ROKER ROUNDUP: Is Didier Ndong’s football career now over after being SACKED by Sunderland AFC?

Ndong career in the balance

Sunderland sacked their record signing Didier Ndong yesterday, making it clear to the player that they had accepted his breaches of contract after his long and unexplained absence from the club.

Sunderland then put out a press release detailing those breaches and also said they they will retain the right to pursue the player and any club he may join for compensation.

Sunderland AFC has given notice under its contract with Didier Ndong. The player, who was under contract with the club until June 2021, failed to return to Sunderland for pre-season training in July as scheduled, nor in the subsequent months that followed. No reason was given for his failure to report and continued absence.

As a result, the club has accepted Didier Ndong’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player. Sunderland AFC does so whilst retaining the right to pursue the player and any club he may subsequently join in relation to compensation for the value of the player.

This is the next chapter in the Ndong saga. Last week a source close to the player told Gabonese outlet iSport that he feared arrest should he return, and then there was a u-turn and the player claimed he was willing to take a paycut and help the club achieve promotion to the Championship.

Sunderland were not willing to compromise and iSport now claim that Ndong’s career may be over.

According to their source, Ndong’s football registration will still be in the hands of Sunderland until the end date of his contract, unless another club buys out that contract. However they believe no-one will touch the troublesome player due to his form - and his career could be effectively over.

The dismissal of Ndong means that he will have to wait until the end of his contract with Sunderland to be free. So in three years.

If, in the meantime, a club buys his contract; he could play again. But in view of his form, no one will want him. He is dead.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Scocco screamer

River Plate won the Superclásico against Boca Juniors over the weekend in the Argentina Primera Division, as they won 2-0 at La Bombonera.

Gonzalo Martinez scored the opener for the visitors in the 15th minute when he volleyed past Agustin Rossi in the Boca goal.

Then former Sunderland striker Nacho Scocco scored their second with 21 minutes to go, as he broke into the box and sent a rocket of a shot into the top corner to seal the win for River.

Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Squads announced for Miller tribute game

The tribute match for Liam Miller takes place later today at Pairc Uí Chaoimh in Cork, the former Sunderland midfielder passed away of pancreatic cancer at the age of 36 in February.

The game kicks off at 3pm, with all proceeds going to the Liam Miller fund. Which will benefit his wife and three children, as well as Marymount Hospice and various charities.

The benefit match will see a Manchester United XI go up against a Republic of Ireland XI, with plenty of former Sunderland players on show.

Manchester United will be managed by Roy Keane (who will also be playing) and he’ll be joined by Wes Brown, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Louis Saha and John O’Shea. While RoI will be managed by Martin O’Neill and will feature Kevin Kilbane, Kenny Cunningham, Andy Reid, Ian Harte, Graham Kavanagh and Colin Healy.

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