RTSA Business conduct

Columns

editor

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January 7, 2013

File:An unidentified man ponders his next move to repair his Datson car in Chipata district, Zambia

Dear Editor,

I wish to complain through this public media which allows even the poor and suppressed to be heard.The payments for road tax and fitness should be decentralized to the all the districts.

Life for us who live in certain districts are disadvantaged in many ways. I stay in Kaputa and I have to drive to Kasama for fitness and road tax. And often you are told that the system is down or the station manager is out and no one can attend to us. Often one has to spend several days in Kasama just to get the service. Its costly and not conducive for most of us who reside in far off districts.

I believe this could be the same for most of the Zambian Law abiding citizens. Let RTSA decentralize or indeed use the police who are in all districts to issue such documents. Otherwise, we are risking a lot in just abiding by the laws of the land. Insurance firms should also use agents in the districts if they can open offices.

Please can the government help the Zambian Citizens in this regard.RTSA should also look at their establishment and probably employ more staff to meet the demand and offer better service to the public. The computers and Information Technology systems should also be reviewed to avoid the often system failures experienced. Capacity building could be an answer to some of these challenges currently in Kasama.

Some of us who had paid road tax on manual discs are not able to pay because the system does not have our details.

Help. RTSA hear our cry. We have suffered for too long.Owning a vehicle in other districts should not be a curse.

By Disturbed hungry – stranded Kaputa Resident in Kasama

Consumer Unit Trust predicts price increases

Feature Economy

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January 7, 2013

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File:An unidentified woman and her daughter selling vegetables and other foodstuffs at Kapapa market in Chipata, Zambia

The Consumer Unit Trust Society International (CUTS) Zambia says a price rise in commodities is expected following the rebasing of the kwacha.

CUTS programme officer Tommy Singongi said this is because most business houses have incurred extra costs following the changing of their systems.

Mr. Singongi however stated that what will be illegal is the manipulation of prices by the retailers.

Speaking to QFM, Mr. Singongi said it is important to ensure that all retailers and business communities display tallying prices, both in the old and new currency.

He further stated that the Bank of Zambia should not relax, but should vigourously continue sensitizing the public on the rebasing of the currency to avoid consumers being manipulated.

Mr. Singongi added that the Central bank should also not limit itself to the six months of sensitization but should continue with the sensitization programme even after June, when the old currency will be phased out completely.

[QFM]

Court summons Commissioner over the poor state of the lavatories at Mukobeko Prison college

General News

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January 7, 2013

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Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato is today expected to appear before a Kabwe Magistrate court over the poor state of the lavatories at Mukobeko Prison college where over 600 students are sharing the facilities.

According to prison officers sources, Mr Chato has been summoned to court as the head of the Prisons service but it is not clear if the matter would be held in an open court or chambers.

The summoning of Mr Chato follows the move by the Central provincial Health team to obtain an order from the court to institute the closure of the college as a per requirement last week.

But the court has since summoned the commissioner of prison to respond to concerns after which the court would rule whether to grant the order to close the college or not.

Last week sources narrated that the college which trains prison warders was given a notice of closure on December10, 2012 of which the toilets facilities were expected to be improved .

The notice was later extended to a later date but as at last week nothing had been improved forcing the health team to seek court order as per procedure to have the institution be closed.

Warders talked to said the decision taken by the health has been long overdue and that the only way to serve the institute of outbreaks is to have it closed to give the command time to resolve the problem.

“I have been made to believe that training under such the condition with poor sanitation that could be part of the training yet it is not, “one warder talked to.

RB invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ghana’s newly elected President

General News

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January 6, 2013

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Zambia’s Fourth President Rupiah Bwezani Bands has been invited to be among several high-profile dignitaries who will attend tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony of newly-elected President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.

President Mahama, a communications expert, historian, writer and former vice-president,will be sworn in as the fourth President of Ghana’s Fourth Republic at the Independence Square in Accra.

He ascended to the high office of President following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 in Accra and was re-elected in last month’s elections on a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket, polling 5,574,761 votes against his close contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had 5,248,898 votes.

Former President Banda said that he was honoured to be considered worthy of being invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of the leader of one of Africa’s shining examples of democratic governance.

Former Deputy Minister Muchima refutes reports of being released from custody due to high blood pressure

Headlines

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January 6, 2013

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Former Deputy Minister Muchima refutes reports of being released from custody due to high blood pressure

Ikeleng’i Member of Parliament (MP), Elijah Muchima has refuted media reports that he was released from police cells in North -Western province following his high blood pressure.

