Breaking News: Kotoko suffer Ochaya blow as FIFA declares Ugandan player free agent
Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko have suffered a massive financial blow as they have lost their right-back Joseph Ochaya on a free transfer to Uganda side KCC after FIFA intervened.
Fifa has cleared the former Asante Kotoko defender Joseph Ochaya to play for his country's club KCC after months of tussle between the Kumasi-based side and the player, says the Ugandan club.
Ochaya left the Ghanaian outfit unceremoniously last year after they allegedly blocked his potential move to Germany as the Kotoko were seeking to cash in on a bigger transfer deal for the players they signed for about $30,000.
This led to a stand-off which resulted in the decision for the player to report the matter to FIFA and now Kotoko will get nothing for his transfer to the Uganda side which is a financial blow for the Porcupines.
The fallout was referred to Fifa, who granted him permission to join his former club, where he has been training since last year.
KCC has confirmed that the player’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) has been sent.
“We have received his ITC and he is now ready to play for the club,” club official Peter Kibazo confirmed on the KCC website.
Club secretary David Tamale, however, clarified that the Ochaya, who was on Wednesday named in the 36-man under 23 side to prepare for an All Africa Games qualifier against Mozambique, will only play in Caf ties after clearance from the continental body.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure he is cleared before the game on Saturday and we’ve sent all the necessary documentation to get him a Caf license,” he told the club website.
“Even if he misses the first leg, we are optimistic he will be available for the return match in a fortnight and the second round of the UPL.”
Ochaya left KCC in 2012 for Ghana’s Asante Kotoko where he featured for close to two seasons before falling out with the club.
The news comes as a welcome boost to the club ahead of Caf Champions League ties and the second round of the Uganda Premier League (UPL).
Coach Abdallah Mubiru’s men face Cameroon’s Cosmos De Bafia in the first leg preliminary round of the Champions League this Saturday at Namboole, Kampala.
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