Tout Puissant Mazembe

Friday the Zambian authorities have denied three players of TP Mazembe Felix SUNZU, Rainford KALABA and Nathan SINKALA to leave the country and return to the DRC. This is the incredible extension of the case between the champion of Congo to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) since last weekend. And three soccer heroes of the country who have brought the crown of African champions in 2012 are now treated as notorious criminals!

It will be recalled that on Saturday October 12, the TPM had SUNZU, KALABA and SINKALA travel to go and report to a physician designated by the FAZ so that he could examine and find the real reasons (illness and injury) of their unavailability that prevented them from taking part in the Zambia - Brazil friendly match in Beijing and this is in accordance with Article 4 of Annex 1of player status and transfer of FIFA. It should be noted that the designated medical doctor is a former medical officer of the Zambian national team U23.

The medical examination did not take place on a reverse order by the President of the FAZ and that's when the Zambian Ministry of Sports has taken over and threatened the players of sanctions if they do not come on board in a flight to China the only destination to which he allowed them.

The three international then took time of reflection, each of them joining their family SUNZU and SINKALA remaining in Lusaka, KALABA went to Ndola.

Exchange of letters...

At the same time , approached by  FAZ, FIFA sent several letters to TP Mazembe in reminding them different provisions of the regulation  concerning the obligations of  international players in such cases and warning  the club on the prohibition  to align the concerned players within five days following the date of the international match (i.e. up to Sunday inclusive). The club brought to the International Federation all the desired responses and the Congolese federation (FECOFA) also supported the club by sending mails.

Note that FIFA has never threatened the TPM or the players of sanctions as some unscrupulous media have reported.

Wanted...

Through Namati NSHINKA, public relations officer of the Department of Immigration, we then learned – without much hope as it is beyond understanding – that Zambian authorities had issued an arrest warrant against the three players, alleged they have left the country in fraud and any other person who contributed to their escape thus, SUNZU, SINKALA and  KALABA and  became fugitives sought as real criminals!

After the match and thinking that the case would be settled between FIFA, FAZ and TPM the three players wanted to return to their club last Friday. Upon their arrival at the border post of Kasumbalesa but were turned away. They were ordered to return to Ndola to resolve their situation by going to immigration services of their country.
Informed the TPM immediately loaded a cabinet of Zambian lawyers to defend his players and ensure that their rights are protected. This joke of a very bad taste continued on Friday night when the three players were informed that their passports were confiscated and could not be given back to them!

We are worried about their situation of Zambian citizen. A soccer player giving up a selection for the national team because of sickness or injury would he then become a criminal in the eyes of the Zambian law?