The Immigration Department has warned Nkana to follow laid down procedures in obtaining employment permits for the foreign players at the club.
Four Nkana players, Freddie Tshimenga, Diego Apanane (both of Congolese origin), Kamel Osman and Jacob Keli of Ghana and Kenya respectively, were last week summoned at the Kitwe regional immigration office.
ZNBC reports that the four players reported to the immigration department on the 13th August, 2015 in the company of Nkana club officials. Tshimenga and Apanene produced valid temporal work permits for Forest Rangers while Kamel and Keli failed to produce documents to validate their stay in Zambia.
There was an outcry by the Nkana fans in the build up to the match against Zesco United that the Ndola based club had instigated the Ndola immigration department to pounce on the Nkana players so as to destabilize the team’s preparations for the crucial game.
Zesco United emerged victors from the encounter beating Nkana 5 – 3 in an exciting game played in Ndola.
There should be no compromising when it comes to having work permits. You just have to go to Europe or US to see how serious this issue is. I clubs to abide by the immigration rules because Zambians trying to work outside are subjected to the same principles (if not worse).
True
Very True, we don’t mess with other countries immigration so the same should be applied to everyone that comes to Zed. Its just simple, follow the rules and you will be fine. Problem is corruption and people not understanding the simple laws.
Very serious offense, Nkana should be fined K 150,000 each for contriving the immigration act of Zambia. No one could work without a valid permit in Zambia.
Yes no sacred cows
They ALL have valid work permits-have you ever seen/ heard of immigration office giving a ‘warning’ for not having papers?! Bufi!!! What happened infact is that the said immigration officers came from NDOLA,came to Kitwe to ask for papers for the players; these where clearly paid agents by zesco,is there no immigration office in kitwe? Why did Ndola have to send agents? When they say zesco buys officials,this is what they mean-all the games that have been abandoned this year in the league,who is the common factor,ZESCO!!! Coincidence? I doubt it…
I doubt whether there is an immigration department in Kitwe??
Uwawa tabula kabepesho yama. Lets not defend law breakers please
Immigration is a very serious issue that should not be taken lightly. Football is just football but law is law and should be followed. In other countries, those guys would have been deported.
Very true!
Zesco u want 2 win the league bt wn it comes 2 continental games u underperform y?becoz u cant bribe the internation referee we know u.
Awe no no no nkana u just lost. in fact u were luck kondwani talimo.
The case of the 2 Congolese can be resolved without any consequences for Nkana FC, as their temporary work permits can be extended, however the case of Kamel and Keli who failed to produce documents to validate their stay in Zambia, is a very serious.
You cannot register a player with FAZ nor use him/her in any games knowing fully that he/she has no work permit. Nkana should have applied for the work permits for the players before being allowed to comeback to Zambia after their trails (My reference the case of our own son “Mbesuma”, he went to sign with Portsmouth, had to come back to Zambia to wait for his work permit, because he travelled to the UK as a job seeker and not a tourist). We are not being told that this is the first time Nkana are signing foreign players, they surely know the right procedures
@ZAMFOOT what I and some of the bloggers would like to know is whether Nkana FC have used Kamel and Keli in any league games this season? If the answer is yes, then Nkana will have to be penalised for using players without valid work permits. We all know the penalty of using ineligible players. On the other hand if Nkana have not used Kamel and Keli in any league games this season, well my advice is Nkana should not play with muscles but approach the immigration department, sit down and discuss with them the way forward for the two players
FAZ should write to all clubs about the importance of following procedures in cases that if infringed can have legal implications.
The immigration department in this case are not wrong but are purely acting in accordance to what is stipulated in the IMMIGRATION AND DEPORTATION ACT : CAP 123 OF THE LAWS OF ZAMBIA
I know some sections of the Nkana FC fans and supporters may not like my sentiments, but the fact is that law is law and no one is above it
I rest my case
a very serious one
In as amuch as we appreciate the depth and competitiveness foreign players will bring to the Zambian game, correct procedures should be followed.
I therefore think Nkana should correct this anomaly. A work permit is usually issued to work at a specific place of Employment. “Kasama Boy is authorized by the Minister of Home Affairs in YYYY country to teach at XXXXX University.” He cannot go into YYYY country and start teaching at BBBB University.
In other words, you cannot change places of Employment without going back to the relevant ministry to reapply and change places of work. So if ZESCO complained, then they had a point.
Those Kasai’s have temporal work permits to play football at Forest Rangers and not at Nkana. Mulandu sana uyu.
Well said
@ Kasama boy you have said it all. A work permit should specify your company name,and occupation to take up! Zesco knows how the immigration act and procedure works.
Zambian immigration just fine Nkana FC first, by law you can’t employ somebody without work permit and no valid permit, its time for immigration to make money.
Can someone tell me why Nkana use the soldier, police, army format when walking out or in of a pitch
But how can the players be registered by Faz if they don’t have valid work permts?
It was a ploy by Zesco to distabilize Nkana’s game plan which worked in their favour.Some of the said immigration officials are ardent supporters of Zesco.
Law is law my brother, we won’t compromise on this one, if it was other countries Nkana was going to pay heavy fine for employing foreigners without valid work permit. The Department is working within its power to prosecute teams that compromise immigration act. Thanks to ZESCO for bring this to the attention.
But if our football rating is to increase, immigration should also implement lower requirements for international footballers who pursue their talent in zed clubs.. Let’s have more international players playing mu Zed