"It is a disgrace that Churchill Brothers has refused to give Ghanian footballer Yusif Yakubu a No Objection Certificate to play for our club. He has not only denied our club of fielding a full-fledged team, but also the people of Goa and fans to watch the star striker in action," said an official of Mahindra United, who Yakubu signed for this season.
Mahindra United were hoping that Churchill Alemao, owner of the club and a Goa Member of Parliament, would prove he is a hardened football fan by releasing their prized signing before the 11 a.m. deadline set by the All India Football Federation for teams to register the 20 players they wish to field in the tournament.
The heart of the matter is that Alemao has put a price of $5000 on Yakubu's head, the sum he claims to have paid to bail out Yakubu from Egyptian football club Al Halil as transfer fee.
Churchill Brothers' manager Denzil Ferrao said the club has it on contract that Yakubu will be released only if he pays back (or the club that signs him) the amount they paid for his International Transfer Certificate.
Frantic efforts by Mahindra United officials to contact AIFF president Priyaranjan Das Munshi in New Delhi to sort out the matter proved abortive.
As a result, Mahindra will be without the services of Yakubu for the tournament.
A crestfallen Yakubu was emotional and disappointed that the club he served for four seasons despite concerted efforts by Kolkata and other big clubs in the country to lure him with big bucks that Churchill could never match.
"I am disappointed that Churchill could treat me that way after serving his club loyally for so many years. I have a family back home to look after and money plays an important role in keeping the home fires burning," said Yakubu.
"By denying me the opportunity to play in the Federation Cup, Churchill has denied football fans in Goa -- and I have many -- the opportunity to see me perform with my new club. It will be a great loss for football," added Yakubu, who looked all geared and started gelling well with the Mahindra players.
Pedro Costa, a football freak and Yakubu fan who lives around the Fatorda stadium was visibly vocal in his disappointment when asked for his reaction.
"It is a shame that our MP, who is known to be a big football fan, could deny us the opportunity to see how Yakubu plays with a better team against the big clubs. Churchill can make that money in quick time. What is 2.5 lakhs for him?" said Costa.
Nonetheless, coach Derrick Pereira is unperturbed though he will now be forced to start with his Brazilian import, Jose Ramirez Barretto, who had requested to be allowed to skip the first match in order to have more time to get into shape.
"I have enough talent in the side and do not depend wholly on my foreign players. It would have been better had Yakubu been there as he is a high quality player. But the replacements are not inferior," said Pereira.
Mahindra take on JCT in their opening match on Thursday at 4.30 p.m.
