CHISHALA MUSONDA, ALEX NJOVU, Ndola, Lusaka
FORMER Zesco United midfielder Cletus Chama has terminated his contract with Egyptian side Al Ittihad Alexandria following contractual disputes.
Chama moved to Ittihad in a deal worth US$50,000 and so far US$25,000 has been paid to the player’s agent based in Canada.
He signed a three and half year contract last November.
“It is basically saying that Chama terminated his contract from his side although the club paid all his salary according to the agreed contract,” a message translated from Arabic on the club’s website read.
Chama had surrendered his travel document to club officials but encountered problems to have his passport back when disagreements in his contract started to emerge.
Chama, whose contract at the Alexandria-based side came into effect on February 1 this year when he became a free agent after the expiry of his deal at Zesco, was helped to retrieve his passport by Zambian embassy staff in Cairo.
With the passport in possession of Ittihad officials, Chama could not fly from his base to Cairo and had to travel by road to meet embassy officials, a source familiar with the happenings said.
Chama was not even listed in the Ittihad squad for yesterday’s Egypt Cup round of 16 home match against Enppi.
He was instrumental in leading Zesco to the CAF Champions League semi-finals last year and scored four times.
Meanwhile, skipper Ziyo Tembo is confident Zanaco will overcome Rwanda Patriotic Army (APR) in Saturday’s CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Tembo said the players have prepared adequately for the Rwandans.
“We are ready for them,” said Tembo in an interview in Lusaka on Tuesday.
He said the team will not struggle despite the departure of several key players.
Zanaco have lost seven players among them defenders Aaron Katebe and Fackson Kapumbu, midfielders Roderick Kabwe, Isaac Chansa and Salulani Phiri, strikers Aubrey Funga and Davy Daka.
Kabwe and Funga have joined South Africa Premiership Soccer League side Ajax Cape Town, Salulani has signed for another South African side Polokwane City, Katebe trekked to Nkana while Kapumbu and Daka are both at Zesco United.
And Ghanaian forward Attram Kwame is also upbeat the Bankers will overcome APR.
APR are seasoned campaigners in the Champions League.
The Rwandans eliminated Green Buffaloes 3-2 on aggregate in the 2005 Confederation Cup first round.
Meanwhile, Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba says the Bankers will maximise home ground advantage when they host APR, ROBINSON KUNDA reports.
Numba said in Lusaka yesterday that they will target shaking the net as many times as possible to render next weekend’s return leg a formality.