Malawian international winger, Isaac Kaliyati, is reportedly attending trials with Amazulu after another South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side, Cape Town City, terminated his five-year contract before he even kicked the ball.
Sowetan newspaper of South Africa Thursday quoted City owner, John Comitis, confirming that they had decided against retaining the Flames winger, who they signed in March as a free agent after the expiry of his contract with Be Forward Wanderers.
The Daily Times was unable to confirm with City directly about the ordeal of Kaliyati.
The arrival at City of new coach Benni McCarthy seems to have compromised Kaliyati’s prospect as it was Eric Tinkler who recruited the former Azam Tigers midfielder. Tinkler is now coaching SuperSport United.
Comitis cited the exhaustion of a quota for foreigners and the signing on Teko Modise, Lyle Lakay and Ayanda Patos as the other reasons behind the change of heart on the Flames’ midfielder.
Weeks after signing the contract, Kaliati surprisingly returned home from South Africa. He visibly looked disturbed when contacted for an interview on arrival at Chileka Airport in April.
Football Association of Malawi Transfer Matching System Manager, Casper Jangale, yesterday said the association had not issued the player’s clearance to City.
“As for what will happen to the contract he signed with City, it is up to the two parties to agree,” Jangale said.
Sources in South Africa suggest that McCarthy has plenty to prove in his first managerial job so he did not want to risk with the signing of Kaliyati.
“He has been in the country all along and he flew out to South Africa on Thursday for trials with Amazulu. His agent [Mike Makaab] is believed to have secured the trials,” the source said.
City reportedly signed Kaliyati as an 18-year-old and he had not received his signing-on fee believed to be in the region of R20,000 (K820,000). As we went to print, Makaab had not responded to our questionnaire.
City also signed Zimbabwean goalkeeper Tatenda Makuruva, Mozambican defenders Edimilson, Jeitoso and Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche.
“The elegant winger has incredible potential and under the guidance of the CTCFC management we could see big things from the young man in the future,” City said in a statement upon signing Kaliyati.
Wanderers were not readily available for a comment if they would be willing to take back Kaliyati, whose place was taken up by Yamikani Chester.
Fifa statutes on players’ transfer stipulate that a contract can be terminated when there is a serious breach of agreed terms, when it has expired or when there is just cause.
Article 17: compensation reads: “If a contract is terminated without just cause, the person in breach will have to pay compensation. Generally, when calculating the level of compensation, the law of the country concerned and the specific city of sport will be considered.
“Other criteria which will be taken into account will be the player’s pay and benefits due under the existing contract and/or the new contract, the time remaining on the existing contract up to a maximum of five years, the fees and expenses paid or incurred by the former club and whether the contractual breach falls within a ‘protected period’.
In Kaliyati’s case, City will have to pay him out.
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