Sadomba’s million-dollar deal

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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
EDWARD Sadomba’s latest transfer from Al Ahli Benghazi to Ahli Tripoli in the Libyan league has made him the highest earning Zimbabwe international footballer at the moment. But the former Dynamos talisman remains humble and has instead set his sights on succeeding in the 2015 Champions League campaign. Sadomba last week inked a $1 million deal to cross the floor from Benghazi to the Libyan capital and with a chance to return to the Champions League.

He will be earning around $40 000 a month and given that the majority of Zimbabwe’s foreign-based professionals are either plying their trade in South Africa, or Europe’s smaller leagues, the deal leaves Sadomba as the highest-earning footballer from this country.

The 31-year-old Warriors striker signed a two-year deal before immediately flying out to London for a two-week holiday with his family.

Al Ahli Tripoli have won 11 Libyan Premier League championships five Libyan Cup and one Libyan Super Cup titles, while Al Ittihad lead the honours table with 16 championships under their belt.

Speaking from London yesterday, Sadomba confirmed the lucrative deal but maintained that his main focus was on helping his new club reach the group stage of the Champions League.

The Libyan league will resume next month.

Libyan football authorities have since the 2010-2011 season been often forced to suspend all action owing to civil unrest in the North African country.

Apart from the financial package, Sadomba will receive a top-of-the-range car and other perks such as “medical aid for the whole family, school fees for the children, hotel residential suite and business class air tickets two times a year for the whole family’’.

The Warriors forward is also set to team up with big Senegalese striker Andre Senghor who earlier this year was at United Arab Emirates outfit Bani Yas at the club.

“I would like to thank God for the new contract and I can’t wait for the new challenges that will come at this new club,” said Sadomba.

“Financially, the money is quite good and the club is playing Champions League next year which is also good for me.

“Champions League is the highest level of club football in Africa and playing in that competition has always been good for my career.

“Football is a short career so you have to make hay while the sun shines. While the war was going on and the league stopped I kept myself fit training everyday and I remained focused.

“I think everyone has to put God first in everything they do and have to be disciplined, dedicated and determined.” Sadomba said although he would soon be approaching the twilight of his career, which has also seen him spend considerable time at Sudanese giants Al Hilal, he was not yet considering hanging up his boots.

“I surrender my career in God’s hands, he knows my final destination, I just have to keep thanking him for what he has done for me’’.

Sadomba also argued that signing a million-dollar deal would not put him under pressure to perform at Tripoli, having been previously a top acquisition at Al Hilal, Liga Muculmana and in the United Arab Emirates.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all I think all it needs is for me to focus and do my best’’.

During his war-enforced break, Sadomba also took time to watch some of the games in the riveting Castle Lager Premiership race that ended with his former club Dynamos snatching their fourth successive championship under Callisto Pasuwa.

“I think we have very good layers in our Premiership but we need to improve on players’ welfare, motivation and we have to aggressively market Zimbabwean football’’.

Sadomba also revealed that he was saddened by Pasuwa’s departure from DeMbare in view of the 44-year-old record-breaking coach’s achievements in his spell as the Harare giants coach between August 2011 and this year.

“I would want to congratulate Dynamos for winning the league title once more and Pasuwa for the history-making. In view of the bond created between the players and the coaching department,

“Pasuwa’s departure will affect Dynamos . . . it happened to Manchester United after Alex Ferguson’s departure’’.

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