28th May, 2012
Defensive midfielder, Cletus Itodo has been ruled out from Sunshine Stars ongoing CAF Champions League campaign.
The Akure Gunners are pitched in Group A with North African giants, Esperance Sportive de Tunisia, Etoile de Sahel of Tuinisia and AS Chlef of Algeria.
Itodo moved to the domestic champions, Dolphins at the start of the 2011/2012 season where he campaigned with the Garden City side in the preliminary of Africa’s elite club competition before being dumped by the Cameroonian side, Coton Sport de Garoua.
During the mid-term transfer window, the Nigerian playmaker switched loyalty to Sunshine Stars with the fervent hope of getting the second nod from CAF to play for the nation’s surviving flag-bearers in African competitions.
SuperSport.com reports that the continent’s football governing body has turned down the request of Sunshine Stars to have the former Enyimba player registered for the Champions League campaign and Itodo is at great pain at the decision.
“It’s very painful not playing in the Champions League with Sunshine Stars.
“I’ve looked forward to getting the approval of CAF to have my name listed for the competition.
“But they’ve turned down Sunshine Stars’ request citing the fact that I’ve been registered with Dolphins and actually played some matches with them.
“It’s really painful that I won’t be eligible to play.”
However, the experienced midfielder said he will turn his attention to the league and ensure that last season’s runners-up emerge league champions.
“The whole of my attention will be directed at the league and the title, I’ll console myself and make up for the miss at Champions League action with winning the league shield with Sunshine.”
Itodo whose first visit to the Garden City after returning to Sunshine Stars resulted in defeat to his side at Sharks on Matchday 29 in Port Harcourt side everything is still friendly with Dolphins but insisted that Sunshine Stars are sure title candidate.
“Beautiful feelings, in fact we trained at Dolphins’ pitch for the game at Sharks.
“It afforded me chance to meet my former teammates and coaches, we had a hearty chat.
“It was not our intention to lose at Sharks, picking one point in two matches is not good for our image.
“We’ve resolved to prepare harder and win our matches both home and away.
“We’ll surely live up to the expectations of Nigerians, we’re a champions side, we’ll not disappoint,” he said.
Sunshine Stars have picked 35 points from a possible 81 though with two matches to be played at Heartland and Niger Tornadoes.