Zambia stars Rainford Kalaba, Stopilla Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala have denied crossing into DR Congo illegally.
The trio has been pursued by Zambian immigration authorities after allegedly sneaking out of the country illegally at the height of a tense club-versus-country row in the run-up to Chipolopolo’s October 15 friendly against Brazil in Beijing.
The DR Congo club refused to release the players for the Brazil friendly saying that Kalaba and Sinkala had Malaria while Sunzu had an injury even after the player’s travelled to Lusaka on October 12 to try and defuse the impasse.
“You saw how tense the situation was in Lusaka last Saturday was when we met with FAZ officials,” Kalaba told MTNFootball.com.
“It was quiet bad, the attention was too much and we decided to hide ourselves.
“Now that the dust has settled, and the emotions have calmed down, and the game has been played, we are now ready to explain ourselves.”
The trio was by Friday afternoon due to meet with Zambian immigration authorities in the Copperbelt town of Chingola.
Sunzu and Sinkala said they hoped the entire ordeal would be sorted out in an amicable manner.
“We never crossed the border illegally and we have always been in Zambia. We are ready to face immigration authorities and give our side of the story,” Sinkala said.
Sunzu said: “I was shocked to hear that we run away. We simply went to our homes and laid low and waited until the dust had settled.”
The trio is certain to miss Mazembe’s 2013 CAF Confederation Cup semifinal final leg tie against Stade Malien in Lubumbashi this Saturday.
Mazembe currently lead 2-1 from the first leg played on October 6 in Bamako.
Meanwhile the Zambian trio’s have resurfaced 24 hours after Mazembe’s secretary Anglophone representative Andre Mtine was picked up in Ndola by Immigration officers.
“We questioned and released him after recording a statement from him,” said Zambian immigration spokesperson Namati Nshinka.
The trio sneaked into DRC without permission and Sneaked back to Zambia when the heat was too much on them.
This is how porous OUR borders are.
Where in Zambia can they lie low these drunkards???? let us NOT be cheated, they crossed into DRC as Kambwili said through the BUSH and sneaked back to plead innocent that were in Zambia.
yOU ARE RIGHT THEY SNEAKED OUT AND IN OF THE COUNTRY
Sunzu and Sinkala you are young boys who should not indulge in issues like this.Go back to your senses and start aflesh do not be insighted by Kalaba.Dont forget that Kalaba is older than both of you and he is maybe ageing thats why he has started misbehaving and wants to ruin both of you so that you dont exceed from where you are, dont 4get that MONEY COME AND GO and above that it will be yourselves to blame for being irresponsible take this and realise that you have your own life to lead you just met and became a team for the good of your families and the entire country.”A BIRD IN YOUR HAND IS BETTER THAN TWO”
The Brazil game is over .We need Kalaba,nathan and sunzu because there are a lot of problems with our national team.We are currently lacking strikers 2 give us much needed goals.Some low thinking pipo are calling 4 the 3 players blood.Its the national team at stake here.Pipo call 4 clifford mulenga 2 be included in our chipolopolo because he is a natural winger,thats why south african clubs always want him.We are looking 4 strikers on another hand we chasing away 2 midfieders and a defender.what logic is this.World over,4 those who follow football players often crash with the law,but do we get the results by throwing them out.U don’t throw dirty water 2gether with the baby.they still our players,yes they made mistake,but big thing is that future games we need a solid squard even as we look 4 a coach.These players are a good starting point 4 would be coach.When you are good,u are good.
The problem is ours ,we like importing foreigners to play for us. Banish the guys from playing for Zambia ,period. If we did that to mulenga Clifford what’s so special about this trio? Ki mulatu wa Mina shangwee
Which foreigner you you talking about
Munalula you have confused me. Which foreigners are you talking about sure? Amupandulule cousin.
Munalula you also …because these guys play football in DRC so they r foreigners ?
Then go back to school once again ..