Zambian FA probes transfer of Bucs striker
Bucs remains mum on claims around striker
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it is looking into the alleged dispute surrounding the transfer of Orlando Pirates new striker Justin Shonga.
“At this stage, I will just say we are looking into the matter of the transfer,” FAZ general secretary Ponga Liwewe told Sowetan yesterday, without revealing further details.
Claims abound that Shonga, 20, allegedly signed two contracts – with Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pirates senior administrator Floyd Mbele said: “The boy played on Saturday; that must tell you something.”
Attempts to speak to club chairman Irvin Khoza yesterday drew a blank.
Shonga made his Absa Premiership debut as a second-half substitute in Pirates’ 2-2 draw with Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has now come out to say Shonga had actually signed a contract with them.
“I was there when we signed Justin... there is a bit of legalities,” Mosimane was quoted as saying.
The player’s Zambian club, Nkwazi, threw the cat among the pigeons when they posted on their Facebook page that “the club had not gotten any formal communication from any of the clubs mentioned [Pirates and Sundowns] and other clubs’ offers have come through, but Justin is still a Nkwazi player”.
This was posted four days before Khoza announced that Bucs had signed Shonga.
Nkwazi did not responded to Sowetan’s request for comment.