Laloko insists on court action against Mikel’s manager
By OJIEVA EHIOSUN
Monday, June 19, 2006

Former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) technical director, Kashimawo Laloko, has disclosed that the authorities of Pepsi Football Academy might take up legal action against John Mikel Obi’s managers, if they refused to show appreciation to the academy.

Speaking with a Lagos-based sports radio, Brila FM, he said: “It is a pity that those that did not know how this young boy, Mikel Obi, started his football career, are now claiming the credit. I have said it before, and I’m saying it again that Pepsi would go to court if those parading themselves as Mikel’s managers refused to give Pepsi Academy her due respect by making her have her own share of the largesse.

"As the director of Pepsi Academy, I’m happy with the progress the boymade so far, I’m not in any way against his progress, I want to use this medium to congratulate him on his successful move to Chelsea FC. However, I want to say that his so-called manager almost ruined his career because of greed, but thank God for his intervention," he said.

"I want people to understand that Pepsi Academy has really done a lot for players in this country, and some of them are not appreciative at all, they use Pepsi Academy as a ladder to rise, and by the time they get there, they forget their root. But this time around, we are going to institute a case against them to ensure we get our own part of the largesses."

"As for Mikel playing for Chelsea, I think he would have sign for a club that would play him constantly not being on the bench, for me it would be difficult for him to win a permanent shirt in Chelsea," he said.