People Reporter @PeopleSports11
The saga pitting want-away international striker John Avire and his club Sofapaka, took a new twist yesterday when it emerged that Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chief Executive Officer Robert Muthomi actually facilitated the player’s trip to Egypt where he plans to join a new side.
Muthomi apparently wrote a letter to the Egyptian embassy on July 12, urging the mission to grant ‘football fans’ Avire and his agent Augustine Ramaita visa to go watch Africa Cup of Nations third play-offs and final in Cairo.
The move is understood to have dented the relationship between the CEO and federation president who is away in Cairo for a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress meeting from where he denies any knowledge of the letter. Top FKF officials told People Sport that Mwendwa is furious with the latest development and has hinted at sacking Muthomi upon his return to the country.
Yesterday, People Sport highlighted the issue after Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa demanded answers on why Muthomi was meddling in players transfers, which was a clear conflict of interest.
“The 2019 Afcon will take place in Egypt from June 20 to July 20. In this regard, we request entry visas be issued to Augustine Ramaita of passport number A2195192 and John Avire passport number A2232307 fans travelling to watch the remaining matches from July 15 to July 26,” read the letter Muthomi wrote to the Egyptian embassy in Nairobi.
Avire was part of the Harambee Stars squad that took part in the on going continental show piece and featured in two matches, against Tanzania and Senegal, while Ramaita is a renown local agent who was recently involved in the move of Gor Mahia midfielder Francis Kahata to Tanzania giants Simba. He is also known for engineering the moves of former Mathare United striker Andrew Tololwa to the Zambian league as well as the moves of Ulinzi striker John Mark Makwata and Sofapaka goalkeeper Ian Otieno.
Kalekwa blamed Muthomi for tapping his player despite the fact that he still had a running contract with the team, he, however, refuted the claims yesterday saying that “Sofapaka should concentrate on paying players salaries instead of dragging my name where not necessary.”
He, however, confirmed being in contact with Avire, saying the player dropped him a letter requesting the federation to issue him with a release letter because his club Sofapaka had not paid him salary for three months.
According to world football governing body Fifa, a player needs to give his club a notice of between 15 to 21 days if he has not been paid salary for three months and if the club does not comply within the duration then he automatically becomes a free agent.
Avire wrote a letter to Sofapaka, but the club paid him all his dues three days later, making him their player as per their initial contract.“I have received a complaint letter from Sofapaka and I can confirm that Avire is still their player. Other issues will be sorted when I come back,” Mwendwa told People Sport on phone from Cairo.