Mr Muchima said it is totally untrue for the media to allege that his condition had deteriorated in police cells forcing the police to release him on police bond.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that police released him on police bond due to pressure from his people who were aggrieved by the decision not to grant him police bond as his constitutional right.

The MP said his supporters had applied for a permit to protest following his arrest but that they were denied by the police to do so, adding that this angered his supporters who threatened to take the law into their own hands if the police failed to release him on bond.

Mr Muchima stated that his arrest is politically motivated and thanked the police for taking him to the court of law so that justice could prevail.

The law maker said for now, he would only allow the due process of the law to prevail over his accusations.

Mr Muchima said as a Zambian, he has constitutional right to be released on police bond because the perceived offence is a bailable one.

He said as far as he was concerned, he is very fit, adding that if he developed high blood pressure whilst in police cells, he would have been attended to by a doctor.

He said although he has been suffering from high blood pressure for some time now the ailment was not the reason he was released from custody.

Yesterday, it was alleged Mr Muchima’s blood pressure shot up while in custody on Saturday, forcing police to grant him police bond.

Mr Muchima served as Deputy Minister in PF government but was recently sacked when he fell out of favour with the powers.

Mr Muchima has since been charged with abuse of authority of office and would appear in court on Monday.

The Ikeleng’i MP is one of the opposition lawmakers that had accepted jobs from the PF government.

It was also reported that Mr. Muchima was on Friday detained in Mwinilunga Police cells in North-Western Province but conditions in custody were too much for him as he could not handle with his blood pressure shooting beyond normal.

Mr Muchima is charged in connection with mismanagement of funds meant for construction of a civic centre which is alleged to have been abandoned by a Lusaka-based contractor, Buildtech, which he allegedly engaged.

ZANIS/

KK calls church leaders to exercise love

General News

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January 6, 2013

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KK calls church leaders to exercise love

First Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda has called on religious leaders to exercise love in their leadership.

Speaking during an induction service for the newly elected United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Bishop for the Lusaka Presbytery, Rev Rodwell Chomba, at St Andrews Congregation in Lusaka today, Dr Kaunda said the two commandments to love God and your Neighbour are vital in leadership.

The former Head of State also called on the public to respect women as they are the givers of life.

Dr Kaunda described the induction of the new Bishop as another great day not only for the UCZ church but Zambia as a whole.

And speaking in his sermon to the congregation, Synod Bishop Mutale Mulumbwa, called on the Church to assist the newly elected Bishop to carry out his duties.

Bishop Mulumbwa urged the new Bishop to have a thoughtful and encouraging heart as it was the only way to successfully carry out his duties.

Meanwhile, the newly elected Bishop Chomba pledged to accept the discipline of the church and to faithfully exercise authority in it.

Bishop Chomba takes over as Lusaka Presbytery Bishop from Bishop Lackson Chibuye who served in the position for the past eight years.

Bishop Chomba was serving as a minister in charge of St Andrews Congregation in Lusaka from June 2010 to December 2012.

He will serve in the new position for the next four years before elections are held again.

ZANIS

Howard Sikwela shocked that some UPND members are demanding refunds for contributions to his campaigns

Headlines

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January 6, 2013

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Howard Sikwela shocked that some UPND members are demanding refunds for contributions to his campaigns

Former UPND Livingstone Member of Parliament (MP) Howard Sikwela is shocked that some UPND MPs are demanding refunds for money contributed towards his campaigns ahead of the Livingstone by-election last year.

And Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) has charged that it was not mandatory for Reverend Sikwela who had resigned from the UPND to reimburse it because the donated money was out of goodwill to build the party.

UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa was quoted in the media today as having said that UPND MPs were angry with Rev Sikwela’s behaviour and were now demanding that he pays them back every penny they spent during campaign and election.

Mr Mweetwa who is also UPND Choma MP claimed that Rev Sikwela’s campaign cost KR500, 000 (K500 million) which was all contributions from the party.

But Rev Sikwela said in an interview today that the demands by his former party members could be wrong because he also made key financial contributions to help UPND develop.

“Actually, I am very shocked to hear that I am being told to pay back all monies spent during my last by-election. I am surprised people want me to payback when I also made several forms of assistance including finance towards growing of UPND.

