Nations Cup players don’t deserve pay – Moyes

31.12.2007

Arsenal’s defender William Gallas(L) and Everton’s
forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni battle for the ball
during their English Premiership football match
at Goodison Park in Liverpool. Arsenal beat
Everton 4-1. Moyes believes Yakubu does
not deserve to be paid when he joins Eagles
for the Nations Cup. AFP Photo

EVERTON boss Dave Moyes admits this season’s Premiership will be affected by the African Nations Cup,asking clubs to draft contract withholding the pay of African players who attend the championship.

He told evertonfc.com: “I think it will have some problems for a lot of teams - a few teams will lose a couple of players.

“The Premier League is a strong league and is enhanced by African players.

“I respect Africa because they will have to have their championship but I think they should respect the clubs that pay these players and try and draw a line which helps everybody.”

Moyes has come up with a tongue in cheek solution, suggesting: “It will affect the Premier League but hopefully not Everton too much. Maybe we should put in their contracts we do not pay them over the African Cup of Nations and maybe the players would not go but who knows.”

Moyes will lose Yobo Joseph,Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Nigeria) andx Stephen Pienaar (South Africa) during the period of the championship.