African Sports Monthly January 2013 Issue | Page 20

SPORTS TALK BY AYODELE ODUMADE [email protected] CLUB Vs COUNTRY REARS UP AGAIN We have come to that funny season again when the African Cup of Nations beckons. Clubs in the English Premier league are often reluctant to release their players for this particular tournament. FIFA rules clearly state that all players must be released at least two weeks before a major international tournament. Some clubs try to get their African players to retire from International fooball due to their selfish needs. Some try to keep the players back a bit longer and even outrightly try to stop them from leaving! As I have mentioned previously this tournament has been going on since 1957, which is even earlier than the European Championships. Why the animosity or contempt toward the African Cup of Nations? When countries like Brazil, Spain and France come calling for their players for games they are released irrespective of where the game is being played. But when it comes to African players the clubs try to play games and do not want to do it by the book. I do admit that the clubs pay these players their wages and are entitled to 20