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Marufu is back home and has refused to return to his base in Lumbubashi insisting on the club to clear outstanding signing on fees, salaries and allowances from last season before opening negotiations for a new deal.

He is reportedly owed over US$10 000 from last season’s stay, which saw him scoring over 15 goals, albeit under the turbulent times.
The difficult conditions, exacerbated by the abrupt departure of the club’s director and chief sponsor, saw the player living off courtesy of the club’s supporters’ generous will.
However, it is Chapungu’s “no deal” chorus issued through the club’s custodial rights holders, the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s national sports directorate which point to a collapse of the deal.

AFZ national sports command officer, Nisbert Chasakara, yesterday said the DRC outfit had not communicated renewed interest for Marufu.
“They (FC Lupopo) have not communicated to us their intention for an extension of the loan and as such there is no deal to talk of in the first place.
“Secondly, he (Marufu) returned from DRC on Tuesday where he had gone to sort out the issue of what Lupopo owe him.
“No other clubs have expressed any interest on either Marufu or Matthew Mahala and this means they revert to being Chapungu players until some deals are struck,” said Chasakara.

He said the duo was expected to join the airmen’s preparations for the 2011 season that resumed last week.
However, reports from the DRC suggest that FC Lupopo are under pressure from their legion of fans who have equally threatened to take matters into their hands should the club fail to lure back Marufu.

Indications are that finances are not tallying to allow them to table an offer to Chapungu as talks between the player, through his manager, and Lupopo are centred on the outstanding dues. Only last month, the FC Lupopo fans threatened violence on the club’s secretary for not retaining Marufu at the club was forced to suspend training. A delegation was dispatched to Harare in an attempt to clear the first hurdle but the player would no budge.
The club has three other Zimbabweans — Carrington Gomba, Mthumayeli Moyo and Ephraim Mazarura —whose stay was equally turbulent.-The Herald