Contrary to reports by Rivers United claiming Ishaq Rafiu remains their player, one of the representative from the player’s camp have responded to the claims by the NPFL winner.
Reports emanated earlier this week about the player on the move to club outside the shores of the Nigeria but Rivers United released statements claiming the player is still with them.
In response to the press release from Rivers United, the representative whose name was not mentioned wrote:
“Our attention has been drawn to a media release which purportedly emanated from the stable of Nigerian league champions Rivers United, the club which our player Ishaq Rafiu represents.
“We find the claims made in the so-called release as too mundane and trivial to be taken seriously but for the purpose of setting the records straight, we consider it imperative to state the following facts:
i. That Ishaq Kayode Rafiu is a thoroughbred professional who has never and will never act in ways that could undermine any agreement(s) he has with any employer at any given time.
ii. That Ishaq Rafiu joined Rivers United Football Club at the start of the 2019/2020 football season and penned a two-year deal. At its expiration, the attacker then signed a one-year extension at the start of this football season which comes to an end this summer thereby freeing him to take a decision on his future .
iii. That according to FIFA statutes; players in the final year of their contracts can speak with other clubs within six months of their contracts running down, a clause Rafiu has clearly not contravened.
iv. That Ishaq Rafiu remains in the camp of Rivers United FC and has continued to carry out his contractual obligations including attending training sessions and post-league winning functions till date. This renders the usage of the word “absconded” in that malicious release an unfair and devilish development which has the sole purpose of denigrating the image of a player who served the club loyally, dutifully and meritoriously.
v. That the League Management Company (LMC), custodians of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Tuesday communicated to clubs the opening of the transfer window as from August 1, 2022, i.e coming Monday. Ishaq Rafiu remains at the club even beyond this date. A fact.
vi. That based on these facts (outlined in i-v above) which are sacrosanct, we urge the general public to kindly disregard the half-truths or at best a terrible attempt at playing to the gallery by Rivers United.
It is regrettable that the league champions went this route to attempt to smear the image of a player whose contribution to their success is invaluable.
“For the future, the player will continue to abide by terms clearly stipulated in his professional contracts and will not be flustered by the actions of those that know and should do better,” he concluded.
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