The Montreal Impact landed Ambroise Oyongo almost two weeks ago in a trade with the New York Red Bulls, but the Cameroon Football Federation is apparently 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 he had amateur status when he was loaned last summer from Cameroon side Rainbow FC Bamenda to the New York Red Bulls.
The Red Bulls, however, announced they had purchased Oyongo’s contract just a month before they traded him to Montreal along with Eric Alexander, allocation money and an international roster spot for Felipe and the top spot in the allocation order.
Not surprisingly, the Impact are taking exception. According to technical director Adam Braz, who pointed out that the federation had not contacted anyone at the Impact, Oyongo, who has been participating in the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon over the last month, may have been “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.”
- Get the latest Montreal news at ImpactMontreal.com
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.”
