Former Flying Eagles winger, Emmanuel Sarki, has repeated his claim that he rejected the opportunity of playing for the Super Eagles in favour of Haiti due to the level of corruption in the country.
Sarki, 28, who moved to Chelsea almost the same time as current Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, in 2006, failed to make it at the club.
The Kaduna-born attacker then tried his luck at Westerlo, Ashdod, Waasland-Beveren, Wisla Krakow and most recently AEL Limassol in Cyprus.
Just like Mikel, Sarki has featured for Nigeria at all levels and even played alongside the 29-year-old at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003.
In 2007, he was part of the Flying Eagles squad at the African U-20 Championship in Congo, where he scored two goals for the eventual runners-up
But shockingly, the attacking midfielder opted to represent Haiti after he alleged he was asked for tips by Super Eagles coaches.
Sarki, whose maternal grandfather is from the Caribbean nation, has made four appearances for them since he switched allegiance in 2014.
“I was told to pay before I am called up, that was when I was playing in Israel. I won’t mention the name of the coach,” the player told Owngoalnigeria.
“It was Efe Ambrose who gave me the contact of the coach after telling him of my form. I put a call across to him but he told me to speak with his assistant, who openly asked me for tips.
“A lot of friends asked me to pay the money but the sum they were quoting was way more than what I can afford. I couldn’t and despite my fine form, I wasn’t contacted again. No regret though (because) I’m cool with Haiti, the land of my grandfather”.
“I am comfortable with playing for Haiti. You get picked on your form not on what you have to offer the coaches.”
