By KALUMIANA KALUMIANA  –
THE row between Nkana and Power has escalated with the 2013 league champions now standing their ground that new signing Josphat Kasusu, who has signed contracts with the two Kitwe giants, is their player.
Power and Nkana are also embroiled in a tug-of-war over defender Christopher Munthali, who was reportedly to have sealed a permanent move with Nkana, but the Arthur Davies based side say he is still their player.
Nkana spokesperson Cephas Sinyangwe said in an interview yesterday that all laid down procedure was followed in Kasusu’s transfer from demoted Indeni.
“The official position is that the player has been bought by Nkana FC with all the deals concluded with both the player himself and his Club.
As you may know, it is not enough to talk to the player alone without engaging his club because ultimately the club where he belongs has to clear him,” Sinyangwe said.
Power have declined to make any media statement over the matter on Kasusu, who spent the second half of the 2014 season on loan at relegated Kabwe Warriors from Indeni scoring a total of 10 goals last year.
On Munthali, Sinyangwe said the onus is on Munthali to decide whether he wants to stay or return to Power.
The Chipolopolo defender has been on loan at Nkana from Power for the last two seasons but his parent club has indicated that Munthali is in its plans for the 2015 season.
Sinyangwe said that that Power had recalled Munthali, who is currently away with the Chipolopolo in South Africa preparing for the Equatorial Guinea 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty.
“We have been communicated to by Power Dynamos on the recall of the named player who is on loan with us but the player has not made his position clear on his next move and for us the interest of the player comes first. So we are still waiting for Munthali to make his intentions known,” Sinyangwe said.
Power are said to have also registered Munthali for their 2015 CAF Confederation Cup campaign that kicks off next month with a preliminary round, two-legged tie against Al Khartoum of Sudan.
Munthali became hot property after joining Nkana at the start of 2013 where he flourished and earned a Chipolopolo place after he was dispatched on loan by Power during the reign of Beston Chambeshi who is now his coach at Nkana.