The Maravi Post

MZUZU--Malawian footballers who may be thinking the grass is greener on the other side or whether all that glitters is gold, better start thinking twice before jumping the fence.

Of late experience has shown that a good number of upcoming, who trekked down to the land of gold to ply their trade in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) sides and lower division sides, have rued the decision after being ending up rusty on the sidelines and denied the pleasure of game time for long periods ostensibly seeing their careers wilting before their own eyes.

Ask Joseph Kamwendo, Fischer Kondowe, Bernard Harawa, Hellings Mwakasungula, Chikondi Likwemba, Allan Kamanga, Charles Kalaile, Swadick Sanudi...the list is long—and they will be more than happy to share with you the hell they have been through in a desperate bid to eke a living out of playing professional football in South Africa.

Scouts and agents come, they spot immense talent from Malawi and report back to their bosses in South Africa. Trials are hastily organised and visas are issued with the greatest of speed. For many, it takes a snap of a finger before they put pen to paper and lo, it’s a done deal, or isn’t it doom?

But what happens thereafter is something most Malawian professional players in South Africa have come to rue and with they had never signed contracts with this or that club in that country.

It’s no longer a secret that Malawian players have had raw deals with their South African clubs be it in PSL or the lower Mvera league. The most common scenario is that they glitter in their maiden games, but by and by they are relegated to the bench and eventually to the stands from where they watch their colleagues in action on the pitch while they gather rust.

For others, and they are many too, it’s the work permit that frustrates their careers in the land of gold. They are kept waiting for the piece of paper to allow them ply their trade there for time without end until the season is though. Ask Sanudi, he will attest to that.

Who could have thought Flame’s hit man Chiukepo would be reduced to a bench warmer at Orlando Pirates after all his exploits with the Malawi national team, scoring decisive goals that led to their qualifying for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 25 years?

Who would have thought Kamwendo, a dexterous and nimble-footed midfielder, was not good enough for the Buccaneers to the extent that the best they could do for him was to loan him out to a lower division side?
The latest victim of South African soccer is Grant Lungu, who has just had his contract with PSL club Black Leopards terminated immaturely six months earlier. Reason? They claim he did not perform!

According to the club’s official website, Lungu is among three players who have been booted out from Leopards as it fights relegation.

Teams revisit their crop of players to strengthen for yet another round of football season. Black Leopards have decided to release Grant Lungu from the team. The 25-year-old Malawi-born striker will now be a free agent...” the website announced on Wednesday.

Well, it’s the end of the road for another Malawian player in South Africa. What story will he be bringing back
home? Let’s wait until he lands on home soil, but I daresay it’s the same old story frustration and lack of game time!

Lately, another Malawian up-coming striker Ishmael Thindwa has trekked down to Johannesburg to try his luck at a club where the foreign quota is full. Does he know what’s in store for him? Again, let’s wait and see.—
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment

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