adminThe Zambian national team trialist is in the centre of a storm between the platinum miners and Castle Lager Premiership champions Dynamos who are both eager to have the still contracted to Hwange player in their ranks.
His exploits last season saw him being called up into the national team by coach Harvey Renard and had it not been for a glaring error by referee, Mlindeli Ndebele who gave the boy a red card for a foul committed by Daniel Kamunhenga during Hwange’s league match against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium last season, Katebe was a clear favourite for the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalists.
Dynamos registered the player for their Caf Champions League campaign but it has since emerged that they did not get the blessings of the coalminers and therefore violated standing Zifa statutes, a crime which Chilumba does not want to commit.
“Every coach, myself included, will definitely want to have him (Katebe) in his team. Personally I rate the boy as the best in the country, perhaps only rivalled by Highlanders captain Innocent Mapuranga,” said Chilumba who began work at FC Platinum on Tuesday afternoon.
Chilumba lured his fellow countryman in 2011 when he was still at Hwange and the two are believed to be very close.
“In the process of wanting the player, I believe proper procedures should be followed and the boy must also be careful when making his decisions, I know he is still contracted to Hwange and he also wants to leave but it should be by mutual consent. A player’s destination is never certain because in future he might want to return to Hwange just like what happened to Gilbert Zulu and Farai Vimisayi,” said Chilumba.
He castigated Dynamos for talking directly to the player instead of following proper and laid down procedures which every professional club is aware of.
“Like I said that boy still belongs to Hwange and if Dynamos want him, they should talk to the club, same applies to my team FC Platinum, if he has to come here, we will talk directly to Hwange officials before sitting down with the boy to agree on personal terms, not the other way round,” said the former Chipolopolo midfielder.
If he signs for FC Platinum Katebe will be an immediate replacement for the offloaded duo of Zephaniah Ngodzo and the hard tackling Norman Togara.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter