The management of Cynosure Football Club has issued a formal demand letter to the Osun State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Special Needs over the continued withholding of captain Valentine Ogbodo’s clearance letter by Osun United Football Club.
In the strongly worded correspondence dated May 22, 2026 and addressed to the Honourable Commissioner of the ministry, Cynosure FC accused Osun United FC of administrative injustice, bad faith, and actions that allegedly resulted in the club’s ban and the declaration of the player as ineligible by the Nationwide League One (NLO).
According to the letter signed by Nwaeze Prince Chidiebere on behalf of Cynosure FC management, the dispute originated during the second half of the Nigeria National League (NNL) season when a proposed loan move involving Valentine Ogbodo to Osun United failed due to unresolved contractual terms.
Cynosure FC explained that Osun United offered the player a monthly salary of ₦80,000, which was significantly below the ₦120,000 he reportedly earned at his parent club. The club further stated that no employment contract or personal agreement was ever signed between the player and Osun United.
The letter noted that after sitting on the substitute bench for a single match on February 14, 2026, negotiations collapsed completely, prompting the player to return to Cynosure FC.
Cynosure FC alleged that despite repeated written offers to reimburse any logistical expenses incurred by Osun United during the attempted transfer process, the Osogbo-based club allegedly declared the player “AWOL” and withheld his clearance documents.
In defending its position, Cynosure FC cited provisions of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, particularly Articles 2 and 3, arguing that Valentine Ogbodo cannot legally be regarded as a contracted professional player of Osun United because no written agreement was executed.
The club also maintained that even if professional status was claimed, the player had fulfilled the mandatory 30-day waiting period required before re-registering as an amateur player. Cynosure FC stated that Ogbodo last appeared for Osun United on February 14, 2026, before being registered for the NLO season on March 16, 2026.
Furthermore, the club accused unnamed individuals of deliberately blocking the release of the player’s clearance letter, describing the action as “administrative bad faith” and an unlawful restraint of trade that has negatively impacted both the player’s career and the club’s competitive standing.
As part of its demands, Cynosure FC called for the immediate issuance and upload of Valentine Ogbodo’s clearance letter within 48 hours, alongside a formal withdrawal of the alleged “AWOL” claim submitted to football authorities.
The club warned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe would compel its legal team to escalate the matter before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players’ Status Committee, while also pursuing punitive damages at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or other courts of competent jurisdiction.
Cynosure FC concluded by urging the Osun State Government to intervene swiftly and direct Osun United FC to resolve the matter immediately in the interest of fairness, player welfare, and the integrity of football administration in Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment