Former Be Forward Wanderers winger, Isaac Kaliyati, caught some by surprise on Thursday morning when he jetted in from South Africa where he has signed a five-year contract with Cape Town City.
The Flames midfielder made matters worse by looking nervous and uncomfortable when asked about his surprise return home, barely a week after signing for the South Africa Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side.
“Call me later, we will talk,” Kaliyati said at Chileka Airport, raising fears that something must have gone wrong in South Africa.
Of late, Malawian players such as Miracle Gabeya and Muhammad Sulumba of Nyasa Big Bullets have, despite passing trials, had their transfer deals falling through at Highlands Park and Polokwane City.
However, City Public Relations and Media Officer, Julian Bailey, yesterday clarified that the former Azam Tigers playmaker was back home to sort out his visa.
“It is just that he is a shy boy,” Bailey said in a telephone interview.
“The issue is that his visa was for a few weeks and it has expired. He needs to sort out his visa, work permit among others documents from home. Once he does that, he will be able to play for us.”
It remains to be seen if Kaliyati, with his status as a foreign based player, would report for the Malawi National Football Team which is preparing for the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers.
The Flames’ first game is away against Madagascar on the weekend of April 22. Chan involves home based players only.
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