Kazimoto Transfer Fee; Another back-door Deal?

                                                      

Notwhithstanding Emmanuel Okwi transfer fee saga, Simba are yet on another murky financial deal this time involving Mwinyi Kazimoto sale to Qatar second division club, Al Markhiya. While the Okwi transfer fee riddle is yet to be solved, with Simba members threatened to silence over questioning the deal during the annual general meeting, Kazimoto transfer fee details points to yet another hurriedly done-back-door deal.

Kazimoto move to Qatar was shrouded in secrecy way before the reported deal was done. He absconded from national duties immediately after Taifa Stars lost to Uganda Cranes in a CHAN qualifying match. Different stories emerged about his whereabouts. Simba leaders gave conflicting reports, at one time stating they knew where his whereabouts then later on contradicting themselves. They were reported to have said that Kazimoto was on national duties and so TFF were the one concerned and responsible for his disappearance.

Then Kazimoto confirmed the Qatar link speculation by apologizing for absconding from national duties, he also said he had bought out his contract for USD 40,000.  In contrast, Simba chairman was quoted saying that they had received an initial transfer fee of USD 35,000 with an undisclosed balance to be paid later. Later on, Zacharia Hans Poppe, Simba recruiting and registration committee chairman, said he had received Usd 50,000 as Kazimoto transfer fee.

Three people, three different stories, who is telling the truth? Kazimoto, with his claim of buying out is contract by paying Simba usd 40,000. His story has not been contradicted as false by any Simba official. How about Aden Ismail Rage claim of pocketing an initial transfer fee of usd 35,000? What is the remaining balance and when will it be settled? From whom did he receive the fee? Is it Al-Markhiya or Kazimoto? What of Hans Poppe statement that completely contradicts Rage and Kazimoto claims? Was Hans Poppe blabbing out a back-door deal details? There is a usd 15,000 discrepancy between Rage and Poppe figures, translating to approximately Tsh24 million that should be accounted for in Simba coffers. 

Playing the devil’s advocate, let us assume Kazimoto claim of buying out his contract is true and Hans Poppe did receive usd 50,000. Adding the figures, Simba could have actually received usd 90,000 as Kazimoto transfer fee. Another hypothetical angle to the story could be that, Kazimoto was bullied into forking out usd 40,000 to ‘facilitate’ his transfer. Kazimoto having sneaked out of Taifa Stars training camp knew he was certainly in a fix, so he paid Simba officials the said amount to ‘facilitate’ his transfer. It simply means Al-Markhiya paid Usd 50,000 while Kazimoto was coerced into greasing a Simba official with usd 40,000. Someone took advantage of his mistake of sneaking out of the national team camp to make a personal killing in the deal. 

It might be a miscommunication between the three people and the deal might actually be very clean but without clearing the contradicting statements we would keep speculating. Unless our clubs embrace financial transparency and accountability transfer deals will remain a thorny and divisive issue in local football.