Abuja- Fanny Amun, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), says it is wrong for the NFA to decamp Emem Eduok over his contract dispute with two clubs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eduok is currently entangled in a contract controversy with two foreign clubs, Esperance of Tunisia and Sarpsborg FC of Norway.
This had prompted the NFA Chairman, Amaju Pinnick, to direct that he should be excluded from the 24-player Super Eagles Team B camp preparing for two international friendlies.
Amun said the decision was wrong as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and world football governing body FIFA had not sanctioned the player.
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“If he has not been sanctioned by CAF or FIFA, why is the NFA in a haste to throw him out of camp?
“Anybody who took that decision should have considered that first. I am not saying that the decision they took was wrong but, for me, they (NFA) were in haste.
“That decision was done out of overzealousness because many players had the same issue in the past and the issue was later rectified. The NFA should go and rectify that problem,’’ he said.
Amun who had also coached the Golden Eaglets said Eduok’s case was not different from that of Mikel Obi when he was with FC Lyn Oslo of Norway.
NAN recalls that English football giants Chelsea FC and Manchester United were involved in the contract controversy.
“I did it for most of our female players in the Swedish football league when I was the Secretary-General. I went there to settle the issue and nobody was banned.
“I was also the person who settled the case between Obi, Lyn Oslo, Chelsea and Manchester United.
“There was noise everywhere, but I went to the different clubs and settled the issue. I also went to FIFA to settle it quietly,’’ Amun added.
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Meanwhile, the Chairman of NFA’s Technical and Development Committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, has assured that his committee would be thorough in investigating the Eduok contract saga.
A statement issued by Ademola Olajire, NFA’s Assistant Director (Communications), quoted Anyansi-Agwu as saying that no one found culpable would be treated as a sacred cow.
“The NFA Chairman has explained clearly why Eduok was sent out of camp, and I believe that people fully understand why we needed to take that action.
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“I am on the issue as directed by the NFA Chairman and I can assure you that all those who are eventually indicted in the matter will be sanctioned.
“The messy transfer is already generating negative publicity for Nigerian football and we are uncomfortable with that,” the statement quoted Anyansi-Agwu as saying.
The statement said Anyansi-Agwu has until Thursday to report back to the NFA board on his findings.(NAN)
