The management of Real Sapphire Football Club, Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, August 29, 2018, cleared the air on the reported disappearance of striker Adeleke Akinyemi Akinola from his Latvian club, FK Ventspils.

Absolving itself of blame in the saga, Real Sapphire FC wished Akinola well, even as it expressed gratitude to FK Ventspils for resolving the issue amicably and looked forward to continued harmonious relationship with the club.

Speaking on phone from his European base, Real Sapphire FC President Frank Peters said: “We thank FK Ventspils for resolving the issue amicably. We are happy dealing with them and we look forward to doing more business with them in the years ahead. Adeleke is a good boy. We have no problem with him and we wish him well in his footballing career.”

Similarly, a DISCLAIMER signed by the Real Sapphire Management and made available to Daily Sports on Wednesday said as follows:

“The management of Real Sapphire Football Club, Lagos, Nigeria, wish to make clear, and further lay this disclaimer based on the news going round as it concerns the disappearance of the player Adeleke Akinyemi Akinola of FK Ventspils, Latvia, from his club.

“We are a reputable football club that stands for transparency and equity in line with the rules of the game as stipulated by the world governing body FIFA.

“We are not, and cannot be involved nor partake in such unethical and unprofessional attitude of any player; neither do we condone such within and outside of our unique football club.

“As a reputable affiliate to the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), we instill and educate our players the basics to understand and adhere by the rules of the game as this is the benchmark to not only be successful but role models to hundreds of millions of young aspiring talents who are not as privileged as them.

“Therefore, we wish to equivocally state that we have maintained a very mutual relationship with FK Ventspils over the years. We intend to keep and improve on it while we contribute our own quota to the beautiful game of football.

“We hope this disclaimer puts to rest the recent rumours of disappearance of the said player and clarifies our position as a disciplined club who don’t engage in or encourage such lackadaisical act as it has no place in football.

“We remain focused in our dealings as Real Sapphire FC stands for the true definition of a football.”

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