Aliko explains his departure from Katsina Utd

Katsina United goalkeeper, Mustapha Aliko has ended his one-year stint with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side. The former Niger Tornadoes shot-stopper originally signed a two-year contract with the Chanji Boys in 2019.

Aliko said he had decided to terminate his contract mutually with the NPFL side due to payment issues.

“No, I’m no longer with Katsina United, I wrote to them terminating my contract and subsequently requested for my clearance paper. Right now I have terminated my contract with them.

“Katsina United made me to decide not to play football again (for Katsina) due to some untoward behaviour of theirs.

“They owe us eight months salary by June, 2020 but promised to pay two months complete and 70% of another two months and when we asked about the remaining four months, no answer was forthcoming from them.

“The payment pattern has a clause, too, as you are to sign a paper upon collecting the two months full salary and 70% of another two months indicating that the club is no longer owing you.

“That was when I decided to terminate my contract so that I will be a free agent, that’s the strange situation on ground now. Many of my teammates rejected the abnormal pay pattern.

“I have agreed to their terms because I needed my clearance paper and they, too have consented to issue me with my clearance.

“I told them that I did not come to Katsina United to fight, make trouble or make money but to play football,” said the former Niger Tornadoes’ goaltender.

Aliko said he is not in default with his contract terms as the Katsina side did not pay a dime for his clearance upon joining them in 2019.

“No, they did not pay a dime for my clearance, I was a free agent, I took my clearance to them, they were supposed to pay me N2 million but they did not. I decided to swallow their bitter pill because I want to leave the club.

“Out of 20 matches I kept 15 while I sat on the bench in the other five matches so I played all the entire 20 matches,” said Aliko.

The experienced goalie said he has already received interest from several clubs within and outside Nigeria.

“Right now I’m a free agent but I will first go home to work out things and pray over it, too. I have two offers from outside and more than four offers in Nigeria,” said Aliko.

Aliko joined Katsina United in 2019 after over 10-year stint with his state-own side, Niger Tornadoes.