An immigration hitch is threatening Nkana’s buildup to Saturday’s Copperbelt derby grudge showdown away to Zesco United.
Zambian immigration officials on Wednesday raided Nkana Stadium to ascertain the validity of of Nkana’s two mid-season arrivals striker Fred Tshimanga and midfielder Diego Apanane’s work permits who joined from Forest Rangers in July.
On Thursday, both Nkana and immigration officials were locked in protracted consultations over the eligibility of the DR Congo-born duo.
“Immigration wants to find out the status of the players and we are still talking to them,” Nkana club secretary Ken Mwansa said.
The duo have been in impressive form since joining from Forest.
Tshimanga has so far scored two goals in four matches while Apanane scored his debut goal in last Saturdays 3-1 home win over National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Nkana are desperate to get the DR Congo duo cleared for Saturday’s game as the 12-time champions seek to end an agonising 15-league-match winless run against Zesco.
Zesco edge Nkana with nine wins and six draws dating back to 2004.
Nkana came close to breaking that drought in the first leg in April when Zesco escaped with a scoreless draw in Kitwe in a match they were on the back-foot the entire match.
Meanwhile should Tshimanga miss the match, it will half of a relief for Zesco against whom he scored while at Forest in a 2-1 away win over the champions on June 14 to hand them their second league defeat of the 2015 season.
However, one tormentor Zesco are expected to face is striker Walter Bwalya who also found the target in that loss to Forest before trekking to Nkana during the mid-season break.
I don’t think those Zambian players at TP Mazembe get hassled. Who just hear that Kabaso Chongo is at TP Mazembe today, and tomorrow he is playing.
The behavior by immigration officials is highly suspicious. Why didn’t these officials take action when the two Congolese players were playing for Forest Rangers. The players move to Nkana then immigration swing into action! It wouldn’t surprise me if ZESCO United is behind this nonsense, given that the two players gave ZESCO problems when they played for Forest Rangers.
Those immigration officials have failed to truck down immigrates at KCM,DURA Soletache Bachy,Bell Equipment, Barlow world Equipment,Lumwana,Kalumbila Mine,Lusaka s emmasdale area which is infested with somalians,Chaisa in Lusaka Chinese companies ,monach Zambia,Grizzily Mine and Chisokone market.Why should you trouble innocent people who are bringing glory to Zambia and uniting the nation when they bring joy to their soccer fans. Come on think twice immigration
Ba Zesco mano yakutumpa sana aya.Mwabikamo shani ba Immigration? Muletina fye pantu aba ba player balimicitile BAAD ilyo bali ku Forest.Ico mulefwayafye ku wina league ba stupid imwe ba konto.