Wisla suspend unhappy Uche
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Article summary
Wisla Kraków have suspended Kalu Uche for six months after a row over reported interest from AFC Ajax.
Article body
Refused to play
Uche missed Wisla's 5-2 victory over Omonia AC in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round last night, having refused to play in the match according to club officials.
Dispute over clause
The 21-year-old midfield player refused to train for several days when news first broke of interest in him from Ajax. Uche, who arrived in Krakow from RCD Espanyol two years ago, claims there is a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if a club offers €1.5m but Wisla deny this.
Weakened team
His contract with the club runs until June 2006 and Wisla do not want to lose a player who was a pivotal figure last season, especially after the summer departures of Kamil Kosowski and Marcin Kuzba. Their prospects have been dented further by injuries to defender Arkadiusz Glowacki and midfield player Mauro Cantoro.
'Behaviour is scandalous'
Bogdan Basalaj, the Wisla president, said: "Uche's behaviour is scandalous. It seems he has forgotten that everything he has he owes to Wisla. When he came here he was in Espanyol's reserves."
