The Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has waded in to save the career of junior international goalkeeper Dele Alampasu, by giving him “unconditional clearance to play for a club of his choice.”
At its meeting in Abuja, the Committee, headed by NFF Executive Committee member, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, ruled that the contracts that the player, who was in the Nigeria U-20 squad to the just-ended FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, signed with both Future Stars Academy, Lagos and Football College, Abuja are not binding as he signed as a minor.
“Future Stars Academy, Lagos and Football College, Abuja will only be entitled to training compensation/solidarity mechanism in accordance with the FIFA Regulations on Players’ Status and Transfer, 2014,” ruled the committee.
The career of the long-limbed goaltender, who was selected as the Best Goalkeeper of the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup that Nigeria won in the United Arab Emirates, had been on hold as both Future Stars and Football College claimed ownership.
At the same meeting, the Committee ruled that Nigeria National League club, Crown FC of Ogbomosho must pay its former General Manager, Alhaji Fatai Olayinka, the sum of N1,104,000 only before the end of June 2015, being the club’s indebtedness to Olayinka. Both parties are also to pay five per cent of the amount to the NFF Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee.
Also at its meeting, the Committee ordered Mighty Jets FC of Jos to pay Coach Bernard Ogbe the sum of N3,900,000 before the end of June 2015, being the amount the club is owing him as salary for six months. Both parties are also to pay five per cent of the amount to the Committee.
Failure of Crown FC and Mighty Jets FC to pay their indebtedness before the end of the month will attract appropriate sanctions, to be determined by the Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee.
Aside Babagana Kalli, other members present at the meeting were Jude Anyadufu, Dahiru Sadi and Austin Popo, as well as Nasiru Jibril (secretary) and Joshua Onoja (assistant secretary).