Mahindra United's plans of kicking-off the Federation Cup football tournament, beginning October 19 in Goa, with a lethal strike force have suffered a setback. Churchill Brothers have put a spoke in their ace striker Yusif Yakubu's path by not releasing his No Objection Certificate even though they received it on Saturday.
According to a source, Churchill Brothers want Mahindra United to compensate them as they too had paid a fee to obtain the Ghanian's transfer in 2001, from a club in Egypt.
Yakubu then had a problem with the Egypt club, which refused to release him unless Churchill coughed up $20,000. It is learnt the dispute was finally settled for $5000 and Yakubu made it to India.
When contacted, Goa Football Association secretary Savio Mesias confirmed that GFA had forwarded Mahindra United's application for an NOC to Churchill Brothers last weekend but still haven't heard from them.
According to an official of the All India Football Federation, FIFA rules allow for the player's transfer to be completed if there is a monetary dispute involved and it is later settled through arbitration. That way the new club is not denied the player's services.
Talking to rediff.com, Yakubu said he doesn't recollect signing a long contract with Churchill Brothers.
"My contract with Churchill is over. I don't see why they shouldn't release me," said the dashing striker, who was the sixth National Football League's top scorer, with 17 goals, in the 2001-02 edition.
Mahindra United, who won the Federation Cup in 2003 in Kolkata, begin their campaign with a pre-quarter-final match on October 20against JCT, coached by former India coach Sukhwinder Singh. They are bolstered by the arrival of new signing Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barretto, who was the top scorer of the National Football League in 2000 while playing for Mohun Bagan, and former
Nigerian under-20 national player Gabriel Umeh, also a striker.
The other key players in the team are India captain S. Venkatesh, Abhishek Yadav, Mahesh Gawali, James Singh (signed only 10 days ago), Surkumar Singh ,Deepak Mondal and Sandip Nandy.
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