Dalitso Sailesi breaks silence
A wrangle has emerged between TNM Super League champions, Nyasa Big Bullets and their star midfielder, Dalitso Sailesi, over the duration of his contract and a signing-on fee.
Sailesi regrets to have signed a four-year contract with the Peoples’ Team, entitling him to a K1.2 million signing-on fee and a salary of K120, 000.
The Flames midfielder has blamed the club’s officials for not giving him the right advice when he was signing the contract.
Speaking from his Bangwe Township home in Blantyre, the former Blantyre United midfielder yesterday said he had asked his representative to review the contract with Bullets.
He said he was not given a chance to consult before signing the contract.
“I have stopped training with Bullets until they review my contract. It is very unfortunate that my team gave me a contract of four years at K1.2 million while others in the team signed for three years and received K4 million,” Sailesi explained.
“I did not accept the signing-on fee as I am waiting for them to sort my issue. It is either they reduce the duration of the contract to a year or I will only play for them if they give me K3 million for the four years they signed me.”
However, Bullets Acting-General Secretary, Kelvin Moyo, said the club had opened room for negotiations with Sailesi’s representative.
Moyo added that they will consider reviewing the contract in December as the season is underway. Bullets are third on the league table with 28 points.
“Actually, alongside the then Finance Committee chairman, Isaac Norman, we asked the player before he signed the contract as to how much he wanted as a signing-on fee. He asked for K800,000 and we said ‘we will give you K1.2 million,” he explained.
“We asked him about the salary and he asked for K60,000, but we told him that we will be paying him K120,000. We are ready to review his contract but we have to treat all the players equally.”
Moyo added that Sailesi will face disciplinary action for not reporting for training.
Football Association of Malawi Transfer Matching System Manager, Casper Jangale, yesterday, commenting in general, said it was possible to review the contract.
“In a contract, there is an exit clause where you negotiate with your club if you are not satisfied. I have heard about the issue but I understand that Bullets will review it in December. It is possible [to review it],” Jangale said.
Meanwhile, it has transpired that Bullets captain, Chiukepo Msowoya, missed Wednesday’s TNM Super League game in which the team won 2-0 against Premier Bet Wizards because he took a breather.
The Flames vice-captain was also in civilian when Malawi National Football Team beat Swaziland 1-0 last Sunday in the last match of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Msowoya, who has lost his form of late, yesterday insisted that he was down with a groin injury.
“I asked the team to allow me to have a rest but I am available for selection on Sunday when we play Kamuzu Barracks,” Msowoya said.
Bullets are on position three with 28 points from 16 matches in the league.
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