By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
THE Immigration Department has cleared the four foreign Nkana players who were questioned over their stay in Zambia and will be free to feature in today’s MTN-FAZ Super League Week 20 clash against Zesco United in Ndola.
However, the department has warned Nkana and all employers in Zambia against flouting immigration laws.
Immigration spokesperson, Namati Nshinka said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the four players had now been given new temporal work permits.
This comes after immigration officers visited the 12-time Zambian league champions during training on Wednesday to check on the documentation of the foreign players at the club, a situation that sparked a near-riot in Wusakile Township in Kitwe.
These are Congolese duo of defender Diego Apanane and striker Fred Tsimenga, Ghanaian midfielder, Osman Kamil and Kenyan striker, Jacob Keli.
At the time of the visit, the immigration officers found that the two Congolese had temporal work permits which, however, were for their stay at Forest Rangers while the other two did not have the documents on them.
They were all requested to report to the immigration offices for clarifications.
Nshinka said the meeting with the players went on until late Thursday where Nkana were requested to apply for new temporal work permits for the quartet and that they should within 30 days apply for permanent documents.
“We have formalised their documents but they have been given temporal work permits. They should within a specified time make their permits permanent. This should serve as a warning to Nkana, all clubs and employers of foreign nationals to follow the laid down procedure,” he said.
Nkana spokesperson Cephas Sinyangwe was blunt in his response, stating the four were free to play without any hindrance.
“The four guys are free to play without any form of hindrance. Talk of their papers and whatever else is purely administrative. End of story,” he said.
Asked if the happenings would not affect the players’ performance in today’s game, Sinyangwe said ““instead, the players are motivated. After talking to them last evening, they want to deliver and punish the opposition. They are ready for the game.”
