As the battle royale between Warri Wolves of Delta and Rangers International of Enugu over which club owns Sunday Mba, Super Eagles goal whizkid at the 2013 AFCON touney in South Africa continues, there seems to be no end in sight to the claims and counter claims.
Although the Nigeria Football League (NFL) Interim Management board had ruled that Mba was a Warri Wolves player, the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) met with the aggrieved parties, Rangers International of Enugu and Warri Wolves on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 in Abuja, just as the Rangers team has allegedly engaged the services of Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, to litigate in the case for ownership of Mba.
Blank NEWS Online sources say that the unrelenting Warri Wolves team, led by the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Pinnnick Amaju tendered documents to prove that Mba was still their player, as well as the request letter Rangers made to Warri Wolves for the transfer of Mba, which was yet to be considered.
But Falana had argued that Mba signed a contract with Rangers that will elapse in 2014, adding that the transfer request made by Rangers to Warri Wolves was made in error as it was provisional and not in permanent form.
Meanwhile, the NFF has reserved ruling on the controversial matter till Thursday, March 7, 2013, despite arlier ruling by the Nigeria League Interim Management board that Mba was a Warri Wolves player after looking at the vital documents.
However, 24-year-old Sunday Mba, while speaking earlier on the long drawn battle between Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs, Warri Wolves and Enugu Rangers, shocked Nigerians when he declared that he signed a contract with Enugu Rangers before the commencement of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa:
“I signed a contract with Rangers even before I left for South Africa for the 2013 AFCON and I am surprised Wolves are saying Rangers have no right of ownership over me.”
“Wolves are aware of this and I am surprised they are saying I am still their player.”
The committee set up by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resolve the controversy are meeting with officials of two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba as well as Enugu Rangers, Dolphins and Warri Wolves, alongside the player.
