South Africa side banned for failing to pay Harambee Stars attacker Ovella Ochieng
South African side Richards Bay has been handed a transfer ban for failing to settle financial obligations to Harambee Stars attacker Ovella Ochieng.
SABC Sport reported that the International Federation of Association Football conducted an investigation and found that the club failed to honor their financial commitments to Ochieng despite a mutual agreement to do so.
Ovella Ochieng exit
This decision follows the separation of the two parties last season, with Ochieng making eight league appearances for the club under then-coach Vasili Manousakis, with his final game in April 2023. 
"FIFA have updated their records to sanction Richards Bay by not allowing them to register new players internationally and have since also written to their member federation in the South African Football Association [SAFA] to do the same from a local level as well," SABC revealed through a statement.
Richards Bay Football Club, based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was formed when Thanda Royal Zulu F.C. owner Pierre Delvaux sold the club's league status to AmaZulu F.C.
AmaZulu took the position in the 2017–18 South African Premier Division after finishing in fifth place during the 2016–17 National First Division, with Thanda Royal Zulu achieving automatic promotion.
On February 7, 2021, the club achieved its biggest win when they defeated top Premier Soccer League side Kaizer Chiefs F.C. 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup last 32 match.
Currently fighting for survival in the top flight with seven matches to go to avoid relegation, Richards Bay joins Royal AM on the list of Premier Soccer League [PSL] clubs banned by FIFA.
Other unpaid players
The club, owned by businesswoman Shawn Mkhize, still has outstanding payments to striker Samir Nurkovic and defender Ricardo Nascimento, and their sanction has not been lifted, dating back to as far as June last year.] 
Ochieng who has previously played for Marumo Gallants and Township Rollers, previously played for Kariobangi Sharks and Vasalund.
He made his international debut for Kenya in 2016, scoring his first-ever goal in a match against New Zealand in the Intercontinental Cup held in India, where Kenya won 2–1.
