By NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
INTERNATIONAL left back Fackson Kapumbu is set to be on the centre of a transfer battle between two heavyweights Zanaco and Zesco United.
Despite winning the league with Zanaco last season, Kapumbu has attracted interest from Zesco United who are believed to have dangled a lucrative offer.
Zanaco chairperson Edward Mutale confirmed that Kapumbu is also keen to join Zesco but the Bankers are also trying to retain his services.
Mutale said he was not aware whether Kapumbu had already signed with Zesco but was aware that the player was keen on joining the Ndola giants.
“He is still our player because he has a running contract with us. I don’t know if he has signed with Zesco, maybe we need to differentiate between signing and the player having interest in joining them.
“It is obvious that we want him to remain at the club, we are trying by all means to give him a good offer which will make him remain at Zanaco. But sometimes when a player wants to leave, there is nothing much we can do because he wants to join them,” Mutale said.
Kapumbu was instrumental in Zanaco’s title charge last season as he was one of the most consistent players in the league which earned him a national team call up.
Zanaco are working hard to keep their best players as they campaign in the CAF Champions League this year.
Zesco media officer Katebe Chengo refused to comment on the matter saying the club would issue a comprehensive statement on all their transfer dealings soon.
Katebe said the team has just returned from the preseason break and were working on a lot of administrative issues.
“Right now I cannot talk about our transfers. We will issue something
very soon because there are a number of deals that the club is still
working on. I’m sorry I cannot comment on that one,” Chengo said.
Reports emerged at the end of last season that Kapumbu had signed with
Zesco though the player still has a running contract with Zanaco.
Nkana defender Christopher Munthali last season was suspended for three months after signing for the Wusakile club while having a contract with Power Dynamos.