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Junior Stars teenage sensation Tyron Kariuki was close to joining Aldrine Kibet and co at Spain’s Nastic Sports Academy but that now looks unlikely over a number of reasons
Kenya’s teenage sensation Tryon Kariuki is likely to miss out on a dream move to Nastic Sports Academy following a disagreement between his club and the Spain-based academy.
Kariuki, who was among the standout players for Kenya’s Junior Stars during the CECAFA U18 Boys Championship, impressed Nastic Sports Academy scouts during the tournament and they sought to get in him on board which would have seen him join compatriots Aldrine Kibet, Amos Wanjala and Alvine Kasavuli in Tarragona.
However, the manner in which the academy went about its business has left them on a collision course with the player’s club Rainbow FC, who play in the National Super League, leaving his dream move in jeopardy.
“I met the Nastic Academy representatives at Kasarani Stadium, we talked and agreed to let the boy join them but they do not know that a player still in school and the one in a club are different,” Rainbow FC CEO Stanley Okumbi told Pulse Sports.
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“They wanted to own the player 100 per cent but I told them since we are a club and we have our partners, it will be difficult. We proposed that they let us own the player for 10 or 20 per cent but they said for them to do that, then we have to pay the whole school fees of €6,000 (Ksh1,034,844).
“We thought that cannot happen since we are already struggling to honour league matches. How can we pay such an amount annually for just one player.”
Okumbi accuses the academy of trying to tap the player directly through his parent yet he has a contract with Rainbow FC.
“They are not that professional because if you want to get a player, the negotiations should be between the academy and the club but they went directly to the player, his parent and the coach who managed him long time ago,” added the former Harambee Stars coach.
“They negotiated with the parent and coach and we were like a third party. After this, they wrote a letter to the parent and former coach instructing them to release the player but a release letter is signed by the academy and club not parent.”
The former Mathare United coach insists Rainbow were happy to let the player continue his development in Spain but only wanted to protect their interests in case of a future sale.
“There has been a lot of confusion but we were ready to release him. However, their demands are tricky for us. You can imagine Tyron who is turning 18 next year going for free today and then the next thing you see him at Barcelona,” said Okumbi.
“Kenyans will know Rainbow have profited massively but then later learn we gave him for free. As Rainbow, we asked nothing from them, we just knew if he was going to the academy, then they will cater for everything and let us have a small stake in the player but they refused.”
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