Kickoff (Cape Town)
2 September 2008
Philip Chidi Onyemah has returned to Rio Ave after his hopes of joining Romanian side Poli AEK Timisoara hit a snag due to the club's unprofessional attitude, according to the player.
The 24-year-old appeared to have signed and sealed a deal at the end of last season from Portuguese side Rio Ave to FC Timisoara in Romania before embarking on holiday.
But on his return to Portugal to pack his bags and head to Romania he was told another Portuguese striker had replaced him at the club which has another Nigerian Abiodun Agunbiade.
"It came as a rude shock because I have been in Europe since 1999 and that is the highest unprofessional act I have witnessed," Onyemah told KickOffNigeria.com.
"I've been saying goodbye to people here in Portugal and preparing to start a new life in Romania until the terrible news."
The former Famalicao and FC Porto youth player has already started playing for Rio Ave in the new season but says the case is now with FIFA.
"I signed a contract in Romania and my club has taken the case to FIFA and we are still waiting," Onyemah added.
"It has a psychological effect on me and my club and manager is furious because while I was on holiday some agents in Portugal took another striker there.
"It's an awful attitude and they must pay dearly for their unprofessional behaviour," Onyemah told KickOffNigeria.com.
Onyemah came on as a second half substitute as Rio Ave lost 1-0 away at Académica de Coimbra on Sunday in the second week of the 2008/09 Portuguese season.
The young striker has scored 60-goals in Portuguese football with spells at FC Porto, Famalicao and Rio Ave.
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