Ekhaya raids Civil to sign two key players, Banda and Malinda

Ekhaya Football Club has successfully raided Civil Service United, securing the services of two of their key players, midfielder Moses Banda and forward Blessings Malinda.

The newly promoted side has managed to lure the duo away from the Servants with lucrative deals, marking a significant coup for the club.

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The move for Moses Banda has been in the works for some time. Wa Mpira reported on July 1st that Banda was nearing an agreement with Ekhaya FC after settling on personal terms.

The midfielder, who was in the final six months of his contract with Civil, signed a pre-contract with the Cowboys. Banda had previously tried to leave Civil to join their city rivals, Silver Strikers, but the Servants were unwilling to let him go.

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were also interested in the services of the midfielder but they were late as he had already agreed to join Ekhaya.

After a five-year stint with Civil, Banda expressed his gratitude to the club in a farewell letter, stating, “Civo is my home and will always be home,” while also confirming that a deal had been finalized for him to “move on and explore new challenges.”

“I would like to sincerely extend my word of appreciation to you personally and to the entire Civil Service United FC family,” writes Moses. I have been a committed and loyal servant of the club for the past 5 years and time has surely come for me to move on and explore new challenges. Civo is my home and will always be home.

“Many thanks to the Head Coach and the technical panel for always being there for me. To the amazing fans at the scoreboard stand, you’re truly outstanding and marvelous. To the board and the secretariat, I remain your son, irrespective of wherever I am but the Civo blood shall not dry inside me.“

Blessings Malinda’s transfer proved to be more complex due to his existing contract with Civil Service United. While Civil was keen to retain the forward, Ekhaya’s attractive offer proved too good to resist.

Sources have confirmed to Wa Mpira that Ekhaya initially sent a transfer fee to Civil, which was returned. To bypass this hurdle, Ekhaya and Malinda reached an agreement for the player to buy out his own contract

Malinda, who spent three years at Civil, also penned an emotional farewell, writing, “You made my name and I will forever be your son, I have just moved for a while.”

Both Banda and Malinda are expected to sign three-year contracts with Ekhaya, with a reported signing-on fee of K10 million each. Civil Service United, despite being aware of the moves, has “accepted the defeat,” recognizing the allure of the deals offered by Ekhaya.

Civil to miss Banda, Malinda

The departure of Moses Banda and Blessings Malinda will significantly impact Civil Service United, both on and off the field. The loss of two key players, especially to a newly promoted rival, presents challenges for team performance, morale, and financial stability.

The most immediate effect will be on the team’s performance. Banda, a midfielder, and Malinda, a forward, were both instrumental in the squad. Banda’s influence as a standout performer and former captain means his absence will create a void in the midfield’s structure and leadership.

Malinda’s departure will weaken the team’s attack. Though the technical panel believes other players can step up, replacing his specific skill set and offensive output won’t be easy. The club’s recent strong form, winning five of their last eight matches, may be difficult to maintain without two of their key figures.

The moves could also affect team morale. Losing influential players often creates uncertainty within the squad, especially if other players feel the club can’t retain its best talent. It can also be seen as a sign of a lack of ambition.

Civil have been losing top talent to other teams like Lloyd Banega Aaron to Bullets, Lawrence Chaziya, Christopher Kumwembe, Masiya Manda, Timothy Silwimba to Mighty Wanderers.

The fact that they are leaving for a newly promoted team, Ekhaya, might be particularly disheartening. This could raise questions about the club’s long-term strategy and ability to compete with other teams that can offer more lucrative deals.

The financial side of the transfers is also telling. The fact that Malinda had to buy out his own contract suggests that the transfer fee offered by Ekhaya was deemed insufficient by Civil, though official figures were not made available for Wa Mpira. While Civil received some funds from this buyout, it likely falls short of the market value for a player of his caliber.

Similarly, Banda’s pre-contract agreement means Civil receives no transfer fee for him. This lack of incoming revenue from losing two key assets could limit the club’s ability to invest in new talent to fill the gaps, putting a strain on their financial stability.