In an interesting turn of events, AFC Leopards goalkeeper John Oyemba insists that he has a contract with the club, remarks which contrast with a communication released on the club’s website on the eve of their 2-0 victory over Bandari.Leopards beat the visiting Dockers last week on Friday without a reserve goalkeeper as the duo of first choice Benjamin Ochan and Oyemba did not make it to the squad with the club saying that the two were part of the five players who had run down their contracts.Other players who did not travel for the match hosted at the Thika Stadium are Kenyan international Cylde Senaji, Hansel Ochieng and the hard-tackling Said Tsuma.The club announced that the five were out of contract despite the Football Kenya Federation extending the validity of deals to next month.CLUB UPDATE The team safely arrived in Thika for our FKF-PL match against @BandariOfficialOchan Benjamin, Senaji Clyde, Hansel Ochieng, Said Tsuma and Oyemba John won’t feature in the match after their contracts endedThe match will be live on @StarTimesKE #INGWE pic.twitter.com/HwjiFCMHKT— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) July 9, 2021 However, Oyemba maintains that he had six more months remaining in the deal he penned when he arrived at the club shortly before the campaign kicked off last year.The custodian who was part of the Harambee Stars squad that represented the country in the past edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt had been a free agent for almost a year after parting ways with Kariobangi Sharks at the start of last year. Upon his unveiling, the club said that the Jamhuri High School alumnus had penned a two-year contract but he says he inked a one and half year deal.”I am still an AFC Leopards player who is under contract and always ready to play when summoned on match days. I still have at least six months remaining in the deal I signed last year. Probably there was a mix up in the information posted on the club’s pages last week,” he cleared the air.DONE DEAL! Superkeeper John Oyemba is ours.He said: “I’m excited to join the best-supported club in the country with a fantastic fanbase.”FULL STORY:#OursForever #INGWEhttps://t.co/UDBWyafEBv— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) October 19, 2020 Asked why he was overlooked in their win over Bandari, Oyemba alleged that he had sought permission from the technical bench to attend to a pressing family matter.”I was ready for the match but unfortunately, a personal issue which required my attention emerged that morning and had to seek permission to attend to it. By the time I was done, it was late to make it to the matchday squad but at least I followed the proceedings from the stands, “he said.Efforts to hear from the Leopards technical bench were futile but according to reliable reports it all has to do with uncleared arrears.
