Players Abroad of Thursday, 20 August 2009

Source: Ghanasoccernet

Prince Tagoe reinstated

German club Hoffenheim has been forced into an embarrassing climb down after reinstating Prince Tagoe as their player and agreeing to pay him compensation. The Bundesliga side was facing the threat of two legal actions after four doctors confirmed that Tagoe had no problems with his heart.

With the deadline of Wednesday's 1000GMT hanging over their necks, the German club speedily sent their lawyers to sincerely apologise to the Ghanaian and offer him compensation and stay at the club.

A hefty compensation package has been agreed for the wrong medical diagnoses which they made public and subsequently cancelled his contract.

Hoffenheim will publicly write to apologise to Tagoe while his place in the team has been protected, the striker's super agent Goran Milovanovic has confirmed.

"Thankfully we have reached a deal which both sides think is fair after the pain that was caused to Prince because of Hoffenheim's initial wrong announcement," Milovanovic told Ghanasoccernet.com.

"We have reached where Prince has returned to the club, a good compensation deal has been agreed and he will not be victimised for taking the club on.

"If we had not fought for what we thought was right Prince would have lost his career by now and could have harmed himself.

"I have to fight for my players under all circumstances and I will continue to fight for all my players from Ghana and Africa where ever they are against discrimination.

"Prince can now continue with his career knowing that he has got a good team backing him all the way."

Hoffenheim have also confirmed that a deal has been reached for Tagoe to stay even though they failed to talk about the compensation.

"We have now lifted the cancellation," confirmed Hoffenheim director Dietmar Hopp.

But the role of sporting director Jan Schindelmeiser in the club's decision to cancel Tagoe's contract is being examined by the club's board.

Tagoe launched a schathing attack on Schindelmeiser in an interview with a German newspaper on Wednesday accusing him of being the brain behind the club's bad decision.

Tagoe has accused Hoffenheim of 'inhumane' treatment and has insisted he is fit to carry on with his career.

The Ghana striker passed a medical before joining the German club in June but his contract was cancelled two weeks ago over health concerns.

Tagoe accused Hoffenheim officials of abandoning him soon after telling him that his playing career was over.

He cited the example of Nigeria captain Kanu Nwankwo who was treated by his then club Inter Milan in 1996 after a routine medical revealed a faulty aortic valve in his heart.

Tagoe had been playing in Saudi Arabia in recent years and his move to Germany in June this year was widely seen as a much deserved step into the limelight.

He has started all three of Ghana's matches in the final round of World Cup qualifying.