Midfielder Chipo Sondoshi left F.C. Muza at the start of the season after his contract with the Mazabuka-based team expired. He chose to sign as a free agent with the Army-sponsored Green Buffaloes.
Muza, however, refused to let him go because they claimed the player had extended his contract with the team.
Due to this issue, Sondashi complained to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Player Status and Transfers Committee about Muza’s refusal to permit him to sign with the Green Buffaloes.
The committee decided on Thursday that he was free to sign with the Green Buffaloes.
Sondashi couldn’t contain his excitement as soon as FAZ shared the ruling on their Facebook page.
The midfielder posted the Zambian Freedom Statue, symbolizing his newly earned freedom to join his preferred team, and later went on to write on his Facebook page that the entire saga had been an emotional roller coaster, and he was excited to be back playing competitive football.
“It has been a roller coaster of emotions run, excited to finally play a competitive game again but at the same time still disappointed that it took this long.” Sondashi wrote.
“Going forward, I would like to urge all involved parties in a similar case to put the interest of the player first and quickly settle such disputes as soon as they can because, as players, we are the prize.”
The now-former Muza star concluded his message with his new team’s slogan, “Let the season begin, Go Boys Fight and Conquer.”
Muza to challenge FAZ committee’s decision
Meanwhile, Muza, through its general secretary Joel Kabikaha, stated that it would challenge the committee’s ruling because they were not allowed to prove that Sondashi still had a valid contract with the club.
But in response to the claim, Sondashi said, “Let’s stop playing petty, please; one can only stay quiet for so long. Allowing a contract to expire is almost never a player’s fault but poor management and lack of consideration.”
He added, “I can share so much on this platform including screenshots but for the utmost respect I have for the people involved, I’ll stay quiet again. But for how long?”
Sondashi will now officially resume training with the Army-sponsored side, but it is unclear whether he will be part of the squad that faces Mutondo stars on Sunday in the MTN Super League match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.