EXCLUSIVE: Heartland’s Chibambo Joins El Masri

Egyptian side, El Masri, has snapped up Heartland Football Club’s Zambian striker, Signswonder Chibambo, after he player left the Nigerian club last month.

The 22-year-old Zambian forward told our correspondent in an exclusive interview on Monday with Naijaligue.blogspot.com that he has agreed to join the Egyptian club on a three-year deal.

Chibambo, who signed for Heartland in 2008 from Nakambala Leopards in Zambia, said he is ready to pull on an El Masri shirt after agreeing the deal in Egypt earlier this month.

However, the only hurdle in completing the deal is an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the Nigerian club, Heartland before Chibambo can pull on a shirt for the Egyptian club.

“I have agreed a three-year deal to join El Masri of Egypt. But nothing is completed yet because I still need an ITC from my former club, Heartland,” said Chibambo.

Already the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially written to Zambian FA, which Chibambo’s former club in Zambia, Nakambala Leopards, acknowledged when it informed the player via electronic-mail.

Chairman of Nakambala Leopards wrote to Chibambo in an e-mail message: “Signs we have received an official complaint from the Nigerian FA for allowing you to move to Egypt. Please give the secretary information regarding the same so that we clear you in the right channel. You still need an ITC for the clearance.”

In spite of the hurdle caused by the absence of clearance documents for the player, Chibambo is very optimistic of becoming a player of El Masri, as he believes that the move is a step closer to great things in his career.

“This move is a great one for my career and a stepping stone for me too. I will do my best though I am still waiting for the ITC from Heartland,” the striker, who has three caps for the Zambian national team, said.

But Chibambo faces stiff challenge for a starting place at El Masri after the club also completed the signing of former Montpellier striker, Abdoulaye Cisse, on a one-year deal.

The Burkina Faso forward joins the coastal city club from Qatari side, Al-Khor, for an undisclosed fee while forwards, Osman Bagayoko and Bakary Coulibaly, would be released this summer to make way for the new arrivals.

The Zambian striker is unperturbed by the fact that Cisse would compete with him for the foreigner’s slot in the starting line-up of El Masri next season.

“I am not disturbed by that. I will go there and concentrate on my football,” said the Zambian.