L-R Alhaji Akambi and Salifu Ibrahim
Accra Hearts of Oak have sacked their star midfielder, Salifu Ibrahim, from camp and he is set to miss the Democracy Cup against Asante Kotoko on July 5, 2024.
The player's agent, Benedict Asiedu, confirmed the report in an interview with Kessben FM, stating that the club's decision follows a disagreement over contract renewal negotiations.
Asiedu said his client has refused to extend his stay with the Rainbow side due to unfair treatment he faced during the just-ended 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League season.
"It's about contract extension. We couldn't find an agreement because the player is hurt about certain things," he said.
While highlighting the issues, he said, "The issues are that Hearts wanted to sell him to Nsoatreman FC without informing him, sidelining him for no reason, a new coach comes in, he plays him, and they tell the coach not to use him, and all that. If there is time for him to extend his contract, it will be difficult."
Benedict Asiedu claimed that two board members, Alhaji Akambi and Vincent Odotei Sowah, were behind the supposed horrible treatment of his client.
"Only Akambi and Odotei can explain why they were doing that," he added.
Akamb, in response, revealed that he had nothing to do with Salifu's exit as it was solely the coach Aboubakar Ouattara's decision.
"The coach called me on the phone to tell me that he sacked some players including Salifu Ibrahim, that's what he told me. So when he is been told to go then what has that got to do with me and Odotei?," he told Kessben FM.
Regarding contract renewal negotiations, Akambi said the player through his agent demanded a $2,500 monthly salary but he proposed to pay the figure as gross and not net.
"The figure he wants at net salary, I told him that we can only pay that as gross. I was waiting for him to get back to me but he was insisting on what he wanted. Asiedu called me after the player scored against Nsoatreman and told me that for anything less than $2,500, the boy would not renew his contract. So I asked him 'Is he the only player that will play?'"
Salifu Ibrahim's exit brings an end to his three-year stay at Hearts of Oak. He joined the club in 2021, helping them to win the 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League title.
He won the club's best player award and the league's best player at the end of the campaign. The mercurial midfielder won a total of 5 trophies.
EE/EK
