Mining denies knowledge of Mbola’s move to Italy
By Shamaoma Musonda and Felix Malunga
MINING Rangers have denied playing any part in Zambia defender Emmanuel Mbola’s eminent move to Italy but have admitted consenting to the player’s move to TP Mazembe.
Meanwhile, national team midfielder Rainford Kalaba’s future remains uncertain after spending five months in Zambia without club football action.
On Mbola, a document obtained by the Times yesterday indicated that Mining Rangers outrightly sold Mbola to TP Mazembe and the Kitwe side received US$200,000.
A further $100,000 was given to the player and his father (equally split) as signing fees for the player’s move to the wealthy Congolese side.
Mining Rangers director Elijah Chileshe said in an interview in Kitwe that issue of Mbola ditching TP Mazembe and plans to go to Italy was between the player and the Congolese side to sort out.
Asked on the letter of sale for Mbola to the African defending champions, Chileshe refused to comment and could neither say whether the letter was real or fake.
Mbola was sold to Armenia side Pyunik but he ditched the East European side and information later came out that he had been forced to sign a contract as an underage.
The matter was taken to FIFA and as the decision was being awaited, Mbola moved to a third team, TP Mazembe of Congo DR.
In a letter of sale between the two clubs signed on March 12, this year, Mining Rangers agreed to an outright sale to TP Mazembe and received $200,000 cash over the deal.
Another letter signed and finger-printed by Mbola’s father Peter Mwewa shows that the money received was $50, 000 as signing fee dated March 18 this year.
“This contract is made on the 12 March, 2010 between Mining Rangers and TP Mazembe on the outright purchase of Emmanuel Mbola…Both parties have agreed that Emmanuel Mbola be released to TP Mazembe at a total sum of US $200 000 cash payment to Mining Rangers,” part of the letter says without indicating the duration the player should have been in Lubumbashi.
The letter also reads that Mining Rangers would not be entitled to any money should TP Mazembe sell Mbola elsewhere and that the player and his father would receive money in signing.
The letter was signed by Chileshe and club secretary Martha Shonga on one part and Chani Kambwali and another TP Mazembe official on the other side.
But Chileshe said he had nothing to say about the document saying he would rather talk to TP Mazembe officials on the matter.
Mbola is scheduled to travel to Italy where he is expected to join Jeventus, a matter that has raised a storm with TP Mazembe.
And Kalaba is still in Ndola awaiting feedback from Portuguese side, Sporting Braga.
In an interview in Ndola yesterday, Kalaba said he was still waiting to hear from Braga before deciding on his future prospects.
He expected Braga to contact him soon and was optimistic of getting back to action in the upcoming 2010/11 season.
Following his impressive showing in Angola early this year, Kalaba attracted the interest of Egyptian top side Zamalek who snapped him up on a loan deal from Braga.
However, Kalaba despite signing the $100,000 six-month contract, declined to team-up with the club.
