Nkana FC in a quagmire

FRANKLYN MALAMBO writes FOR the second week running, Nkana Football Club is the centre of my subject but this time around it is for not so joyous reasons for the celebrated Kitwe outfit. Just before the excitement of bagging their record 13th title could water down, Ghanaian news outlets reminded Kalampa of a transfer ban that hangs over them after failing to meet contractual obligations to former Black Stars goalkeeper Steven Adams.  In May last year, World Football governing body FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber ordered Nkana to pay US$ 27,000 to Adams for breach of contract with Ghanaian keeper. The club was later handed a transfer ban subject to them clearing the sum now standing at US$29,718 owed to the player who only spent six months in Wusakile.  For a club as big as they are, this is a huge block to their plans going forward especially with the higher fronts to be pursued.  Not too long ago, they had the republican president bailing them out of a similar situation with a token to clear what they owe immediate past club captain Walter Bwalya. I am not sure if a quick return to the same office may bail them out again but I am fairly certain due to the current hardships in the economy, the figure in question will not be an easy one to organize. There must be a way around this puzzle and it must be found soon enough. The direction from FIFA is clear; settle Adams and the ban be lifted. Anything short of the laid conditions then Kalampa will have to use what they have in-house and not get chance to add. With a return to Champions league football on the horizon, the transfer ban comes at a bad time. It affects their prospects in Africa’s premier club competition from any view point.  During the recent season, they looked thin on both quality and depth despite sailing over the line and ordinarily should have been looking to strengthen to compete favourably on the continent and domestically. The threat does not just end there, marksman Idriss Mbombo is said to be on the radar of continental giants TP Mazembe who have a history of getting what they want when they want it. Without doubt, it’s an opportunity the Congolese striker would grab as it betters his chances of making it into the National team. On the other side, Musa Mohammhed who was a rock in defense has not renewed his contract and it leaves them thin at the back. Beyond these, other key figures like Ronald Kampamba, Shadreck Musonda and Fred Tshimenga have spent considerably length periods on the mending bench which doesn’t radiate neither hope nor confidence. This potential loss of core figures in the spine highlights just how much they have to dig into the market. Without such an option, it leaves them depleted and vulnerable against the top dogs in the Champions league.  In a situation like this, a club would bank on promising players that may have been sent out on loan to improve further to come back and add quality or even look through its youth ranks for ready to use talent. Unfortunately, both ends do not look very promising. The players sent on loan for example were deemed surplus to requirements and viewed as not able to impact desirably. Barring any change in both form and mind of coaches, they remain just that, not good enough. On the other divide, Nkana academy has not churned outstanding talents with good regularity. The produce has often been spaced over long periods of time and even when it does, the boys are never really trusted as much. Alternatively, improvements would have to be done on those already in the team but their capacity to develop further has not been seen over the years for most players. The curves for most have been constant. Clearly, all basic logical local solutions may not be sufficient unless Manfred Chabinga has something up his sleeve. For this big club acclaimed internationally, they should enter CAF to compete and not merely take part. Competing will come with a strong squad of which the surest way to improve this team is by going into the market and this will need Adams to be cleared.  If cleared, moneys for outright purchases may not be enough but the little available can help secure a few outright and loan deals to make a continental impact. As it stands, a skeleton from the past has come to influence matters in the present. The Powers that be must find a way out lest this quagmire sinks Nkana. The Sun