MBOLA DITCHES ARMENIAN CLUB

Lusaka Times
March 3 2010
Zambia

ZAMBIA defender Emmanuel Mbola has ditched Armenian side Pyunik
Yeravan.

Division One (North) Mining Rangers director Elijah Chileshe confirmed
the development in Kitwe yesterday.

Chileshe said Mbola is not going back to Pyunik Yeravan because the
Armenian club allegedly breached some terms of the contract.

He said Mbola’s decision must be respected by everyone.

"Mbola is not going back to Pyunik. That club has not been honest
in the manner it has been handling issues. The player has complained
of ill-treatment at that club. It is just right that he joins other
clubs that will look after him well," Chileshe said.

He said the player was promised a monthly salary of US$3,500 when he
signed the contract with Pyunik Yeravan but the club has been paying
him US$1,000 without explaining to the international defender why it
did not follow what was in the three-year contract.

"Those people made him sign without our consent.

They promised to take him to school but they never did that. He is not
going back and his issues are now being handled by FIFA. We can’t blame
Mbola but Pyunik for not looking after our player well," Chileshe said.

He said there are a number of offers from European clubs that include
English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

He said Spurs are still chasing for the player’s signature and that
they just want Mbola’s contractual problems resolved.

Spurs are understood to have tabled a 1 million pound deal to Pyunik
for the services of Mbola.

Mbola cut short his 10-day trials at Spurs because the English
Premiership side discovered he had a professional contract with Pyunik.

However, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said he was not aware about the
presence of Mbola at the club.

Birmingham City and West Ham United are the other clubs that are
reported to be after Mbola’s signature.

Mbola was impressive at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola
where the Chipolopolo were eliminated by Nigeria in the quarter-finals.