Manager calls for proper release of Gunemba, Dabinyaba

LAE City manager Edris Kumbrawah says their former players Raymond Gunemba and Nigel Dabinyaba are “free to go” but a proper release must be sought.
The pair walked out on the club earlier this year after former coach Peter Gunemba’s sacking and joined fellow Kumul Petroleum National Soccer League (NSL) side Hekari United last month.
“We have received a letter from the general secretary (of the Papua New Guinea Football Association) that the NSL is telling us to remove their names from our list and we don’t have a problem with that,” he said.
“We will remove their names but they also have to follow protocol for a proper release.
“We are not holding them but anyone who wants them must follow the proper protocol for their release.”
Meanwhile, a copy of a letter addressed to Gunemba and Dabinyaba from City owner Ian Chow stated that they had been “released and free do whatever you choose”.
But Kumbruwah said: “The statement by Chow that the players are free to go, administratively, we have to follow protocols to release them to which clubs they want to go to.
“Club-to-club transfer, there is a form that the new club seeking to have the player fill the form and send it to the old club that signs before a release.
“Recently, we heard it in the media that they were with Hekari but we’ve never been approached for their release.
“The other players we’ve release had their new clubs approach us.
“Players are free to move in the window provided in what we call a technical window.
“We had three windows this year.”
The NSL board last month, however, explained that the extra window was amended to give flexibility to clubs and players during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In order to avoid any concerns regarding unemployed players, players are permitted to be registered with a maximum of three clubs and are eligible to play in official matches for three clubs during the same season,” the board said in a statement.
Attempts to get a comment from the Hekari management were unsuccessful.