28 August 2008
Lagos — Enyimba's chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu says European clubs should not insult them when they want to transfer players.
He frowned at the case of their captain, Ajibade Omolade who was courted by a European club that offered peanuts.
"A club in Europe wanted Ajibade and they offered $20,000 (Twenty thousand dollars) and I felt that was an insult to Enyimba.
"Last season Ajibade got five million naira (about $42,000) as sign on fees and when you consider that in the five seasons he has spent with us, he as taken close to twenty million naira (about $170,000) from in sign on fees and salaries, then you will agree with me that Enyimba were insulted with that offer.
"I think it is all wrong and I hope our players do not continue to belittle themselves with this craze for Europe," Anyansi frowned.
He, however, told KickOffNigeria.com that Enyimba will listen to reasonable offers that come at a time that will not derail their ambitions in Africa.
"A Manchester United player does not just leave camp two weeks to a UEFA Champions League match against AC Milan to go on trials at Barcelona, so why should our case be different?
"We always release our players but we will not derail our ambitions because we want to let our players off to Europe."
Anyansi Agwu says he does not fear that his big name players could leave the club sooner than expected.
Already, top scorers like Eze Otorogu and Steve Worgu are reportedly being courted by clubs outside of Africa, a situation that thrills Anyansi, rather than scare him.
"Eventually, we want the best for our players and if our players do as well as they are doing now, we will eventually not be able to hold on to them.
"What I always tell them to do is be careful and not be in too much of a hurry to leave for Europe but allow Europe to look for them.
"It will be a travesty for our players to want to go on trials in Europe when clubs should practically be begging for them and I tell them that.
"If they play in the Champions League like they are doing now, any one can watch them and judge them in real match situations rather than ask them to go for trials."
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