Confirmed: FIFA lift Polokwane City transfer ban

The public broadcaster broke the news in November when it emerged the DStv Premiership outfit had defaulted on payment owed to Malawian international Khuda Muyaba and the player had dragged the case all the way to Zurich in order to force the club to settle the matter.

FIFA then added Rise and Shine to an alarmingly growing list of Premier Soccer League teams that are either still being sanctioned or have been banned from signing players before.

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Muyaba was officially contracted to City for three seasons having joined the Limpopo club in January 2020, but the striker terminated his employment in March last year when he went several months without his salary being paid. 

This, as per FIFA rules, was a breach of contract on City’s side and once the player approached the governing body it was inevitable they would face punishment similar to Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Royal AM as well as Chippa United. 

Chippa are still unable to sign players because of an ongoing dispute with Tanzanian international Abdi Banda, while Royal AM are yet to comply with the FIFA order to settle a R12-million debt with striker Samir Nurkovic.

Polokwane City are now in the clear and can register players this month should they decide to beef up the squad before the season resumes in February at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

SABC Sport has seen correspondence from FIFA confirming the ban has been lifted, which suggests Muyaba has been fully paid.