Yakubu cleared to play for Mahindra

MUMBAI, INdia: Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu and Indian mid-fielder James Singh have been cleared to play for Mahindra United after more than a month-long tussle with the players' former club, Churchill Brothers. The decision was made by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player Status Committee on Monday.

Yakubu and Singh had signed for Mahindra United before the Federation Cup which was held in Goa from October 19 to 30. However, the two could not participate in the tournament because Churchill had refused to give No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the players.

“We were informed that the players have been cleared by the player status committee on Monday,” said Henry Menezes, manager, Mahindra United, who returned from a commentary stint with Zee Sports during the Santosh Trophy in Kochi. “The papers arrived on Tuesday morning.”

It was believed that Churchill Aleimao, owner of the club, had refused the NOC because he wanted compensation for the $5000 he had paid to Egyptian club Al Halil, Yakubu's former club, to bring the Ghanaian to India.