By SANDRA MWILA –
ZANACO midfielder Rodrick Kabwe is believed to be undergoing medicals at South African Premier side Ajax Cape Town.
With Kabwe almost a goner, Zanaco is also struggling to keep its players like defender Fackson Kapumbu who is rumoured to be trekking to Zesco United and midfielder Charles Zulu is headed to Switzerland.
According to sources close to the Kabwe’s development, the player is close to agreeing a contract with the South African side and seems set to miss Zanaco’s 2017 continental and MTN-FAZ Super League.
Kabwe’ contract with Zanaco, comes to end this month is yet to sign a contract extension and missed the medicals at Zanaco ahead of next season.
“Rodrick is in South Africa. He has not even done his medicals with Zanaco,” the source said.
Zanaco chairperson Edward Mutale said in an interview yesterday that they had received communication from Ajax to assess the player but that he headed to South Africa without the club’spermission.
Mutale said as far as Zanaco was concerned, Kabwe was absent as he had not communicated to the club.
He said the club has received information that Kabwe has gone South Africa.
“As far as we are concerned, Kabwe is AWOL, we have information that he is in South Africa at Ajax.
“Kabwe did not get permission from the club though Ajax had indicated to us sometime back that they wanted to assess him,” Mutale said.
He further confirmed that Zulu would be heading to Switzerland in January but the club was still unknown.
He added the executive was working around the clock to reinforce the team ahead of the CAF Champions League campaign.
Mutale said Zanaco were hoping to add at least seven players to beef up the team.
On Kapumbu, there are rumours that the left back has penned a deal with the Ndola side but Zesco media officer Katebe Chengo could not confirm the deal, saying the club had targeted a number of players ahead of the 2017 season.
Meanwhile, 2016 Footballer-of-the-Year Ziyo Tembo has said winning the award was motivating as he leads Zanaco into the CAF Champions League next year.
Tembo battled it out with Nkana’s Walter Bwalya and Zesco’s Misheck Chaila to win the accolade.
“Hard work has made it possible for me to win this award because I really put in a lot this season,” he said.
Tembo said the team would strive to perform well and reach the finals of the CAF Champions League next year.
Golden boot winner Bwalya said he was very happy to finish the season as a top scorer.
Bwalya, who rattled the net 24 times in the just-ended Super Division campaign, said he had a good year but his performance was not the best he can offer.
He said winning the award had resulted in him receiving a number of offers from different clubs but was quick to say he was still a Nkana player and would only think about the future at a later stage.
“I have received a number of offers from a number of teams but I am still a Nkana player and I want to work harder next year,” he said.
Sports Minister Moses Mawere, who graced the MTN FAZ league awards, thanked MTN for its continued support to Zambian football.
Mawere said the 2016 season had scored a number of successes for Zambian football.
The minister said MTN had proved to be an all-weather friend to FAZ and urged other corporate entities to follow suit.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga thanked Government for creating an enabling environment which has made it possible for Zambian football to develop.
“FAZ will strive to take Zambian football to greater heights but it cannot do it without the leading roles by government and MTN.
MTN Zambia chief executive officer Charles Molapisi said sponsoring and managing the local league was not an easy task but that his organisation was striving to steer it on the right path.