News / National
Dembare, Epoupa at loggerheads
10 Mar 2018 at 09:22hrs | Views
HARARE giants Dynamos are at loggerheads with their Cameroonian import Christian Joel Epoupa Ntouba over outstanding arrears amounting to $15 000.
Epoupa joined Dynamos last year for an undisclosed fee, but was given part of the signing-on fees, with the rest coming in instalments.
But the Cameroonian is unhappy the money has been coming in small tranches and he has been complaining to the Glamour Boys leadership about his inability to access his money from the bank.
A source yesterday said the player's morale has hit rock bottom and he even missed training during the midweek when DeMbare played a practice match against Division One side ZRP Morris.
"Remember this boy is a foreigner and he needs to send cash back home to his family every month, but that hasn't been possible because of the cash problems in the country.
"What happens is that, just like any other player, his money is deposited into a local bank account where he can get only bond notes.
"But you cannot send bond notes to Cameroon.
"It's even difficult because the banks sometimes dispense $20 or $30 at a time, which is little, anyway.
"When he happens to get the money and tries to change it to United States dollars, it becomes another challenge because he loses a considerable percentage to the money changers.
"Also, Dynamos have been giving him his signing-on fees little by little and it has not helped him.
"So he has been asking at least if he can get a little bit more every month so that he is able to send home something tangible," said the source.
Epoupa missed training on Thursday, but was back with the rest of his teammates yesterday.
The striker was Dynamos' top marksman last season when he grabbed 12 goals to finish as the league's second best in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Cameroonian is expected to play another big role this season.
His manager Gilbert Sengwe was not comfortable with discussing the challenges being faced by the player although he acknowledged he was owed. "I think it's common in Zimbabwe that players are not paid their signing-on fees at once, but I believe the situation is under control. Epoupa is committed to Dynamos.
"Of course, he has had some concerns like anyone else, but we have been talking to Dynamos.
"I don't think it's something that bad because even today (yesterday) he was at training," said Sengwe.
Epoupa joined Dynamos last year for an undisclosed fee, but was given part of the signing-on fees, with the rest coming in instalments.
But the Cameroonian is unhappy the money has been coming in small tranches and he has been complaining to the Glamour Boys leadership about his inability to access his money from the bank.
A source yesterday said the player's morale has hit rock bottom and he even missed training during the midweek when DeMbare played a practice match against Division One side ZRP Morris.
"Remember this boy is a foreigner and he needs to send cash back home to his family every month, but that hasn't been possible because of the cash problems in the country.
"What happens is that, just like any other player, his money is deposited into a local bank account where he can get only bond notes.
"But you cannot send bond notes to Cameroon.
"It's even difficult because the banks sometimes dispense $20 or $30 at a time, which is little, anyway.
"When he happens to get the money and tries to change it to United States dollars, it becomes another challenge because he loses a considerable percentage to the money changers.
"So he has been asking at least if he can get a little bit more every month so that he is able to send home something tangible," said the source.
Epoupa missed training on Thursday, but was back with the rest of his teammates yesterday.
The striker was Dynamos' top marksman last season when he grabbed 12 goals to finish as the league's second best in the race for the Golden Boot.
The Cameroonian is expected to play another big role this season.
His manager Gilbert Sengwe was not comfortable with discussing the challenges being faced by the player although he acknowledged he was owed. "I think it's common in Zimbabwe that players are not paid their signing-on fees at once, but I believe the situation is under control. Epoupa is committed to Dynamos.
"Of course, he has had some concerns like anyone else, but we have been talking to Dynamos.
"I don't think it's something that bad because even today (yesterday) he was at training," said Sengwe.
Source - zimpapers
