Passport hitch costs Jesse Were a place in Zesco’s victorious side
Kenyan forward Jesse Were is among four Zesco United players who were denied a chance to travel to Swaziland for a Caf Champions League match against Mbabane Swallows owing to Visa problems, the Zambian club has explained.
Were had been selected by coach George Lwandamina in the team’s travelling party for the match only to be denied boarding at the airport.
The other players who were affected are Enock Sabumukama, Dieudonne Ntibahezwa and Marcel Kasongo Kalondo.
“Zesco United football club wishes to advice that four players were denied boarding the South African Airways flight at Simon Mwansa Airport on Thursday due to Visa problems,” the club statement read in part.
The Ndola based club explained the move to deny the players a chance to play football would have been caused by an incident that occurred in South Africa earlier in the year.
ALLOWED TO TRAVEL
“During the 2018 pre-season training period in South Africa, the four players were declared prohibited immigrants by the immigration authorities due to the two extra days the team spent in that country. ZUFC however appealed the decision on arrival to relevant authorities and we are yet to be advised on the outcome. Since the game will be played in eSwatini and not in South Africa, the issue of the Visa did not arise when making travel arrangements,” the club further said.
They four players affected were replaced by Davie Daka, Wingstone Kalengo, Samson Banda and Edward Tembo in a match Zesco won 3-0.
Another Kenyan Anthony Akumu, who is part of the Zesco team, was allowed to travel and even played the match.
Harambee Stars vice-captain David Owino, who also turns out for the Zambian champions, was however left behind to nurse an injury.
Were has been called up by coach Sebatien Migne for the 2018 African Cup of Nation qualifiers against Ghana in Nairobi on September 7.