“This is my first time to hear such demands and I think, this is not the best way to go that people should be made to payback when they have contributed in one way the other,” Rev Sikwela said

Rev Sikwela resigned on Friday last week citing tribalism in the opposition UPND. This was the first time an MP was resigning from the UPND.

He said he had decided to party company with the UPND because of the hostility he received from the party in his attempt to work with the Government in developing his constituency.

And FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi has described the claims as merely political statement.

Mr Chipenzi said in a separate interview today that it was not mandatory for rev Sikwela to payback the money.

“It’s a well known fact that the money being claimed was given out of free will and were meant to sale UPND in Livinstone.I think, it’s not right to claim their money,” Mr Chipenzi said

He said the demands did not even portray Zambia’s Christian principle because Rev Sikwela left UPND on his own after he made a personal comprehensive thought to quit.

“If UPND claims the money, it would mean that if another MP resigns next time, they will also claim the finances from that MP, which doesn’t show good Christian principles,” he said

Mr Chipenzi said the moment political parties such as UPND start to claim such money, it could result in people doubting credibility of their parties.

He said, UPND should ponder on way forward after resignation of Rev Sikwela. He said the best UPND could do, was to forget about Rev Sikwela and move forward since he former MP decided to quit the party.

Power Sign New Players

Sports

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January 6, 2013

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Power Dynamos have recruited eight new players in readiness for this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Club secretary Justin Kapoma confirmed on Sunday.

The Kitwe giants have signed four players from Forest Rangers, who include keeper Joel Kanyemba, striker Nasha Kaya, defender Lighton Kasolota and teenager Bornwell Silengo.

Power have further signed Zambia Under-20 defender Julius Situmbeko from Konkola Mine Police, ex-Chipolopolo midfielder Kebby Hachipuka from demoted Green Eagles, Martin Phiri of Edusport who was on loan at Eagles plus teenager sensational Lubambo Musonda from K-Stars.

Power will face Angola’s Recreativo da Caala in the Confederation Cup preliminary round.

Meanwhile Power have released seven players.

The offloaded players are midfielder Sebastian Mwansa, winger Floyd Phiri, defenders Goodson Kachinga and Christopher Munthali.

Others are Francis Kamfwa, little known Jackson Kamwanga and striker Gomezani Mkandawire who spent the second half of the 2012 season at Nkana.

Jacob Mulenga Arrives in Johannesburg

Sports

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January 6, 2013

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FC Utrecht forward Jacob Mulenga has joined the Chipolopolo squad that is camped in Johannesburg preparing for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Faz spokersperson Erick Mwanza who confirmed said Mulenga arrived in camp on Saturday evening.

Mulenga missed the 2012 Africa Cup due to injury.

Striker Emmanuel Mayuka of English side Southampton is expected to join the team on Monday.

Meanwhile, Mayuka was unused substitute in Southampton’s 5-1 loss to Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at St Mary’s Stadium.

Coach Herve Renard is early this week expected to announce his final 23-member team for Nations Cup which runs from 19 January to February 10.

Brace yourselves for more resignations, UPND told

General News

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January 6, 2013

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Brace yourselves for more resignations, UPND told

The ruling Patriotic Front in Southern Province says the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) should brace itself for more resignations of its Members of Parliament.

PF Southern Province Political Secretary Brian Hapunda says the UPND leadership has for a long time now taken its members for granted.

Hapunda says he foresees Sinazongwe Member of Parliament Richwell Simunene as the next parliamentarian to resign from the party.

Speaking to QFM news, Hapunda observes that the opposition UPND has taken its Members of Parliament for granted.

He says states that the UPND should realize that it cannot progress without it continues to frustrate its members.

And Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Kabompo losing Member of Parliament during the 2011 general elections, Stanfford Lizu, has described the resignation of the Livingstone UPND Member of Parliament, Haward Sikwela, as unreasonable and lacks merit.

Mr Lizu said Rev Sikwela should not have resigned from his party and subject the people of Livingstone to another by-election barely a few months after voting for him.

He charged that some politicians creating unnecessary by –elections are not fair to the Zambia people because colossal amounts of money are being wasted at the expense of national development in the process.

Mr Lizu said the move by Rev Sikwela and former Mpongwe Member of Parliament, Gabriel Namulambe, should be condemned by all Zambians because it is detrimental to national development.

Mr Lizu suggested that the new constitution should have a clause which demands that people those members of parliament who defect to join other parties should not be re-adopted in order to avoid causing useless by elections which are costly.

