By Donata Mpochela
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)– Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder Dalitso Sailesi has fished out MK8 million to pay Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) as an appeal fee in a case he dragged a Zambia football team, Lusaka Dynamos, to Fifa over a breach of contract.
In an earlier ruling Fifa had ordered the Zambian club to pay Sailesi about K95 million in compensation, however the club appealed against the order.
Sailesi has managed to beat May 20 deadline.
The two sides, Lusaka Dynamos and Sailesi, were told to share the appeal fee of 22, 000 Swiss Francs (about MK16 million).
Sailesi’s representative, Felix Ngamanya Sapao confirmed that they paid the appeal fee.
“We managed to pay the appeal fee before May 20 deadline and we also filed the defence of appeal.
For now, we are waiting for ruling from Cas,” Sapao said.
Sapao was optimistic that Cas will maintain the Fifa ruling but Dynamos’ General Secretary Shalala Olivier Sepiso, in April this year, said the club was hoping Cas would overturn Fifa’s ruling.
Sailesi initially complained to Fifa accusing Lusaka Dynamos of breaching contract.
The versatile midfielder rejoined Bullets after terminating his five-year deal with the Zambian club and was part of the team that defended the TNM Super League with 70 points last season.
Dynamos signed the former Blantyre United winger after impressive performance at the Cosafa Cup in South Africa in 2017.
Initially, the Zambian club paid MK17 million to Bullets whereas the player’s signing on fee was MK6 million with a MK1.4 million monthly salary.
The player reported the matter to Fifa after Dynamos failed to fulfill some of the contractual obligation of the deal.
Sailesi became the second Malawian footballer to play in the Zambian league after former Be Forward Wanderers, Escom United and Bullets striker Luka Bruno Milanzi played for Zesco United on loan from African heavyweights TP Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo.
Then, several Zambian clubs including Power Dynamos were also interested in the player but Dynamos (Lusaka) won the race.
This is not the correct position.
Dalitso has not paid any fees to the Court of Arbitration. He failed to pay the fee and asked Lusaka Dynamos to pay for him. And he is also yet to present his appeal. The case is still in preliminaries.