21/07/2022
Late Ifeanyi Victor Okafor, who died and was buried in April this year came for a trial at Oyah Sports Club of Suleja four years ago, says Sylla Osman, chairman of the club.
Osman, in his full response to the exclusive publication of www.totorinews.com on Monday with the headline ‘Nigerian player dies after football administrator was paid to help secure foreign deal.’ He explained that the only mistake he made was not to have responded immediately when this news media outfit contacted him on the matter.
“I made a mistake by not replying fast when I was contacted on this issue. I was very busy with some engagements about my club and I was out of the country.But I will be glad to reveal what really happened,” Osman told www.totorinews.com.
“Alex Okafor met me some years ago about his brother, who he said was a good footballer and that I should help him to secure a deal in Europe. He said he was willing to pay for his travelling documents and other expenses.
“He gave me money at different times totalling about N650k to start the process when the time approaches. I made him to realise that his brother must come for a trial at my club for my technical crew to fully assess him and register him to play for a season, if possible.
“To cut the long story short. Victor came for a trial, trained with us for about six weeks and the club came to a conclusion that he did not meet the standard required.
Sylla Osman
“I communicated this to his elder brother, Alex . I told him there was no need for us to continue to process his travelling. I told him that Victor lacked the ability to play professional football whether local or foreign.
“So I refunded the money to him. He said I useless the money. For me, the most important thing is that, I refunded his money back to him. He gave me the money in installments and I also refunded installmentally.
“Victor left my club four years ago. I was shocked when Alex sent a text message to me that his brother had died and I expressed my sadness to him immediately.
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