He noted that billions Kwacha, which will be spend to successfully hold the Mpongwe and Livingstone by-elections, would have been used to buy medicine in hospitals and on other vital developmental projects to benefit the citizens.

Bob Sichinga bans cooperatives, associations and unions that were formed along political lines

Headlines

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January 6, 2013

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Bob Sichinga bans cooperatives, associations and unions that were formed along political lines

Government has banned cooperatives, associations and unions in Mafinga district that were formed and operating on political lines.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Bob Sichinga, announced the development yesterday when he addressed the business community in Muyombe and Thendere in Muchinga Province.

The minister stated that government will not support any business association, union or corporative which were formed or are affiliated to a political party.

Mr Sichinga noted that most clubs and co-operatives in Mafinga were not genuine as they were formed by cadres to get funded at the expense of the vulnerable people who need aid.

He said government’s decision to ban politically-motivated clubs and groupings is meant to fight corruption and bring sanity.

Mr Sichinga noted that government wants to work with clubs and groupings that are not motivated by political parties but genuine ones.

He charged that most clubs and associations were formed and run by political cadres to pilfer funds from government at the expense of the vulnerable Zambians who need aid.

Mr Sichinga advised the business community to form associations and register with Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Association (ZACSMBA) so that they could operate legally and professionally.

He called on them to work with the government of the day to facilitate development in their areas and explained that government wanted to alleviate poverty by creating industries.

ZANIS

Kalaba describes Kanyama floods as a disaster

General News

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January 6, 2013

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Kalaba describes Kanyama floods as a disaster

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Harry Kalaba has described as a disaster the floods which have hit Kanyama compound in Lusaka.

Mr Kalaba said what he saw as he toured the disaster prone compound was not pleasing and has since urged the Road Development Agency, the office of the District Commissioner in Lusaka and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to quickly move in and rectify the situation in Kanyama compound.

He said this when he toured the area to get first hand information on the state of floods.

He noted with sadness that Njashishi Road is completely impassable following the heavy down fall in the area.

The Deputy Minister said the situation along Njashishi Road is a sore in the eye, stating that something should be done as a matter of urgency in order to prevent an outbreak of water bone diseases, such as cholera and typhoid.

Mr Kalaba re-iterated that the Patriotic from (PF) government will not sit idle but work round the clock to correct the situation not only in Kanyama but the rest of the country where there are looming disasters.

Meanwhile, Mr Kalaba has praised the office of the Lusaka District Commissioner and the Lusaka City Council for the good drainage workmanship along Los Angel’s Road to Kanyama.

Mr Kalaba said the gesture being exhibited should be encouraged not only in Kanyama but the rest of the townships in the nation.

He stated that his office will continue touring those disaster prone areas across the country and promised that the office of the DMMU will always be proactive in preventing disasters in the country.

ZANIS

The Big Interview: Dennis Lota

Sports

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January 6, 2013

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Ex-Chipolopolo striker Dennis Lota says he is treating his coaching role at South African club Moroka Swallows where he is an assistant coach as a springboard in his career.

Lota, who played at Swallows between 2004 and 2006, said he wants to utilise his stay at the Johannesburg outfit to establish himself as a good coach.

He was appointed as one of the assistant coaches at Swallows in March 2011.

Lota spoke to LT recently while on holiday in Kitwe.

LT: You are welcome to this interview!

Lota: Thanks! It’s good to be home.

LT: How are you finding coaching at Swallows?

Lota: So far so good. I tested success just two months after my appointment we won the MTN 8 tournament. So you can never ask for more.

LT: Obviously you are enjoying coaching?

Lota: You know, in anything you are doing in life you have to enjoy otherwise you have to ship out. If you can’t withstand the heat in the kitchen you have to go and sit in the sitting room or bedroom.

LT: What has been the difference between your playing days at Swallows and now as a coach?

Lota: I played there (Swallows) but coaching is totally different from playing. The transition from being a player to coaching is a challenge, how quick you make that transition determines whether you are going to be a successful coach or not.

LT: Let’s talk about your coaching career prospects.

Lota: Everybody is ambitious when they go into something but I don’t want to rush and think about things in the next five years. For me the basic thing now is first to establish my self, once I am established then I can start making plans of how far I want to go. I need to set the base first before I can start talking about the top so for now I am concentrating on the foundation because I need a strong foundation on which I can build on.

