The Montreal Impact traded for Ambroise Oyongo, but the Cameroon Football Federation is trying to throw a spanner in the works.
According to French newspaper L’Équipe, the Federation has informed all parties involved that Oyongo’s contract with MLS is void because of his former club’s – and thus Oyongo’s – amateur status.
As such, the report quotes the Federation as saying, Rainbow FC Bamenda “had no power to sign a professional contract,” leaving Oyongo’s contract “null and void.”
The Montreal Impact is taking exception. According to technical director Adam Braz, who pointed out that the Federation had not contacted anyone at the Impact, Oyongo may be “given the wrong advice and information on his end.”
“He's clearly under contract with MLS and, subsequent to the trade, he's our player,” Braz told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Friday. “On our end, we’re calm, and it’s clear he’s in breach of contract. He’s suspended without pay until he arrives for training camp, and now, we’ve been in touch closely with the league, and they’re taking matters to FIFA and to the Cameroonian Federation.”
Still, Braz remains confident, based on the information and documents related to Oyongo’s contract and transfer, that the player will wear the Impact blue.
“He can’t go play anywhere else,” Braz said. “He belongs to MLS and to the Montreal Impact. Once he comes in, I think he’ll really enjoy it here in terms of seeing what our club is all about and what our city is all about.”
Oyongo, 23, joined the New York Red Bulls on loan in March 2014. The club announced they had purchased his playing rights on January 9, 2015. 18 days later, while Oyongo was on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon, he was traded to Montreal, along with Eric Alexander, allocation money and an international roster spot, for Felipe and the top spot in the allocation order, which New York used to sign Sacha Kljestan.
Follow @olitremblay
