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According to Fifa Statutes on the status and transfer of players, players may only be registered during one of the two annual registration periods fixed by the relevant association. As an exception to this rule, a professional whose contract has expired prior to the end of a registration period may be registered outside that registration period.
Associations are authorised to register such professionals provided due consideration is given to the sporting integrity of the relevant competition, where a contract has been terminated with just cause.
The first registration period shall begin after the completion of the season and shall normally end before the new season starts. This period may not exceed 12 weeks.
The second registration period shall normally occur in the middle of the season and may not exceed four weeks. The two registration periods for the season shall be entered into the transfer matching system (TMS) at least 12 months before they come into force.
With the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League already three weeks behind schedule, especially Dynamos’ matches, there has been rumours that Zifa will postpone the opening of the second transfer window to August to allow all the clubs to reach the halfway mark before beefing up their squads.
“We are not going to change the second window dates which is 1-31 July as you are aware that the second window period must not be more than four weeks according to Fifa statutes,” said Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.
He urged his counterpart at PSL Kennedy Ndebele to make sure that there will not be any backlog after the window to avoid unnecessary hurdles especially when it comes to registering teams for continental competitions like the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
In 2011 the Confederation of African Football handed Bulawayo giants a three-year ban from all Caf competitions after Bosso “withdrew” from the 2011 Confederation Cup race.
This was after Zifa had registered Highlanders without the consent of the club.
With Zifa sticking to the July period, clubs are likely going to beef up their squads well before they reach the half way mark.
The decision to stick to the July window period will also benefit 2011 champions Dynamos immensely as they will be able to look for replacements for three of their star players who are set to join South African sides.
Chief striker Takesure Chinyama has already agreed a 100 000 rand per month move to ABSA champions Orlando Pirates, 2011 Castle Lager Rookie of the Year Denver Mukamba is on the University of Pretoria’s radar while shot stopper Washington Arubi will hook up with former Dynamos coach Sunday Chidzambwa at Black Leopards.
The Harare giants are said to be interested in the Hwange duo of skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere and Francesco Zvikumbawire while runaway log leaders Highlanders will register Ndumiso Khanye and former influential skipper Kapini’s younger brother Takunda Sadiki.
With the Cosafa Senior Challenge coming up next month in Malawi and following an agreement that no team will provide more than two players to the national team for the tourney, Khanye will be an able replacement for Highlanders skipper Innocent Mapuranga if he gets his long awaited national team call-up.
Online Reporter