In most European clubs, there is a wicked principality that determines the fate of Footballers. Most times, this principality goes with the job designation of a sporting director.
When the news filtered on Tuesday that Huesca had terminated the contract of Super Eagles midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali, I knew that a principality, a very domineering figure had done the worst.
Yours truly knew that Nwakali’s contract would expire in two months time, so why the termination of contract? That was the question on my lips and the answer came within 24 hours when Nwakali unmasked Ruben Garcia, the sporting director of Huesca as the arrow head of wickedness against his career at the Spanish Segunda side.
What was the bone of contention?
The club had made several efforts for Nwakali to renew his contract, but the midfielder was not in a hurry. He was in a great form, playing regularly for Huesca towards the end of last year, then came the invitation from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), that he had been invited to join the Super Eagles for the AFCON tournament in Cameroon.
Excitement filled the air around Nwakali as he was looking forward to his maiden cap for Nigeria at AFCON, but there was someone, a principality in the person of Ruben Garcia, who kicked against Nwakali joining the Super Eagles camp.
Nwakali narrates below via his official twitter handle :
“In December 2021, I experienced the biggest honour of my life after I received a full international call up for my beloved country.
“But the joy of the moment quickly came crashing down when the club’s sporting director, Ruben Garcia put extreme pressure on me not to go to AFCON due to it ‘not being an important tournament’.
He told me if I go to AFCON, I will not play for Huesca again.
“This behaviour and the lack of respect shown to my country Nigeria was truly heartbreaking and it was just the latest example of the club attempting to bully me into getting their own way.” he wrote.
AFCON, the biggest football tournament in Africa, equivalent of Euros and Copa America was considered ‘not being an important tournament’ by Ruben Garcia. Sure, Garcia echoed the mindsets of most European clubs concerning AFCON tournament.
Despite his threats, Nwakali found himself in the camp of the Super Eagles preparing for AFCON tournament and he was very prominent in all the three matches played by the Super Eagles during the group stage of AFCON 2021, only missing from the matchday squad in the round of 16 clash against Tunisia after he was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection.
“Before Nigeria’s last 16 game against Tunisia on 23rd January 2022, I began to feel unwell and was diagnosed with a Respiratory Tract Infection. As a result I was not fit enough to play in the game against Tunisia. After we were eliminated from the tournament I was unable to return to the club immediately as planned because of my illness following advice from the Doctor.
Post – AFCON tournament ordeal at Huesca
“After returning to the club on February 1st, Ruben Garcia and the club’s lawyers opened disciplinary proceedings against me, suspending me from training and banning me from the training ground. As a result, I had to seek the help of the Spanish Footballers Union.
“The AFE who have been in an ongoing dispute with Huesca. After over a month passed, the club allowed me back into the training ground but have been forcing me to train on my own and have not been allowing me to use the facilities or receive treatment from the club physios.
Garcia deployed wicked tactics against Nwakali
Garcia deployed wicked tactics to make Nwakali surrender and sign a new contract, but the Nigerian player stood his ground. Imagine Garica and Huesca refusing to pay the financial entitlements of Nwakali all in a bid to frustrate him into signing a new contract, even at a time when his mother was ill and he needed money to offset her medical bills.
“These tactics have included paying me late on numerous occasions. The breakdown in negotiations came when my mother fell ill and I asked Ruben for the wages the club already owed me in order to pay for my Mother’s hospital bill and treatment. Ruben Garcia responded to my request by saying ‘Sign this new contract and we will pay you what’s owed tonight.”
“Then, on the last day of the transfer market (January 31, 2022) when I was in the process of returning to join my teammates at Huesca, Ruben Garcia rang me to tell me I had to leave the club after a late offer came in from another La Liga 2 club.
“He threatened that he would not pay me if I did not leave the club. The option that was given to me was leave or we will open up disciplinary action. Before January 31st, I was never told by the club that they wanted to let me leave in January and this was not a decision that I felt was right for me at the time.
Nwakali demonstrated maturity despite inhumane treatment
“Throughout this time, Huesca have not paid my wages, yet I have remained silent hoping that a reasonable resolution could be found. But yesterday when I turned up to the training ground, a member of the club tried to force me to sign mutual termination papers which I refused to do. I have a family that depends on me, and no player should have to go through this inhumane treatment.
“I will never regret my decision to represent Nigeria and all I want to do is get back to playing the sport I love.
“Lastly, I want to thank the fans and my teammates of Huesca who have been amazing during my time here. I have always given 100% for the club, despite my treatment over the past 3 years,” he concluded.
It is hoped that Nwakali will sign for a new club, as the summer transfer market opens in the coming weeks and may Ruben Garcia never happen to his career again.
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