Malinga makes U-turn

By James Bakama THE players transfer exercise took a new twist yesterday with Richard Malinga cancelling his move to Express. The defender, who on Monday signed to change clubs despite having a year’s contract with KCC, said he “was forced” to sign for Express. “I shall abide by the contract that I signed with KCC. I was just forced to pick forms by Express officials who misled me,” Malinga said in a letter to the league committee. But, his request was rejected by National Football League Committee (NFLC). Article 10 sub-section six of NFLC’s rules states that a player will not withdraw the form once returned. The returning officer will accept only one form returned from the transferring player. It adds that in the process of negotiating transfers, players that are proved by the clubs to have picked money from more than one club will be banned for 365 days. The committee’s administrative secretary Aisha Nalule said Malinga’s transfer can only be reversed in Tuesday’s meeting. It is at Tuesday’s meeting between all clubs involved in the transfers and NFLC that such cases are handled. “I am sure he must have been under duress when he wrote that letter,” said Express technical committee member Elias Sserunjogi. Sserunjogi said Malinga was even given money before he could sign. He however refused to divulge the amount. Malinga’s case aside, the transfers were low key yesterday with only Moses Bantu (KCC) and Kassim Nsubuga picking forms. Both have signed for Police. Meanwhile, an international friendly match between SC Villa and a yet-to-be-known Libyan soccer team is still in the balance, adds Norman Katende. The match was set for November 25 at Namboole. FUFA announced yesterday that the build-up was unlikely to take place because the Libyans have failed to confirm their trip. ends