Football Players Union (FPU) has condemned Nyasa Big Bullets for excluding goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe and defender Miracle Gabeya in the team’s 30-man provisional squad for the 2022/23 season.

Bullets released the provisional squad on Friday, but omitted the duo who have not signed contracts, as they are not happy with some of the conditions.

Nyirenda: The door
is open

But FPU general secretary Ernest Mangani said in an interview, Bullets flouted standard Fifa regulations on players contracts.

“As players union, we are concerned to note that Nyasa Big Bullets did not give their players enough time to scrutinise their contracts. This is a violation of their rights as well as labour laws. What they did was to force the players to sign,” he said.

Mangani said a contract must be thoroughly scrutinised before either party commits to sign.

“The Bullets players are justified to protest because they were forced to sign,” he said.

Kakhobwe, Gabeya and Precious Phiri had put their foot down not to accept the contracts before their concerns are addressed.

However, Phiri backtracked to sign the contract, arguing that he wanted to consult his manager.

In an interview, Kakhobwe said he was not comfortable with the offer as he was being treating like a junior player joining the team.

“My issues regarding the contract are many yet they don’t want to hear from me. Players rely on signing-on fee. That’s what one can utilise to make a proper investment as football is a short-term career,” he said.

Reacting to this, Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda was quoted by MBC Sports as having said despite that they have released the 30-man squad the team would consider the duo as well as other players.

“The door is open. Once they are done with their managers we can sign them. We still have time to sign more players before the season kicks off on March 12,” he said.

Kakhobwe is also the Flames goalkeeper, who made the Africa Cup of Nations finals squad in Cameroon recently as first choice goalkeeper, but dropped on the pecking order to Silver Strikers Charles Thom.

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