National Division One side Nchanga Rangers Football Club recently confirmed receiving a transfer request from one of their key players and captain, Mathews Chabala.
Chabala has attracted interest from a number of Super League sides, with Zesco United leading the race to sign the defender, who recently made his Chipolopolo Boys debut during the triumphant 2023 COSAFA Cup outing.
Following an impressive showing for Rangers during the 2022–23 Super League campaign, the defender’s efforts were repaid by a call-up to the local Chipolopolo assemblage.
He cemented his position in central defense when he replaced Aaron Katebe in the first match against Malawi before starting four matches leading up to the 2023 COSAFA Cup final against Lesotho.
The performance has seen many suitors knock on the doors of the Nchanga Rangers, who are equally asking for a better package for their man.
In the last few weeks, Zesco United has been pushing for a move for Chabala, but their reported K1 million bid was brushed aside by Nchanga Rangers. Alive to the prospect of playing for one of the formidable sides, the player made his intentions known by handing in a transfer request.
What has been the main issue?
Nchanga Rangers President Shapi Shachinda revealed the club has accepted his request to leave, which also led to Chabala missing out on the club’s pre-season preparations.
Efforts by Rangers to tie the player to a new contract have proven futile, with the negotiations dragging in for the last eight months.
The Chingola side has offered an improved offer, but the 21-year-old defender, who has only months remaining on his contract, is adamant to put pen to paper amid interest from Super League clubs.
What is Nchanga Rangers’ interest?
With Chabala only remaining with a few months on his contract, Zesco United opted to sign him on a six-month loan before agreeing on a long-term permanent deal when he becomes a free agent.
However, the idea of a loan deal does not sit well with Rangers, as they want the player to sign an extension contract before they can loan him out.
The Chingola side stated that allowing Chabala to leave before tying a long deal would mean they will completely lose out on their four-year investment in the budding young defender.
What’s next?
“The club will not stand in the way of Matthews Chabala, but we have made it very clear to him that Nchanga Rangers F.C. should recoup some of its investments in him as a way of the player showing gratitude to a Club that has groomed him to fame,” Shachinda said.
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With that said, Shachinda has given Chabala the green light to make a decision either to leave or stay at Nchanga Stadium.
“We have made our position very clear. Chabala has to decide before the current transfer window closes,” Shachinda added.
“No one is bigger than Nchanga Rangers—no player, not even me—we all serve the interests of this legendary club.”
Nchanga Rangers look ready to cash in on Chabala after signing defender Roger Iyongo Kumiyamba from Congolese side AC Manga Sports.
