” Chimbali said.
Chitsulo’s transfer from Silver to Wanderers also faced hitches as the Bankers refused to let him go.
Meanwhile, Babatunde said he was a frustrated man.
“I can’t wait for justice so I can start living my normal life. I want to know my destiny to focus on my game. My morale is down and for the past two months it’s been hell,” he said.
Babatunde’s move from Wanderers to Silver faced resistance after the Bankers made a dramatic turn and opted against signing the striker.
Fam then recognised the transfer advising Silver to pay K8 million as the deal was completed.
Babatunde joined Wanderers from Masters Security at the start of last season.
He scored 14 goals for Wanderers in the top flight league.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
