AFTER keeping silent against the accusations hurled at him, Pahang striker Mohamadou Sumareh has finally decided to strike back.
Accused of deserting the Pahang Super League team without a word a month ago, Sumareh contacted Timesport yesterday to clear his name.
The 26-year-old said he has been unjustifiably slammed by netizens based on the unfounded allegations by Pahang FA (PFA).
The Gambia-born Sumareh said amid the baseless accusations against him by PFA recently, he has held his tongue.
This is out of respect for Tengku Muda Pahang Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah and the PFA who had helped him acquire Malaysian citizenship and enabling him to realise his dream of playing for the national team.
And as a naturalised player, Sumareh went on to play a key role in helping Malaysia's World Cup campaign, which has gone well so far.
"I've received a lot of harsh messages from fans. It's heartbreaking to read them," admitted Sumareh yesterday.
He said many fans thought his "problem" with PFA only started with the Covid-19 pandemic but it was long before that.
Sumareh refrained from going into details but said in short, he wasn't paid accordingly to the contract for three years.
"Which player would have stayed that long without saying a word?" he lamented.
"If I am lying, I want someone from the Pahang FA office to come out and say I am lying. I will stand by what I have said because I have the proof," said Sumareh.
"The contractual obligation for the past three years just wasn't met, this is the truth.
"It has been so long... three years. I've sent letters, emails but there was not even a single reply or an invitation (from PFA) to sit down to discuss about it," he added.
Sumareh disclosed that he tried really hard to communicate with PFA between June 16 and July 5 but nothing came out of it.
"I've sent letters to the PFA office, went to the post office to send letters too, as well as giving them letters by hand.
"But no one responded to me, no one asked to sit down for a talk.
"I have all the proof and maybe it will come out one day.
"I pray someone from the PFA comes out to tell the truth and to let Tengku Muda know about this. I believe he is not aware of my situation.
"I think he has no knowledge of the letters (sent by Sumareh to PFA), and I can't go directly to the big boss... there are procedures to follow. When I went to the PFA office, they ignored my problems."
According to Sumareh, he handed PFA a letter on Aug 3, stating his grievances and his wish to leave the team. Again, no response.
Early last month, Pahang coach Dollah Salleh disclosed that Sumareh had not been training with the East Coast side for four weeks.
Pahang team manager Datuk Suffian Awang called Sumareh's "disappearing act" ungentlemanly and unprofessional.
Sumareh said though he had left the Pahang team for quite a while, PFA did not say a word until the media reported about his absence in a Super League match.
"I am ready to defend myself if they take it to Fifa. I have the proof to show what has led to all this."
The PFA, in an official statement yesterday, alleged that Sumareh had not met his contract obligation and did not show up for training.
PFA, who said they will pursue legal action against Sumareh, denied salary issue was the cause of their fallout.
In a statement, PFA said: "PFA have never failed to pay the player (Sumareh) in accordance with the agreement that was signed."
PFA said Sumareh's move to terminate the contract under the Players Contract (article 8.7.i) was "one-sided" as there was room for the player to come forward and discuss with the association.
PFA felt Sumareh had failed to do so, and they have grounds to sue him, and also to take the case to the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa.