Malawi March 2006 |
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| Malawian players detained in Zimbabwe, (Malawi Nation, 2006-03-27):-Two Malawian players—defender George Martin and striker Gift Makoloni — who are playing for Zimbabwean top outfit Caps United, were detained by the Department of Immigration in Harare last Thursday for failing to produce work permits. Martin and Makoloni were part of the club’s six players who were arrested at Harare International Airport on arrival from Casablanca, Morocco where they went to play their second round first leg of the Caf Champions League against Raja. According to press reports from Zimbabwe, the players were released later but were given until Sunday to regularise their papers or be deported. It emerged that none of Caps’ foreign players has a work permit to play in Zimbabwe and Department of Immigration officials manning the entry points at the airport denied the players access when they tried to check in at the arrivals terminal as returning residents. The players were detained for over an hour as they pleaded with the Immigration officials, arguing that their permits should have been in order as their club had “long applied for the documents”. Coach Gishon Ntini tried to argue that the Premiership side had concluded the issue of the work permits. But the Immigration officials indicated that Caps only applied for the players’ work permits but neither paid for the documents nor “pursued the matter”. “Caps brought their application forms for the players’ work permits, but they did not pay the fees required and these applications have been there for three months. “At the moment the players have been released and given a provisional restriction notice up to Sunday or they will face deportation,” an official in the Department of Immigration was quoted as saying. According to a leading Zimbabwean daily, the Herald, it is understood that Caps were asked to pay Zim $300 million for the processing of the work permits for the six players and that the club pledged to settle the fees through their general manager Joe Makuvire. Caps finance manager Simon Chifamba is reported to have declined to discuss the latest problem to rock the beleaguered champions, referring all questions to Makuvire, who could not be reached for comment last night. “It is something I do not have authority on but I am sure everything is being sorted out by Joe because he was handling the issue and I understand there has been some progress," said Chifamba. Caps director and owner Twine Phiri said from Harare that Makoloni and Martin “were safe and sound.” “We are trying to sort out the issue, but both Martin and Makoloni are in safe hands.” The other detained players were Zambian quartet of former captain Laughter Chilembe, James Kachinga, Boyd Chanda and goalkeeper Evans Chewe. Caps have since been disqualified from the continental showcase for alleged illegal use of the two Malawian players against Burundi’s Inter Club last month. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |