Mwape Musonda, the Golden Boot winner in the Absa Premiership last season, was again missing in action when Black Leopards took on Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the Siya crew has established the reason why.

The burly Zambian striker, according to sources, has not been registered by the club so far in the 2019/20 season in anticipation that he could still be sold before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

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Leopards did not respond to attempts by the Siya crew to get clarity on why Musonda has not yet been registered, but there could be two reasons why.

The first is that the club might incorrectly believe they will forfeit one of their five foreign spots if they register the striker.

The second could be that they see no reason in investing time and energy to include Musonda in the squad for the season if he is going to leave in a couple of weeks.  

As per the NSL handbook, clubs are not allowed to have more than five foreign players contracted at any point in time, so if they sell Musonda that foreign spot remains available to them. The tricky part is getting a replacement before the window closes. Leopards recently took up their option to renew Musonda’s contract by two more years.

He has been eyeing a move abroad since the end of the previous campaign, and Lidoda Duvha chairman David Thidiela had confirmed to the Siya crew that the striker is indeed for sale, but at the right price. Indications are that there is interest from China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.  

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