FIFA hit another DStv Premiership side with transfer ban

Polokwane City, the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season rookies, are the latest outfit to get word from Zurich that they cannot register players until such a time they have settled a dispute with a former player. 

Malawian international Khuda Muyaba was officially contracted to Rise and Shine for three years having joined the Limpopo club in January 2020, but the striker terminated his employment in March this 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 the club now joins an alarmingly growing list of PSL teams to have faced the full might of the governing body following a similar sanction handed to Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Royal AM as well as Chippa United. 

Just earlier this month Chippa faced the music for defaulting on payment due to Tanzanian international Abdi Banda, while Royal AM are yet to comply with the FIFA order to settle a R12-million debt.

The KwaZulu-Natal side owned by businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize also parted ways with forward Samir Nurkovic last year and this was found to have been an unlawful termination of the 24-month contract. 

Both clubs cannot not beef up their squads over the next transfer windows until they have remedied the situation, and the public broadcaster has seen a document confirming this is now the case for Polokwane City as well. 

Chiefs dealt with their saga in 2018 when Madagascar amateur club Fosa Juniors accused the Soweto giants of signing midfielder Andriamirado ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana while he was still under contract. 

FIFA slapped the Glamour Boys with a two-window ban, but Swallows, who were also informed they could not register players for the same lengthy period, were troubled by the ghosts of the past – unless full payment was made to two former players in Vladimir Mandic and Obren Cuckovic.

The ban was later lifted following a settlement between all parties involved, but as things stand Polokwane City go into the upcoming January window unable to add numbers to their squad for the season.