Sofapaka yesterday issued a statement noting requesting AFC Leopards to release Elias Ibrahim Mao.
The transfer of Elias Ibrahim Mao to AFC Leopards is set to develop into a saga after Sportpesa Premier League (SPL).
This is after Sofapaka claimed that Mao had a pre-existing contract with the club.
The striker, who played for Sofapaka in the August and December 2016 KPL U20 tournaments, was recently confirmed at Leopards on a two year contract. but Sofapaka claims he has a five – year deal with them, presenting a case of double signing that could get him barred for the season.
Sofapaka claims he has a five – year deal with them, presenting a case of double signing that could get him barred for the season.
Sofapaka made the confirmation through a statement sent to AFC football club.
The statement noted that Mao “is a Sofapaka player as per the legal contractual agreement entered with him on the 17th day of November 2016, when he signed a five – year contract with Sofapaka Football Club”.
“The culmination of his agreement with the club was after he represented the club in the 2016 August KPL U20 tournament and the same player featured for Sofapaka in the December 2016 KPL U20 tournament after the confirmation of his promotion to the senior team for the 2017 season, which came with the player receiving the requisite signing fees,” read part of the statement.
“The club would thus like to extend an olive branch to the player to immediately report to training with Sofapaka while at the same time calling on AFC Leopards to respect the law of contractual agreements and prevail on the player to honor his deal with Sofapaka FC.
Being a young player, he has to be guided accordingly and knowing too well he needs play time, Sofapaka is obliged to inform him that the punishment for double signing is a periodic ban.”