FIFA LAWS HAUNT HIGHLANDERS

Sport
FIFA Transfer Matching Systems (TMS) regulations have delayed the clearance of left-back Julius Daudi by the Namibia Football Association, but Highlanders say all documentation is done and they are hopeful to get the player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) anytime soon.

FIFA Transfer Matching Systems (TMS) regulations have delayed the clearance of left-back Julius Daudi by the Namibia Football Association, but Highlanders say all documentation is done and they are hopeful to get the player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) anytime soon.

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Highlanders will take on determined new boys Tsholotsho FC at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday after the newcomers stunned Harare City 1-0 last week at Rufaro Stadium. Bosso lost their first match against ZPC Kariba 0-2 at Gwanzura Stadium.

Bosso chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede has confirmed that the Fifa regulations had stalled the clearance for the Zimbabwean player, who turned out for Namibia’s FNB XI, but returned home to Highlanders with his contract still running with the Namibian club.

“The delay has been due to the transfer match system last week, but papers have gone through and we are just waiting for the Namibian FA,” Gumede said.

The ITC is procured between Fifa member associations and Gumede a few weeks ago said they engaged Zifa to approach the Namibia FA for the papers after obtaining a club-to-club clearance with FNB XI.

“The delay has been due to the transfer match system last week, but papers have gone through and we are just waiting for the Namibian FA,” Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede
“The delay has been due to the transfer match system last week, but papers have gone through and we are just waiting for the Namibian FA,” Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede

Last month, Gumede was quoted saying they could be forced to have Daudi return to Namibia to see his contract through and come back to Zimbabwe as a free agent. He said Bosso was facing financial challenges and could not pay off FNB XI, who had given the Bulawayo giants an undisclosed discount on transfer fees.

It would be folly for Highlanders to use Daudi without the ITC as a precedent has already been set with Hwange being fined 10 000 Swiss francs ($10 655) last September by Fifa. The coal miners were found guilty by the international football mother body of failing to correctly reflect the transfer of Creven Banda to Motlakatse Power Dynamos Football Club, a Botswana be Mobile Premier Soccer League club, through the Fifa TMS in 2011.

Hwange were found guilty of failing to secure a reverse international clearance from the Botswana Football Association after the player failed to make the grade at Motlakase.

The TMS is an online system that makes international transfers of players between clubs quicker and smoother. Since 2007; the world football governing body has invested close to $15 million in the development of the system.

The Fifa TMS came into effect in October 2010 and according to the mission statement, the TMS aims at enabling clubs to confirm the terms and conditions of player transfers, facilitating the transfer of player registrations between associations, monitoring player transfer activities and investigating alleged breaches of the transfer regulations and enforcing adherence to the transfer regulations through a specific sanction system, presenting breaches of those transfer regulations and proposing sanctions to the competent Fifa bodies, among other issues.

Daudi, a former Railstars defender impressed Highlanders gaffer Bongani Mafu in pre-season and has featured in some friendly matches.

He is still training with the Bulawayo giants awaiting the international clearance certificate.