The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bulbwa

  • Ajayi, Bulbwa hit target in Tunisia

    Two Nigerian players plying their trades in the Tunisia Lique 1 were in goal scoring form as their respective teams recorded victories yesterday. Bernard Bulbwa scored the fourth goal for Tunisian gaints, Esperance in their 5-0 mauling of AS Kasserine in a Tunisian League tie played at the famous Olympic Stadium, Rades Tunis.

    Bulbwa who joined the Blood and Gold after an impressive outing for the Flying Eagles at the last Africa Youth Championship in Senegal earlier this year found the back of the net in the 80th minute for his club.

    In another game decided yesterday, ex-Shooting Stars and Dream Team striker, Junior Ajayi’s goal helped CS Sfaxien to a 1-0 away win against EO Sidi Bouzid.

    Ajayi who equally scored on his debut for the Tunisian side last September hit target for Sfaxien in the 64th minute of the encounter.

    Incidentally, Ajayi’s lone strike ensured Sfaxien sustain their leadership status on the log as they now have 18 points after six matches with Esperance on second position with 15 points.

  • Bulbwa dedicates first Esperance goal to Manu Garba, Amuneke

    Bulbwa dedicates first Esperance goal to Manu Garba, Amuneke

    Nigeria Under-20 international Bernard Bulbwa was pleased to score for Esperance in a pre – season friendly against CS Hammam-Lif  which ended 2 – 1 in favour of The Blood and Gold.

    The Esperance number seven has dedicated his first goal for Esperance, which he netted in the 12th minute, to the coaches of the Nigeria youth teams, including his mentor Emmanuel Amuneke.

    “The difference I noticed between Nigerian and Tunisian football is that there is much more space in Tunisian football than that of Nigeria” says Bernard Bulbwa to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “I think we won the game because we worked hard as a team and God crowned our efforts.

    “That goal goes to my great coaches who have really supported me in my career. I am talking about Manu Garba, Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Amuneke.”

    Bulbwa could play his first official game for Esperance next weekend against Etoile du Sahel in the CAF Confederation Cup.

  • Bulbwa to begin training with Esperance this week

    Bulbwa to begin training with Esperance this week

    Mahmoud Ouaddeni, the Tunisian intermediary that brokered the deal which took Bernard Bulbwa to Esperance, has disclosed that the Flying Eagles striker will be in Tunis today to begin his adventure with the Blood and Gold.

    The gray areas in the initial contract player and club signed in April have been resolved, and Ouaddeni has reiterated that Esperance have no plans to terminate the deal even before it starts running on July 1.

    “I can confirm that the president of Esperance has kept to the seven points that were agreed during the meeting in Germany, he wants Bulbwa to play in Esperance and be happy,” said Mahmoud Ouaddeni to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “Esperance have arranged with his agent that the contract can not be cancelled. It is confirmed that he will be in Tunisia today, his flight ticket has been sent.

    “Without changing the financial structure, seven points were added to the initial contract.

    “His agent, Frank, has insisted now that he progresses with Esperance before moving to Europe.”

  • Bulbwa: I want to outdo Senegal wonder winner

    Bulbwa: I want to outdo Senegal wonder winner

    Bernard Bulbwa has said he hopes to score at the U-20 World Cup a better goal than the one which won Nigeria a seventh African Youth Championship (AYC)  title in Senegal in March.

    Bulbwa fired a stunning first-half championship winner when he volleyed home past the Senegal goalkeeper to crown the Flying Eagles African champions again.

    “I hope I can score more beautiful goal here at the World Cup in New Zealand,” he said.

    “I don’t score too many goals but my coaches will tell you that when I score, I score some beautiful goals.”

    Bulbwa’s stunner in Senegal made him an instant hero in football in Nigeria and he said he was happy he made millions of his countrymen happy.

    “I was happy to have made millions of Nigerians happy with that goal,” he recalled.

    “After that goal everybody wanted to know who I was and the night after that game, a fan even bought me a wrist watch worth  450 Euros.”

    Beaten Senegal coach Joseph Koto played down Bulbwa’s belter by labeling it a lucky strike.

    “It was not a lucky goal,” said the 18-year-old midfielder.

    “I tried to control the ball from a pass by Izu Omego, but it stayed up and the next thing I did was to volley it home. When I did this, I knew it was a goal.

    “The Senegal coach said he was not convinced when we beat them in the opening game of the tournament. So, I was not surprised when he later said my goal was a lucky goal.”

  • Bulbwa: My wonder goal was no fluke

    Bulbwa: My wonder goal was no fluke

    Flying Eagles forward, Bernard Bulbwa, who  scored the cracking goal in the final of the Africa Youth Championship (AYC) against Senegal, has explained how he performed the trick, saying it was no fluke.

    “I saw the run of my striker, Taiwo Awoniyi and the initial thought I had was to play a through pass to him,” he told sl10.ng.

    “But as the ball was approaching, I noticed it would be a bit difficult to play an accurate pass to him (Awoniyi), so I decided to control it. As I did that, I knew I had to hit the ball because I was within the goal area and that was it,” he said.

    When asked if it was a fluke goal that was dented by a stroke of luck and fortune, the forward said it was no luck, as his intention to score.

    “I knew what I was doing, so it was no luck because I scored a similar goal at the U-17 championship in Morocco in 2013. I saw the ball coming and I knew I was in a dangerous position.

    “I wanted to play a pass to Awoniyi initially, but the ball was a bit too high and may have been a wayward pass if I had gone with it. So I decided to do what I did, which was to control and hit, and I’m glad I did,” he stated.