Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Bendel Insurance has declared one of its finest players, 17-year-old Vincent Augustus Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL).
The player, according to the club, failed to return to the Benin Arsenals after the one-week mid-season break according to a statement issued by the club’s secretary, Charles Ihimekpen.
Ihimekpen wondered why a professional football player who has a running contract with the club would stay away without permission from the management or the head coach.
He stated that the club does not know his whereabouts and he has not communicated with the club on happenings around him and his whereabouts.
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Ihimekpen expressed the club’s disappointment in him, adding that his act of dereliction of duty and refusal to open the line of communication with Bendel Insurance on his whereabouts is unprofessional and that it amounts to gross indiscipline which attracts appropriate sanctions.
“One would have expected the player to officially inform the club of his intentions if he has reasons to leave so that both parties can explore the means of mutual agreement on contract termination,” he added in his statement.
“Nobody wants to tie him down here and we have never received any complaints from him on any issues affecting his well-being in Benin,” the statement said.
Augustus became the youngest goal scorer for Bendel Insurance in a CAF competition, after finding the net in their clash against RS Berkene last year.
Meanwhile, the NPFL has announced a new date for the matchday 13 rescheduled fixture involving Sporting Lagos and Rivers United.
The game which was initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, will now be played on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
