Tag: Ejike Uzoenyi

THE atmosphere was stirring with the scent of love and romance in the air. The occasion was the wedding of Ejike Christantus Uzoenyi, Super Eagles and Mamelodi Sundown’s playmaker, at St Brigids Catholic Church, Enugu.

The ceremony also attracted who is who in government and football circle in the country, all to honour Uzoenyi,  as he tied the nuptial knots with delectable Chioma Loveth Abum.

From the church to the reception, which held at the high profile Blue Island Hotel & Suites in Independence Layout, Enugu, the celebration of love was witnessed by an impressive guests list, among them Enugu State Chief of Staff, Chief Victor Atuonwu; Commissioner for Commerce & industry, Dr Jude Akubuilo; Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Steve Oruruo; member of Enugu State House, Hon. John-Bull Nwagu; former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Abel Chukwu; and former Rangers Chairman, Davidson Owumi.

Top shots in the sports circle also graced the wedding and among them were NFF president represented by Enugu FA Chairman, Offor Okenwa, Super Eagles Coordinator Emmanuel Attah, Super Eagles Secretary Dayo Elebi, Head of Legal Dept, Okey Obi, former Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Barrister Ray Nnaji, a representative of Ejike’s club, Mamelodi Sundown of South Africa , the first captain of Pepsi Football Academy, Offor Jideofor, Sylvanus Okpala , Okey Emordi, Chidi Nwantu and former Sports Editor of the defunct Satellite newspapers, Edwin Eze, who discovered Ejike at the age of nine years when he cut his teeth in football with the Pepsi Football Academy, Enugu.

Wearing a smile and looking quite pleased with himself throughout the ceremony, the MVP of the last CHAN tourney in South Africa, exclusively told Sport & Style that marrying his girlfriend of five years is the ‘cleverest’ goal he has scored in his career.

He noted they have been friends before proposing to her and getting married to her is a dream come true.

“Loveth and I started going out five years ago but it was as if I have known her all my life. She is not only beautiful outwardly, she is also beautiful inwardly. I found in her a friend and that is why we are going on with this. So I can say I married my friend because we share a lot of things in common and whenever we are together, we do enjoy each other’s company very much.”

So how did he meet his wife? Uzoenyi informed that he met her while he was playing in Rangers through a mutual friend. “We were leaving in the same neighbourhood and through a mutual friend we started talking and became friendly. We started dating a while later and that led to what the whole world has witnessed today.”

The former Rangers player further said marriage would impact positively on his game.

“I am a firm believer that marriage completes a man and when you are married you tend to do things more maturely because you are no longer single. I believe that I will be a better player with marriage. Before marriage, you don’t feel settled, for you come home to an empty home. But now you know that you have somebody in the house when you are coming back from training or a match and you tend to get the desired support at high or low points of your life. That will make me to be a better player.”

Uzoenyi added that though his wife does not like football so much, her interest in the game has improved tremendously since we met. “She is now a lover of the game because of me. She knows one or two players now and can argue about their potential with other football fans.”

Since August 31, when he made his debut for his South Africa side in a 2-0 victory over Mazola in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) game, Ejike has been enjoying his career in South Africa.

After the initial battle to get his work permit, Uzoenyi played the last 15 minutes of the game replacing Surprise Moriri and thereafter settled in nicely.

He has also earned the praises of his coach, Pitso Mosimane, on several occasions.

Says Mosimane on the Nigerian: “Ejike showed class when he came in. But at that time the game is dead, so you give him a run so he can get the feel. He showed some class, he’s a good football player,”

EJIKE PROFILED

Christantus Ejike Uzoenyi was born March 23, 1988 and he’s already a Nigerian international. The winger has played club football in Nigeria and France for Enyimba, Enugu Rangers and Rennes.

On February 20, 2014, he signed for South African club Mamelodi Sundowns but remained with Enugu Rangers on loan before moving to South Africa in June 2014.

He made his international debut for Nigeria in 2012 and has appeared in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He was named to Nigeria’s squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship and was selected the most valuable player of the tournament. He was also named in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making the final squad after Uwa Echiejile was excluded by injury.