CHINGALIKA PROTEST AS KITWE UNITED PRESIDENT NUMWA CALLS ON PLAYERS TO STOP BOYCOTT

By MICHAEL MIYOBA MTN Super League outfit Kitwe United players have boycotted training after not being paid for two months.Some players talked to have called on club management to pay them their two-month unpaid salaries so that they can be able to sustain their families. Players say it is unfair that they have not been paid for two months when they have families looking up to them to provide for their survival.The players who have boycotted training for over three days now have agreed to report for training once their dues are paid. Meanwhile, club president Emmanuel Numwa said the players are being owed one month salaries only and not the two months as alleged. Numwa however appealed to the players to stop the protest, noting that their salaries will be paid as soon as posible. Numwa said Kitwe United has had challenges with the fixed funding received from the sponsors Kitwe City Council hence the reason for the delay to pay the players. He said the fixed funding received in May was not enough to cater for fulfilling fixtures and salaries in a month where the team was required to play eight games which is double the number of games supposed to be played in one month. “We owe the players their April salaries because we have a fixed grant from the sponsors Kitwe City Council and that fixed grant caters for their salaries and the fixture now in May we had eight games which is double the number of games that we play meaning that the fixed grant we receive was not enough to cater for their salaries as well as the games,” Numwa said. He noted that it is unfortunate that the players have failed to reason with the club after being paid their winning bonuses for beating Nkana and Kabwe Warriors. Numwa said the club is doing everything possible to make sure that the players are paid their April salaries and the winning bonuses for the 2-1 victory over Zanaco. Kitwe United are destined for relegation from the MTN Super League as they anchor the Super League table with 20 points from three wins, 11 draws and 18 defeats.