Kalaba AWOL at Zamalek
By CHISHALA MUSONDA and VICTOR KUMWENDAEGYPTIAN giants Zamalek are still awaiting the arrival of Zambia midfielder Rainford Kalaba to join the team after securing a six-month loan.
Kalaba, who is on the Braga books until 2013, is alleged to have disappeared after signing his deal with the Egyptians on reasons that he had to collect personal belongings from Portugal.
The former Afrisport and Zesco United midfielder has been signed on a US$100,000 (about K450 million) loan from Braga until the end of the season.
Kalaba has, however, been spotted in Ndola.
But when contacted on his mobile phone yesterday, Kalaba’s colleague answered claiming the Zambian international was attending to other issues before cutting the line. When called later, the phone went unanswered.
Kalaba’s agent Graham Heydon of Ramp Sports Management of Canada confirmed yesterday in an interview that they are trying to locate the player so that he can join Zamalek.
Heydon said he initially believed Kalaba was in South Africa enroute to Portugal but attempts to contact him have proved futile.
Kalaba, 23, is said not to be interested in playing his football in Egypt, contrary to his earlier commitment of wanting more game-time away from Braga by moving to Zamalek.
Ramp and Zamalek, the club expected to be paying Kalaba a monthly wage of US$20,000, are making frantic efforts to locate the player.
Kalaba’s good display helped the Chipolopolo reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 Africa Cup for the first time in 14 years.
His impressive play tempted Zamalek to lure him on loan on the closing day of the summer international transfer window.
Kalaba has had two loan spells at Portuguese second division side Gil Vicente and Uniao Desportiva de Leiria.
Last week, Zamalek marketing director Khaled Refaat announced that they were awaiting an international transfer certificate for their new signing to enable him play in Monday’s Premier League match against ENNIP.
Zamalek won the game 2-0.
“We are yet to receive the transfer certificate although we paid the transfer fees,” Refaat said.
“I hope that Braga will send it to us as soon as possible,” he said.
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