Mozambique club challenges Masitara move

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 16, 2011 00:00

 

But the Mozambican side insists the player belongs to them after he signed a three-year contract in 2009.

Masitara moved from Nico to Malcumana, but due to lack of game time, the Zimbabwean striker was loaned to Miscellaneous during the mid-season transfer window.At the expiry of his loan period with Miscellaneous, Masitara was supposed to return to his Mozambican side.

Instead, the double Green Boot Award winner re-signed with Nico United. Malcumana boss, Rafiq Seedat was incensed when he learnt through media reports that Masitara had retraced his steps to Nico United in Selebi-Phikwe.

'We do not want anything to do with Nico. How can they sign a player from Miscellaneous when he is still contracted to us? No one has contacted us over Masitara's services, we want to loan him out, but clubs should follow proper procedure,' Seedat told Mmegi Sport from Mozambique. He said their experience with local clubs has been disappointing. When Masitara joined Miscellaneous, Seedat alleged that the Serowe side failed to pay Malcumana P45,000 from Masitara's loan deal.

'I am sick and tired of dealing with Botswana sides. Miscellaneous has not fully paid us for the services of Masitara,' he said. Nico spokesperson, Lopang Pule, said his club was dealing with Miscellaneous for Masitara's transfer. He, however, acknowledged that Malcumana was the right club to contact.

'Miscellaneous has been facilitating the move. But yes, we were supposed to speak to the Mozambican club.

Masitara has not played for us since his registration has not been completed,' Pule said. However, Nico probably jumped the gun when it unveiled Masitara as one of its signings at a media briefing in Selebi-Phikwe last week. Miscellaneous spokesperson, Solomon 'Taliban' Dikgang said the club was scheduled to discuss Masitara's situation last night.

'I will give you details after our meeting tonight (yesterday). I have to check if the club still owes the Mozambican side for Masitara's services,' Dikgang said. Masitara joined Malcumana in 2009 after a dream two seasons with the Selebi-Phikwe side. In his debut campaign, Masitara won the top goal scorer's netting 18 times before finding the back of the net 27 times in his second season. His move cost P300,000 and he was tipped for greater heights only to find life hard in Mozambique. He made cameo appearances for his club before a decision was taken to loan him to Miscellaneous. Upon return to the local league, Masitara failed to recapture the form that made him a feared forward before his departure. When his loan deal at Miscellaneous expired, the striker expressed interest in rejoining Majombolo.