by Mantas Aliukonis
In recent weeks, Lithuanian football portals have been filled with striking headlines: a former academy product of London’s Tottenham Hotspur has become the new owner of Vilnius Toplyga club Riteriai. That man is Clancy Osei Konadu, founder of 4ThePlayers Academy and the figure now standing at the center of one of the most debated ownership changes in Lithuanian football.
At first glance, the story carried obvious appeal – a foreign football background, international connections, and promises of a new beginning. Yet as more details emerged, optimism gave way to skepticism, and scrutiny intensified.
Early Warning Signs
This week, Lithuanian outlet tv3.lt published information casting doubt on the image surrounding Riteriai’s new owner. According to the report, Konadu does not resemble the well-financed foreign investor many expected, but rather a heavily promoted figure whose real capacity to lead and invest in a top-flight club remains unclear.
“It’s getting worse not by the day, but by the hour,” said one individual closely following the club’s internal situation. Another well-known, high-ranking figure in Lithuanian football – speaking on condition of anonymity – was even more direct.
“I’m curious how old that owner really is, because he’s too arrogant and has started too badly for anything good to come of this,” the source said to Baltic Football News. “Not to mention investing money into Lithuanian football – there simply won’t be any. I give him at most until June this year, but the first signals will come much earlier.”
Who Is Clancy Osei Konadu?
As doubts grew, so did questions about Konadu himself. Publicly, he has been presented as a former Tottenham academy player, yet his senior playing career never reached the professional heights suggested by some early coverage. Beyond football academies and development projects abroad, little verifiable information exists about his financial background or long-term strategy.
Last November, the narrative took another turn when a woman shared her experience involving Konadu in a Vilnius apartment rental Facebook group. Her post, later cited by journalists, advised others to avoid dealing with the investors involved. The account remains unverified, but it added to the growing unease surrounding the club’s new leadership.
The same reporting referenced long-serving Riteriai employee Vladimiras Buzmakovas, highlighting that while ownership changed, parts of the club’s internal structure remained intact.
Paid Trials: A New Business Model?
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the new regime has been Riteriai’s recruitment approach – specifically, the use of paid trials.
One of the players who arrived in Vilnius through this system came to Lithuania in early January, determined to pursue a professional football career.
“It’s very cold here in Lithuania. How do you live like this?” the player said to me after one of the preparation matches outside the building.
Despite the conditions, his motivation was clear. “I am here to achieve my dream and play with professionals,” he explained.
The player confirmed that participation came at a cost. “Yes, I paid more than €2,500 for the whole program and live together with other trial players in one house on the outskirts of Vilnius,” he said.
He is not the only trialist currently involved. Another trialist, midfielder Ouail el Merabet, trained with the team after a limited spell at Morocco’s MA Tétouan, where he played only three matches last season. Since 2020, the 26-year-old has featured in just eight official matches overall.
The question raised by observers is blunt: what level of players is this “emergency squad” being built from? “If even one of them can handle First League level, it will be worth celebrating,” one critic noted. “But for now, the picture is bleak.”
Inside the Squad: Uncertainty and Unease
Concerns are also present inside the dressing room. One Lithuanian player, who has spent several seasons at the club, described an atmosphere of resignation.
“We all know internally what’s going on, but we can’t change it,” he said. “The fact that these people are not ready to invest and put money into Lithuanian football is more than obvious.”
Asked about financial security, the player remained pragmatic rather than optimistic.
“I know that even in the worst-case scenario we will get that money back,” he said. “How – through UEFA or FIFA – time will tell. These organizations protect the interests of professionals. Riteriai have already had such a precedent in the past, so I’m not afraid of being left out in the cold.”
Still, the uncertainty takes its toll. “You can’t give 100 percent of yourself,” he admitted, “when everything around you feels unstable.”
Silence at the Center
As criticism mounted, Konadu himself remained largely out of public view. Journalists report repeated difficulties securing interviews. On matchdays, he has been described as avoiding close contact, often keeping his hood up and offering little engagement.
Before one match, he claimed to be in London and unavailable, only to later schedule a weekend meeting. During Riteriai’s 0-4 defeat against TransINVEST, Konadu was present but declined to comment, responding to questions with brief refusals or silence.
When pressed for answers about his role, plans, and investment intentions, his stance was consistent. “You can ask me, but that doesn’t mean I will answer,” he said. On questions regarding finances and club structure by the Baltic Football News, he repeated that he was “not ready” to discuss such matters.
Even simple requests were declined. “I don’t like being photographed and I don’t want to be discussed publicly anywhere,” he said when asked for a photo.
Smoke and Mirrors or a Long Game?
For now, Riteriai continue their A Lyga campaign amid uncertainty. No official investigations or sanctions have been announced, but confidence in the club’s direction remains fragile.
Is this a carefully planned long-term project – or merely smoke and mirrors masking deeper instability? That question remains unanswered. What is clear is that Riteriai’s new era has begun not with clarity and confidence, but with doubt, division, and an owner who remains largely silent as scrutiny grows louder.
As one insider put it, the coming months will reveal everything.
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