Football career in India has ended: Deported Nigerian

New Delhi: Koko Sakibo Atanda, a Nigerian professional footballer, was allegedly deported from Delhi airport on Wednesday without any specific reason despite having employment visa (E2).

.He was supposed to join Patna league division after his arrival in Patna via Delhi. Koko has been playing for Indian football clubs for the last nine years.
“On Tuesday, I boarded a flight for Delhi from Nigeria. At the immigration desk they told me that I couldn’t enter India. When I asked the reason, they said I should go back to Lagos and ask the immigration authority in Nigeria,” said Koko over the phone from Nigeria to this reporter.  

“When I asked the immigration officials in Nigeria after being deported, they verified my documents and told me that my documents were fine,” he added.

He said it seems his football career in India is over.

“I have been playing in India for the last nine years and now I cannot even step foot in the country,” Koko added in distress. Meanwhile, Vikash Kumar, the assistant general secretary of Raj Milk Football Club in Patna, told this newspaper that his club was interested in buying Koko and he was supposed to play super league in Patna.

“He has a valid E2 visa and he came to Mumbai on July 6.

“However, he lost his visa stay (visa extension certificate) in India itself and was deported. Later, I found his visa stay certificate and sent it back to him along with air tickets for his journey. But he was again deported from IGI,” Mr Kumar said.

“It was a financial as well as strategic loss for our club, which is participating in Patna super league,” said Mr Kumar, adding, “I even raised this issue with the Indian embassy in Nigeria and also tweeted this matter to the ministry of external affairs.”

Koko has played for prominent football clubs such as Vasco, Dempo Sports Club, and Churchill Brothers football club.

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