This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
Kenyan international John Avire has made a significant move in his football career, joining Egyptian Premier League side Tanta after reportedly signing a two-year deal.
Avire's move to Tanta comes after a protracted transfer saga involving his parent club Sofapaka and former Football Kenya Federation Secretary-General Robert Muthomi.
According to reports, Avire becomes the second Kenyan to sign up for an Egyptian outfit after Mathare United midfielder Cliff Nyakeya joined FC Masr last month.
Tanta earned promotion to the Egyptian topflight football barely a year after being relegated, and Avire's signing is seen as a significant boost to the team.
Avire, who made two appearances for Harambee Stars in the 2019 African Nations Cup finals in Cairo, has been at the centre of a transfer tussle involving his parent club Sofapaka and Muthomi.
Sofapaka accused Muthomi of allegedly engineering Avire's move to North Africa without their consent, and Muthomi has since stepped aside as FKF Secretary-General to pave way for investigations.
On August 4, 2019, Sofapaka President Elly Kalekwa stated that the Egyptian side had not contacted them over Avire's transfer, thus he is still their player.
"I have just heard that Avire has signed for an Egyptian club, yet we have not released him. We filed our case at the federation and they are still handling it. There is always a process to be followed before a player is signed," Kalekwa told Standard Sports.
As of August 4, 2019, Avire's future remains uncertain, with Sofapaka vowing to take further action if Tanta officially engages them and gives them the transfer fees they want.
