An Akwa Ibom State based football academy, Blessed stars football academy has said it will sue Treasure Sports Management (TSM) FC over the illegal seizure of it’s players international passport in Kaduna.
Blessed Stars made this known to Sports247 during an exclusive interview with the Head of Strategic Business Development of Blessed Stars Mr. Austin Okon.
Mr Austin explained that Blessed Stars had no agreement of any sort with TSM FC and the players were picked from Uyo during a screening program he held allegedly take the players to China for a scouting tournament. He also stated that Mr. Gabriel Tukura the chairman of TSM FC was in Uyo for the screening in person.
According to reports the program was said to have lasted for 2days and over 19 players were picked but 10 were reported to have returned to Kaduna, TSM’s base of operation. During an interview with one of the players that was picked from Akwa Ibom, TSM FC was said to have kept the players for over 8 months without fulfilling its promise of taking the players to China for the playing tournament as promised.
After 6 months in Kaduna, it is reported that Mr. Gabriel Tukura the chairman of TSM FC had instructed the 10 players from Uyo and other players to pay the total sum of N150,000/each to aid in the trip to China and also requested that the players provide cash to print international passports of which the players did.
While narrating to Sports247 Mr. Austin Okon said that on the 9th month Blessed Stars requested that its players be returned to them for not fulfilling the contract. Mr Tukura had also agreed to negotiate on payments for the players upon travel which he failed and also withheld the passport of 1 player by name Isaac Emediong as well as collecting the parents of the child over N75,000 and additional N15,000 from one Nsikak Edet in transfers to an account of one of TSM’s coaches Mr. Hope Myk.
Mr. Austin Okon from Blessed Stars stated that Chairman of TSM FC Mr. Gabriel Tukura has failed to release the passport of the player and make refunds of the payments made even upon request from the parents. While speaking to newsmen Mr Austin disclosed to us that the parents of the affected players have given Blessed Stars full parental consent to act on their behalf to aid recover the passport and funds that were collected under false pretence.
Blessed Stars made an official release on its website and called a press briefing stating its intention to sue TSM FC for lack of corporation after collecting under false pretense and withholding an intellectual property of Isaac Emediong.
Mr Austin while parting with journalist stated that, clubs like TSM FC have frequently taken players from grassroot clubs, print passport for the players and have a “bargaining chip” to hold the player to ransom if a time comes that there’s a program for them, saying that it’s unethical in the football business.
