Chipo Sondashi is now free to join Lusaka based MTN Super League side Green Buffaloes following a ruling by the Players Status Committee.
This is according to a statement by FAZ Communications Manager Sydney Mungala which was availed to the ZamFoot Crew.
The Player Status and Transfers Committee has ruled that midfielder Chipo Sondashi is free to join Green Buffaloes following the expiration of his contract with FC MUZA.
According to evidence presented by Sondashi to the Players Status and Transfer Committee, Chipo’s only contract with FC MUZA was dated 29th August 2019 and 31st July 2024.
FULL Statement: CHIPO SONDASHI FREE TO JOIN BUFFALOES
Press Statement
(For Immediate Release)
Football Association of Zambia
Football House, Lusaka
31st October 2024
CHIPO SONDASHI FREE TO JOIN GREEN BUFFALOES
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Player Status and Transfers Committee has ruled that midfielder Chipo Sondashi is free to join Green Buffaloes after his contract with the Mazabuka based side expired.
In its ruling dated 30th October, 2024, the Mwansa Kapyanga headed committee ruled that, based on the evidence presented by Sondashi it was clear that the only contract the player had with the club was dated 29th August 2019 and 31st July 2024.
The adjudicating panel also had Patrick Ndhlovu and Colonel Teddy Njovu.
Sondashi filed a complaint with the FAZ Player Status and Transfers Committee over Maestro United’s decision not to release him to Green Buffaloes following the expiry of his contract.
“The Player Status Committee is of the view that having reviewed the complaint letter and by evidence presented by the complainant that the player was indeed registered as a professional player with Maestro United Zambia FC from August 2019 to 31 July 2024,” reads part of the judgment.
The committee noted that the complainant (Sondashi) attached copies of the expired contract and a blank contract that was alleged to have been the renewed contract.
“That the complainant attached two copies of contracts to his complaint. The first was a contract signed on 29th August 2019 with an effective date of 1st August 2019 and end date of 31st July 2024 and the other, a blank contract alleged to be from the defendant which was not signed by any party. The complainant also attached various correspondences between himself and the defendant,” reads the verdict.
“The defendant did not attach any contracts, signed or unsigned, to their exculpatory letter but did attach correspondence between themselves, the complainant and Green Buffaloes Football Club.” However, the committee went further to reconfirm with the FAZ Connect system as to what contract the defendant had input during the registration of the player and it was again proven that Maestro United Zambia FC also had the expired contract as the only written contract.
The Committee hinged its decision in line with regulation 2.2 of the FAZ Status and the Transfer of Players the regulation which governs the Status of a Professional player in accordance with football in Zambia contractually that a professional player must have a written contract
On the allegations of player tapping by Green Buffaloes, the army side was cleared of any wrongdoing as Sondashi was out of contract at the time of their inquiry.
The committee made no recommendations for sanctions against any party.
FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga thanked the committee for having brought closure to the matter that kept the player off the pitch for a long time.
“Our desire is always to see to it that these matters are cleared on time especially where the player’s welfare is at stake. Regardless of which way the verdict goes, we always have to be prudent and bold enough to clear off these matters,” says Kamanga.
All parties have a right of appeal to a higher body where they are dissatisfied with the decision.
For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Sydney Mungala
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
