Moussa threatens to report Sofapaka to FIFA

Former Sofapaka central defender Moussa Omar has threatened to report the club to Fifa for their prolonged delay in clearing his salary arrears amounting to 9900 US dollars equivalent to Ksh 1,071,180 on current rates.

Moussa parted ways with the 2009 league champions in August 2019 on mutual agreement but he has unfinished business with the club which he chides for its snail pace in settling his arrears, almost two years after leaving. 

The Burundian international who was rumored to be the highest paid player in the league before his exit said he was fed up with Sofapaka's consistent but unmet promises and will now seek justice in Zurich.

"I diligently served the club until my departure which was not informed by poor performance came. The club committed to clear my outstanding salary arrears within months but they haven't kept their word. I am left with no choice other than to knock Fifa doors to claim what is rightfully mine, " he told Mozzart Sport,

The defender who can also be slotted as a right back alleges that the club had promised to pay him in August 2019 but has been taking him in circles, leaving him to explore the option of seeking help from the global body. 

In a letter dated March 15, through his lawyer, he wrote to the three time Shield Cup winners handing them an ultimatum to clear with him latest by the end of the month.

"I am writing to your good office in order to kindly remind you to pay me the outstanding amount of nine thousand and nine hundred US dollar (9900$) equivalent to pending salary arrears as committed not later than 31st March 2021 failing of which I will issue a claim before competent bodies of FIFA to rule on the case, " he wrote in a letter seen by Mozzart Sport.

Sofapaka in their response defended their delay to loss of revenue and other economic effects brought by coronavirus but promised to settle the debt by the end of August this year. 

"Being a former player in our team, we kindly request you to be a bit patient with us as we try to look for funds to enable us pay your outstanding arrears. We are undertaking to pay you by end of August 2021 since by then we would have an ample time to look for funds, " read a letter dated March 25,signed by the General Manager Jimmy Ambajo.

Batoto Ba Mungu are understood to have desperately tried to bring back the player in the recent transfer window but he declined the offer insisting to be paid his accrued salaries. 

Moussa joined Sofapaka on January 2018 from Burundian outfit Bugesera FC and was part of the national team which participated in the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.

He signed a two-year long deal with Police FC of Rwanda after leaving Sofapaka although he was heavily linked with a move to Ethiopia, a deal which fell through in the eleventh hour despite traveling to Addis Ababa to finalize it.

The defender who was under the radar of Algeria's MC Alger in the summer transfer window in the meantime says he is open to a return to the Kenyan league.

"I have less than six months remaining in my contract and hence I am open to offers. I am ready to take any offer from Kenyan clubs including Sofapaka should they pay my debt and table a new offer," he revealed.

Moussa who was summoned in the Swallows team for the opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double against Morocco and Central Africa Republic expressed optimism that the looming resumption of the Rwandese league on May 1 will open him the door back to the national team for the World Cup qualifiers set to kick off in June.

The Rwandese league was suspended on March last year but restarted in November only to be halted again after three rounds following the surge on covid-19 positive cases.