snl24.com/kickoff reported last night that the deal had been agreed, but later updated the story to say that it was not pushed through in time to beat the transfer window deadline of 5pm.
Understandably, many Pirates fans are upset this morning with what ultimately did not materialise. Some fans are pointing the finger of blame at this website after Pirates posted on social networks like Facebook and Twitter that there was never any interest in Kalaba to start with.
However, we stand by our claim that there was most definitely interest in the Zambian international.
In fact, we got confirmation from a family member of the player himself that a three-and-a-half-year deal had been agreed between the two parties. This was backed up by a very trustworthy source at Parktown, a senior club official who has never let us down.
Our reporter, Tiyani wa ka Mabasa, spent yesterday with Pirates and, when asking coach Roger de Sa whether he was hopeful of the Kalaba deal going through, was told: "Kalaba is one of the players that have been spoken about at Pirates for a long, long time. He is a quality player and I'm sure we are not the only club that would like to have him.”
So to say there was never any interest is untrue.
There was interest from Pirates but, as often happens in football, and despite many people at the club believing the deal was signed and sealed, snl24.com/kickoff has it on good authority that the club chairman himself did not engage with his TP Mazembe counterpart around Kalaba, ultimately meaning the deal was not going to materialise.
Unfortunately, South African fans have missed an opportunity to see a top African player in local club action, and Pirates fans are understandably upset that Kalaba will not be donning the famous black and white this season.