GOVERNMENT has confiscated passports from TP Mazembe Zambia internationals Rainford Kalaba, Nathan Sinkala and Stopilla Sunzu.
And Kalaba is upset with the treatment he and his colleagues endured on Friday when they were denied exit at Kasumbalesa border post and the confiscation of the passports.
The travel documents were grabbed from the players by Copperbelt region immigrations officers on Friday night after three hours of interrogations for alleged breaching immigration regulations.
The trio was last week alleged to have travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) without undergoing immigration procedure, a case which immigration officers have failed to prove.
“They have just taken their passports…we have been advised to come on Monday,” lawyers representing the players, Derrick Mulenga from Derrick Mulenga and Company, said after interrogations on Friday night.
“The reason is that clearance can only be given on Monday (tomorrow).”
The players will return to the immigration offices tomorrow at 08:00 hours.
The department‘s public relations officer Namati Nshinka said: “The passports are with the department to facilitate investigation.
Asked if Government will hand back the travel documents, Nshinka refused to confirm saying “I don’t have details on that matter.”
An arrest warrant was issued for the players after it was alleged that the three had sneaked out of Zambia without undergoing through immigration formalities after their were declared unfit to travel to China for Zambia’s international friendly against Brazil.
Zambia lost the match 2-0.
Mulenga explained that Sunzu and Sinkala have been in Lusaka since last Saturday while Kalaba was in Ndola before the players reported themselves to the immigration authorities at the Kasumbalesa border post on Friday.
The players were denied exit at the border post and requested to accompany immigration officers to Ndola.
At the regional immigration offices in Ndola, the players with their lawyers were taken in for questioning at about 17:00 hours.
The Chipolopolo stars were cross-examined for three-and-half hours before confiscating their travel documents and were released at 20:32 hours.
Freddie Chalenga of Freddie and Company, the other lawyer representing the players said much as the players had an obligation to play for their country, they were also tied to contractual commitments at the club.
The players were called up for national duty but TP Mazembe announced that Kalaba and Sinkala had been diagnosed with malaria while Sunzu suffered a knee injury during the Confederation Cup semi-final first leg against Malian side Stade Malien in Bamako three weeks ago.
“It is so annoying to be treated like this especially only a year ago we brought honour to this country,” an upset Kalaba, credited for his influential role in leading Zambia to lifting the maiden African Cup trophy, said.
“I cannot believe this is happening.”
Meanwhile, STEPHEN PHIRI reports that football enthusiast Langton Sichone has urged Minister of Sports Chishimba Kambwili to counsel the three players.
Sichone said yesterday that Kambwili should advise the players on how to conduct themselves.
He said the three are still young and need guidance for them to grow up as responsible citizens.
“We need to forgive the three footballers and counsel them than to subject them to arrests and harsh treatment. They are our heroes after winning the Africa Cup,” Sichone said.
You can’t treat us like this, fumes Rainford Kalaba
Patrick Mkandawire
Lock them up. Which honour ka kalaba?