The long drawn swords between Warrri Wolves FC and Rangers FC over the ownership of Sunday Mba is yet to abate, as the management of the oil city wolves took a swipe at the management of the Enugu soccer club for daring to lay claim to the Super Eagles’ goal whiz-kid at the African Cup of Nations.
Comrade Etu Moses, Media Officer of Warrri Wolves FC, in a Press statement dated February 24, 2013 and made available to Blank NEWS Online, alleged that the Rangers FC has casted aspersions on the integrity of the oil city wolves for continually claiming ownership of Sunday Mba and other players, rumoured to be in the camp of Enugu Rangers.
The statement said, “Following the latest out burst of Management of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu casting aspersions on the integrity of well managed Warri Wolves Football Club claiming the ownership of Sunday Mba and numerous enquiries from journalists and well wishers, we are forced once again to come out and clarify the situation.
“In the words of Niyi Osundare, the truth will one day set itself free after a twisted journey and with all the lies coming out of Rangers which they are not afraid to tell not minding their image, we have therefore decided to expose them once and for all albeit to advise them to thread the path of honour.
“As a professional Club, Warri Wolves have always abide by the rules and this can be attested to by the way we have gone about the illegal and stupid way Management of Rangers Football Club have been trying to lure players into their fold all in the name of playing in the CAF Champions League.
“It is on record that so many Clubs like the well respected 3sc Stars of Ibadan have at one time or the other cried out to the World on the way Rangers FC went about luring their goalkeeper to Enugu without recourse to lay down rules.
“However, in Warri Wolves, they have met the masters in the way a professional Club should be run, hence, we have always stand up to their antics.
“The players in their fold particularly Sunday Mba was duly cleared and registered to play for Warri Wolves and it is an open secret that he signed for two years.
“At the end of last season, Sunday Mba went on holiday and the rumour which later turned out to be true has it that he was in the camp of Rangers FC and the story was that they were interested in him.
“After the confirmation of the rumour and knowing the antics of the local traders saddled with the responsibility of running the once revered Club, we came out with a press release threatening to report them to the appropriate authority.
“It was after this that they wrote to us indicating interest in three of our players namely Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba and Lazarus Chukwu leaving out Uruemu Egbeta whom we laboured to secure his international transfer certificate. His own story is left for another day.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that the Nigerian Premier League who are in charge of running day to day affairs of the league have duly sent a reply to our petition and with that, we are firmly in a position to decide the fate of Sun day Mba and others who presently looking for greener pastures.
“The letter from the Nigeria Premier League which was duly signed by the Secretary, Tunji Babalola reads and is hereby published unedited.
“We are in receipt of your correspondence on the above subject. From our records, it is established that Chigozie Agbim and Sunday Mba are bonafide players of Warri Wolves FC.
“Consequently, the ownership of the players is not subject to any controversy and any Club that require their services should contact the Management of Warri Wolves”
“When Sunday Mba visited Asaba with other members of the victorious Super Eagles, he did not object to the largesse given to Warri Wolves Players by the Sports loving Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan but it is unfortunate that some unscrupulous people are trying to re-write the history of Football.
“Gentlemen of the press, we have taking pains to explain all these to you and to once again appeal to the local traders managing Rangers FC to thread the path of honour and stop embarrassing the image of this great country as if we are all the same.
“We also want to advise Sunday Mba not to destroy his career and shun the advise of those who are using the CAF Champions League as a yardstick to lure him away. The likes of Eyimba International, Dolphin have all played in the CAF Champions League but they never behaved like this, going through the back door to lure players illegally.
“We want to assure all our players that we shall not and I repeat, stop any player who wishes to try his luck elsewhere but such move must be sanctioned by the Management and well documented.”
