Emma Okwi returns to Villa Park

By Swalley Kenyi

CRANES International Emmanuel Okwi is finally free to play for local club Sports Club Villa. This is after global soccer governing body FIFA has ruled in his favour over the controversies between the player and his former club Etoile du Sahel.

FUFA spokesman Rogers Mulindwa said on Friday that Okwi is free to play for SC Villa after FIFA has authorized them to provisionally register the striker as the Jogoos’ player.

“FUFA will immediately proceed to issue Okwi with a playing license to feature for SC Villa for a period of six months,” Mulindwa said.

Although it is good news for SC Villa, it comes after the club has been beaten in the league by their long-time rival Express FC.

Okwi joined Etoile Du Sahel from Tanzanian giants Simba SC in January reportedly at $300,000(over sh760m) but he fell out the club in June for unclear reasons.

He has since been training with URA FC in Kampala.

Simba General Secretary, Evodius Mtawala was quoted as saying that Etoile du Sahel had agreed to meet the payment in instalment and will complete by end of last month but it was delayed for months.

Okwi lodged an official complaint against the Tunisian club before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) for a breach of contract and so wanted to be cleared to move on.

His appeal was backed by a formal request that FUFA submitted for an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) to their Tunisian counterparts last month.