Sofapaka’s Asike now free to sign for any club

Sofapaka's Eugene Asiko dribbles the bals Geoffrey Walusimbi of Gor Mahia vies for the ball during KPL match at Kenyatta stadium, in machakos on 26-10-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Defender Eugene Asike is now a free agent and can negotiate with any club for his services, the player’s lawyer has said.

Lawyer Elvis Majani has said they are proceeding to get the player a new club on the strength of a ruling by the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) complaints committee which ordered Sofapaka to release Asike within seven days.

“As for now he is a free agent based on that ruling. We are proceeding to get him a new club. Actually any team is free to negotiate with him at this time,” he said.

KPL side Tusker are among clubs who have shown interest in the player, but backed off from signing him as he had not cleared with Sofapaka. Majani has also challenged Sofapaka to appeal the ruling if they are not satisfied.

“The KPL committee clearly proved that there was a breach of contract on Sofapaka’s side and we are wondering on what grounds they will lodge an appeal. In any case they do it we are ready for them any time because the law is on our side,” he said.

An infuriated Sofapaka chairman Elly Kalekwa on Monday swore he will not release Asike and will instead appeal to Football Kenya Federation where his options are limited since the club is no longer a member of the federation.

Kalekwa said they will be seeking to be paid by any club that wants to sign the player as he still has a one-year contract remaining.

He also accused the player of acting beyond his powers by alleging to have terminated his contract with Sofapaka on January 5.

Asike wrote to Sofapaka on January 5 this year seeking to be released from his contract after the club allegedly failed to pay him his salary for March, November and December.

“The KPL contract has no such clause but the club’s contract provides that any player who wants to leave must pay us a three-month salary before we release him. The committee must understand that as a club the only business we do is to buy and sell players and have no right to order us to release any of them on a free transfer. This will drive us out of business,” Kalekwa said.

Elsewhere, former Tusker chairman Philip Omondi has urged wrangling football officials to respect mechanisms that were put in place to resolve challenges during the formation of the Kenyan Premier League. Omondi, who is one of the founder members of KPL, says he was disheartened by the ongoing wrangles.