By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has advised players and clubs to act professionally during the transfer window.

. Mbalashi

With clubs getting busy to boost their squads ahead of the 2016 soccer season, FAZ Player Status and Transfer Committee chairperson Lombe Mbalashi has urged involved parties to tread carefully and avoid breaching transfer rules.
Mbalashi said in an interview that it would be wrong for a player who has a running contract with another club to be found training with another without the consent of the club to which he is contracted.
“First of all, a player in such a situation has breached his contract with his club and can be punished. It’s like a reporter who is employed by Times who is found working for another newspaper, that is a breach of contract signed with his employers. The same applies to players,” he said.
Forest Rangers defender Gift Sakuwaha has been spotted training with Zanaco in Lusaka despite having a contract with the Ndola side, who have said the player was not for sale.
“Secondly, the club at which such a player is found training is also in breach of the transfer regulations as the rules demand that if a club wants to acquire the services of a player. The club should write to that club to which that player is contracted to inquire. Any other form of contact is illegal and punishable,” Mbalashi said.
Jacob Ngulube’s switch to Nkana from Damiano Academy caused some problem as Mufulira Wanderers claimed the player was on their books.
Mbalashi has since advised clubs and players to act professionally if the league is to be professional.
“Let’s not go back to the 80s when teams used to steal players in the middle of the night, this is 2015. Players should have managers that will take care of their welfare and finances so that they don’t end up in problems over contracts,” he said.
He urged clubs found in a dispute  to write to Football House whose doors are open to handle such matters.