By SANDRA MWILA –
NCHANGA Rangers are claiming ownership of striker Fashion Sakala and have scolded Zanaco for ‘stealing’ their player.
Rangers claim that Sakala, who is to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal with Russian side Spartak Moscow, is their player because Zanaco paid no coin to acquire the services of the Under-20 player.
The club is now demanding for a share of the K1 million Zanaco stands to get once Sakala signs the contract with Spartak.
While Rangers have made their claim, Zanaco chairperson Edward Mutale was reluctant to comment on the claims but that the bankers will opt to hear from FAZ.
Sakala has been with Zanaco for a year after moving as a free agent and has been in good form that saw him attract Russian interest.
But Rangers president Yotam Kapai in an interview said Zanaco have not paid a ngwee for Sakala and that his club has a right to benefit from the K1 million deal.
Kapai also said that Zanaco acquired goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata and defender Chongo Chirwa dubiously.
He explained that Zanaco always made formal requests for the players but never negotiated the purchase of the players.
“We had reported the matter to FAZ but they seem to be handling it with kid gloves, we made a fresh complaint in January and they have not responded.
“We are not going to let go of this issue, we shall now push it to FIFA because we need to also benefit from Fashions sale,” Kapai said.
Kapai said Rangers had not cleared the players to play for Zanaco because they have not been sold.
“It’s quite unfortunate because we got Fashion when he was still a young boy and we took him to school from Grade 10-12 at Nakatindi School in Chingola,” Kapai said.
He said under normal circumstances, Zanaco and Rangers should have signed a contract which should have seen the Chingola side pocket  25 per cent of the signing fee.
“The aspect of players’ contracts has just been introduced now by FAZ, what we have been using in the past is the retention system,” Kapai said.
However, Mutale said the club will wait until FAZ decides on the matter.
“It’s very simple, there are procedures of getting players and we have been with Fashion for a year but if they are aggrieved…they have every right to report to FAZ. We shall wait to hear from FAZ,” Mutale said.