May 11, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429

KARACHI, May 10: A Nigerian football player, who remained stranded in Pakistan for almost three months after being denied contract and compensation by a local club, has finally left for home.

Akeem Abbas, who was invited by Wohaib Club to represent the side in the Pakistan Premier League last season, could only leave the country after being extended financial assistance by local football lovers.

The 19-year-old Nigerian import was left in the lurch after Wohaib Club refused to give him a contract and salary for playing in the league.

After being discarded by the club, the foreigner had come to Karachi last February and was provided shelter at the CDGK Stadium.

Since he didn’t have money and had an expired visa, he was stranded in the city, waiting to return to his homeland.

Abbas, who represents Nigerian club Indomie in Otta, was in Pakistan since Oct 16 last year and had travelled to Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi to play home and away matches for Wohaib Club.

The player had complained that even the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) didn’t intervene and extend any help despite his distress calls.

However, PFF took notice of the episode almost after a month, docking four points of the club for fielding an illegal player in the league without the permission of the federation.

PFF, though, had changed Wohaib’s 2-1 victory against PTV on Nov 9 and 2-2 draw with Pakistan Railways on Dec 16, awarding a 3-0 victory and three points to their opponents. But the revised standings in the 14-team table didn’t make any major impact as Wohaib Club and Pakistan Railways had already been relegated to B Division.