THE world football governing body FIFA has
given Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia an ultimatum to declare whether they
are going to pay the USD 300,000 they owe Simba SC after acquiring the
service of Uganda's International Striker Emmanuel Okwi.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Simba Chairman Ismail Aden Rage during a press conference held at the club house along Msimbazi Street, a day after the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) had suspended Okwi's registration with Yanga.
Rage said he has received an email from FIFA saying that the Tunisian side has been given until next Monday to submit their details on whether they are going to clear Simba's debt or not before FIFA's Players Status Committee decides on the issue.
According to Rage, the committee has disclosed that after the deadline Simba's case will be decided by a single judge appointed to handle the case within three days from January 28.
He said he is happy that the matter has been taken into account and that shows he has never taken Okwi's payment from the Tunisian club as he was accused by some people during the club's leadership crisis which is now resolved.
Rage also said his club has no intention to stop the Ugandan international striker to play for their archrivals Yanga.
"Our major goal is to get our transfer fee from Etoile du Sahel and a 20 per cent share of the striker's sale to another club by the Tunisia side," he said.
The Msimbazi Street club chairman also warned that there is dirty money involved in Tanzania football which will destroy the development of the sport in the country if it is not stopped.
"I'm not afraid to say that there is rough play in our football now as people use dirty money to spoil our football and this is very bad because it denies stakeholders their rights," said Rage.
Citing the issue of Okwi, he said the striker, who was allowed by FIFA to play for Uganda's SC Villa for six month, is still a valid player of Etoile du Sahel and by signing for Yanga he has made the saga become more controversial.
Simba have, meanwhile, warned other clubs not to be tempted to sign national team defender Shomari Kapombe who is currently with France club AS Cannes as the player has a valid contract with the club until 2016 if he fails to succeed in his mission to play abroad.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Simba Chairman Ismail Aden Rage during a press conference held at the club house along Msimbazi Street, a day after the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) had suspended Okwi's registration with Yanga.
Rage said he has received an email from FIFA saying that the Tunisian side has been given until next Monday to submit their details on whether they are going to clear Simba's debt or not before FIFA's Players Status Committee decides on the issue.
According to Rage, the committee has disclosed that after the deadline Simba's case will be decided by a single judge appointed to handle the case within three days from January 28.
He said he is happy that the matter has been taken into account and that shows he has never taken Okwi's payment from the Tunisian club as he was accused by some people during the club's leadership crisis which is now resolved.
Rage also said his club has no intention to stop the Ugandan international striker to play for their archrivals Yanga.
"Our major goal is to get our transfer fee from Etoile du Sahel and a 20 per cent share of the striker's sale to another club by the Tunisia side," he said.
The Msimbazi Street club chairman also warned that there is dirty money involved in Tanzania football which will destroy the development of the sport in the country if it is not stopped.
"I'm not afraid to say that there is rough play in our football now as people use dirty money to spoil our football and this is very bad because it denies stakeholders their rights," said Rage.
Citing the issue of Okwi, he said the striker, who was allowed by FIFA to play for Uganda's SC Villa for six month, is still a valid player of Etoile du Sahel and by signing for Yanga he has made the saga become more controversial.
Simba have, meanwhile, warned other clubs not to be tempted to sign national team defender Shomari Kapombe who is currently with France club AS Cannes as the player has a valid contract with the club until 2016 if he fails to succeed in his mission to play abroad.
Contacted for comment on Okwi's saga
afternoon, Yanga Secretary General Benno Njovu said they were in an
emergency meeting to discuss the matter and that he was not in a
position to say anything.
TFF blocked Okwi's registration with Yanga on Wednesday after its Legal, Ethics and Players' Status Committee had learnt that SC Villa of Uganda were granted a provisional permit by FIFA," he said.
"Okwi, who has an outstanding quarrel with Etoile du Sahel, was issued a six-month provisional permit by FIFA to play for SC Villa so that he can maintain his standard while it works on his case," TFF Information Officer Boniface Wambura said.
He said there are three outstanding Okwi's issues within FIFA. While the player claims that Etoile du Sahel have breached his contract, the club insists he is still their legitimate player.
Simba, on the other hand, have also petitioned to TFF, claiming that they have not received the agreed USD 300,000 transfer fee from the Tunisian club.
"We've, therefore, written to TFF requesting clarification on whether Okwi can feature in the Mainland Premier League while Etoile du Sahel claim he is still their player," said Wambura.
Okwi's case is more complicated because the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has also sought FIFA's clarity on the saga.
"We have written to FIFA because we need them to tell us if the move is okay," FUFA's Chief Executive Officer, Edgar Watson, told MTN last month.
"Starting September last year, Okwi had to play for SC Villa only, for a period of six months until FIFA clears him for any further club to acquire his services. So, Yanga must know this if they are to use him," warned the FUFA official, who sits on the technical committee.
Allan Papaok, a director in the company that has rights over the player, admitted that they have not finalised the deal for Okwi's move.
Source: allAfrica.com
TFF blocked Okwi's registration with Yanga on Wednesday after its Legal, Ethics and Players' Status Committee had learnt that SC Villa of Uganda were granted a provisional permit by FIFA," he said.
"Okwi, who has an outstanding quarrel with Etoile du Sahel, was issued a six-month provisional permit by FIFA to play for SC Villa so that he can maintain his standard while it works on his case," TFF Information Officer Boniface Wambura said.
He said there are three outstanding Okwi's issues within FIFA. While the player claims that Etoile du Sahel have breached his contract, the club insists he is still their legitimate player.
Simba, on the other hand, have also petitioned to TFF, claiming that they have not received the agreed USD 300,000 transfer fee from the Tunisian club.
"We've, therefore, written to TFF requesting clarification on whether Okwi can feature in the Mainland Premier League while Etoile du Sahel claim he is still their player," said Wambura.
Okwi's case is more complicated because the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has also sought FIFA's clarity on the saga.
"We have written to FIFA because we need them to tell us if the move is okay," FUFA's Chief Executive Officer, Edgar Watson, told MTN last month.
"Starting September last year, Okwi had to play for SC Villa only, for a period of six months until FIFA clears him for any further club to acquire his services. So, Yanga must know this if they are to use him," warned the FUFA official, who sits on the technical committee.
Allan Papaok, a director in the company that has rights over the player, admitted that they have not finalised the deal for Okwi's move.
Source: allAfrica.com
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