Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Sani Kaita, has completed a move to Moldova’s Premier League side, FC Saxan Ceadir Lunga, after a three months loan stint with Enyimba International of Aba.
And following the deal, the Super Eagles 2010 World Cup star took to the social media to thank the Club, the League Management Company, coaches, players and fans of Enyimba.
His post on Facebook on August 14 reads: “Aba is the city .The club is Enyimba Int’l. I want to thank you all, the Management, the Former Coaches, the players the Fans and of cause the LMC who played big part. I really appreciated you all. Once again thank you very much. Cheers.”
The Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, has expressed delight at the first success story of the Elite Players Scheme of the League Management Company and urged other players who meet the requirements to come forward and enjoy the benefits as well as add value to the domestic league.
“Kaita’s return to Europe is evidence of the competitiveness and qualities of the Glo Premier League which can help players re-launch their international career in Europe. We will continue to support players who embrace this scheme and assist them settle at any club that accepts them as we did with Kaita. We wish him all the best,” Abubakar said excitedly.
Kaita was an instant hit with Aba fans and his younger teammates as his presence attracted thousands of fans to training ground and on match days, with the player making his debut for the Aba Elephants in a 1-1 draw away to Sharks of Port Harcourt.
He was then to score a spectacular goal in his home debut for Enyimba’s win on Match Day 13 against Kaduna United.
The LMC Elite Players Project was introduced in the 2013/14 season Framework and Rules to attract to the Glo Premier League Nigerian players who must have played for the country in the Olympics Games, Nations Cup, World Cup or those with a minimum of 20 national team appearances.
Such players must also have played for clubs in a world class league.
It serves to provide them a platform to re-launch their international club career and for others, to enjoy a programmed exit to retirement from the game.
Kaita was the first to subscribe to the scheme in April when he successfully negotiated a loan deal with Enyimba Internationa,l which was endorsed by the LMC.
Under the Elite Players Project, the LMC pays a stipulated amount as allowance to the player who, in addition, also receives a negotiated salary from the club, but no club is permitted to register more than two of such players in a season.