Arrows make U-turn on signing Singo, unveil new signings

Lamontville Golden Arrows have decided against signing Flames and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder, Yankho Singo, reports Nation Sport.

The Betway Premiership side, which had a poor season last year, was beefing up its squad in the transfer window ahead of the Betway Premier Soccer League, which kicks off on Saturday in South Africa. Singo was among the players earmarked by the club.

Singo, a 25-year-old midfielder from Nyasa Big Bullets, traveled from Malawi to South Africa on the morning of June 28. He was expected to be signed subject to a medical test. However, although Singo trained with the club in July, neither team made an official announcement.

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Contrary to initial reports, sources say the player was being assessed by Arrows’ coach, Manqoba Mngqithi. While Arrows has yet to release its final squad for the upcoming season, the club did unveil its new signings late last month, and Singo’s name was not on the list.

Lamontville Golden Arrows bolstered their squad with four new signings: Sanele “Figo” Radebe from Royal AM, Jerome Karelse from Mamelodi Sundowns, Oumar Komara, an Ivorian defender, and Junior Dion, an Ivorian striker from Amazulu.

Singo has since returned home and has been training with his parent club, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

Arrows showed interest in signing the hardworking midfielder after being impressed with his performance at this year’s COSAFA Cup in South Africa. They were reportedly willing to pay R700,000, which is about MK78 million.

However, their coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, requested that Singo travel to Durban for further assessment. Singo trained with the team for a month but was not among the final list of players the coach recommended.

The two clubs had already agreed on the transfer fee, pending the coach’s approval, and no transfer request was tabled with the Football Association of Malawi to issue the International Transfer Certificate.

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ Chief Executive Officer, Albert Chigoga, confirmed that Singo is training with the Bullets but refused to comment on his return from South Africa.

He said, “We never confirmed Yankho’s transfer to any club. It was social media gossip throughout. Yankho remains a Bullets player until such a time when an opportunity for his move will come. We are not providing any more details of the player’s move to any club for now. We will do it when it becomes necessary to do so.”