LT: What do you think is the major difference between the Zambian league and the South African Premier Soccer League?

Lota: The South African game is quicker than the Zambian game. Obviously the facilities in South Africa are magnificent. Here we have bumpy grounds and you know that it is very difficulty to play a quick passing game in a bumpy ground. But when it comes to the mental part of it the Zambian player is mentally stronger than a South African player and also regarding tactical awareness Zambians are good.

LT: The idea of Zambian players trekking to South Africa has remained debatable locally. What’s your take on this matter?

Lota: I also had a problem where some people didn’t want me to go to South Africa but eventually I ended up there. God has fashioned everyone’s way, so like Bob Marley said:” You can’t stop the time.” If your channel is to go through South Africa don’t jump into the ocean when you can’t even swim a river.

LT: Do you have any plans to come back?

Lota: What do you mean coming back because I am already home?

LT: Coming back maybe to coach a local team.

Lota: That will depend on time and opportunity. Maybe if there is an opportunity I have to consider that, if it is worthy coming back for because, I can’t just come back when there is nothing absolutely for me here.

LT: Let’s now talk about the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, how do you rate Zambia’s chances of defending the Nations Cup title in South Africa.

Lota: Obviously the situation in the coming year is going to be totally different from what we experienced in Gabon. When the tournament started in Gabon, there was a general feeling and everybody felt that it is Zambia’s time but I don’t think we have. If we are going into the Nations Cup thinking we are champions it is going to be easy, it is not going to be easy. It will depend on preparations.

LT: Which team do you think can win the Africa Cup?

Lota: Of late the tournaments have been full of surprises so you may find that even this one there will be a dark house. I can’t really say Ivory Coast because they always disappoint, I can only say good luck to the participants and may the best team win the tournament.

LT: And your final remarks.

Lota: To my fans I am very grateful for the support they have given me, I never thought people still recognize what I did for the country and I wish the recognition from the fans came from the people I served which is the association (Faz).

Northern MMD chairpersons cast vote of no confidence in Dr Mumba

Rural News

editor

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January 6, 2013

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Northern MMD chairpersons cast vote of no confidence in Dr Mumba

Former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Dr Nevers Mumba — Dr Nevers Mumba

All MMD District chairpersons in Northern Province have passed a vote of no confidence in their party president, Nevers Mumba, and want him to resign on moral grounds.

Speaking on behalf of other MMD leaders, Mbala District party chairman, Odonovena Kalyati, said time had come for the former ruling party to have capable people in leadership positions.

Mr Kalyati charged that Dr Mumba has failed to aspire confidence in the MMD members, hence their call on him to relinquish his party position and allow others with a clear vision to lead the former ruling party.

He urged the National Executive Committee (NEC) to urgently convene a meeting and find a solution to the protracted wrangles in MMD.

Mr Kalyati further called for an end to arbitrary suspensions of party members by the top leadership, charging that the move was weakening the party further.

Meanwhile, Mr Kalyati has demanded the immediate dissolution of the Northern Province Executive Committee (PEC) for allegedly failing to provide leadership in the running of party affairs in the region.

He charged that the Steven Mukuka-led executive has become dormant and a liability to the MMD.

Mr Kalyati said Northern Province needs party leaders that can motivate members to rally behind the former ruling party.

Recently, MMD Provincial chairman, Steven Mukuka, urged party members in the province to stop calling for the resignation of Dr Mumba as MMD president before his term of office expires.

Mr Mukuka further urged genuine MMD members to rally behind the leadership of Dr Mumba if the party was to remain a formidable opposition in the country.

ZANIS

Zanaco Talks to Sign Warriors Duo Stall

Sports

sports

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January 6, 2013

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Talks by Zanaco to secure Roderick Kabwe and Richard Kasonde from Kabwe Warriors on permanent deals have stalled.

Warriors’ sources reveal that they were not pleased with the terms of the cash and player-swap deal for Kabwe and Kasonde.

The Railwaymen are said to have been dismayed with the quality of the half-a-dozen players Zanaco were offering in the tie-in deal.

They included Ignatius Lwipa has spent the last two seasons warming the bench at Zanaco.

Warriors reject striker Elson Mkandawire was another player allegedly offered by Zanaco.

It now looks like Kasonde, who has already started training with Zanaco, and Kabwe, who is still away on holiday, might end up on loan at Sunset Stadium should the two clubs fail reach an amicable deal for the midfield duo.

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