Burundi Striker Razak Given Ultimatum After Refusing to Rejoin Algerian Vice-champions

Burundi star Fiston Abdul Razak is embroiled in a standoff with his Algerian club after refusing to return for pre-season drills.

The domestic premier league in Algiers begins in the coming weeks with teams starting intense preparations.

Last season league runners up JS Kabylie are starting out theirs with a bobbling controversy.

Their star attacker Razk has dragged his feet in getting back to the team’s base after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in which Burundi lost three games and bowed out in the group stages.

The 25-year-old was scheduled to rejoin his club teammates this week but has gone ahead to extend his holiday without approval from JSK’s controversial chairman Cherif Mellal.

The striker’s decision to stay back is being interpreted as a refusal to return amid reports of growing interest from clubs abroad.

Fiston has a contract to honour with the Algerians but harbours intentions of playing in Europe after appearing to impress scouts in Cairo during the African Cup.

The North African outfit have not shied away from talking to the goal-getters suitors and are willing to cash in on the Burundi international if the right offer is tabled.

A couple of teams have made enquiries about the player’s availability but baulk at paying JSK’s asking price.

As a result, Razak, it is understood, is staying away in a bid to agitate for a departure and force his employers to lower their demands.

Chairman Cheriff has not taken lightly the striker’s latest open defiance giving him an ultimatum before end of this week to return, threatening he could secure a replacement for Razak with Burkina Faso’s Souleymane Koanda on JSK’s radar.