Tag: Emenike

Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike has warned social impersonator to be careful of fraudulent act using his name to form ID on twitter, facebook and instagram in order to obtain money and discuss football contracts from people.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable and disgusting for some people to sit down somewhere and be using my name to defraud poor people,” said Emenike.

“More than three cases from my friend calling my brother to confirm if I am really involved in the money or football contracts. I am not an agent and I don’t get myself involve in those sh****t, so I see no reason why my name should be using for fraud. I have reported to the proper channel and very soon the offenders shall be exposed.”

His brother said: “We don’t know those are behind the scene, but on behalf of our family, we don’t know anything about it. My brother is a footballer, he’s not an agent, and he’s rich enough than to be sending mail to people for money or to partner any business.”

AL Ain striker Emmanuel Emenike has said he has never doubted his ability to score goals despite criticisms.

And the Fenerbahce loanee said he is looking forward to end the year on a higher note after scoring two goals against Al Shaab in a 4-2 win on Friday.

The former Spartak Moscow striker has been criticised for going through a rough patch, but seems he has been able to block out the critics to concentrate on his performance and score goals after he returned from injury.

“I always believe in what I can do most, I don’t doubt myself and it has always worked for me,” Emenike said.“My last goal at home against Al Ahli has really boosted my spirit and I am building on it with these two goals.

“Scoring goals is my responsibility but my bigger priority is to contribute to the team.

“We are playing well every week, it’s a sign of good form and hopefully working towards being champions again. But it’s not all about an individual but everybody in the team.”

“Every game is important, we need more points before the year runs out, it will enable us to resume with high confidence to continue from where we stopped, and for me, I aim to end it on high and resume with more goals next year,” he noted.

THE arrival of Nigerian international and Super Eagles’ star striker at the 2013 African Cup of  Nations (AFCON), Emmanuel Emenike in Al Ain is causing ripples in Abu Dhabi and  environs.

Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club (Al Ain SCC for short) was reportedly  founded in 1968 by players from Al Ain, members of a Bahraini group of exchange students and the Sudanese community working in the United Arab Emirates. It is the most successful club in the UAE with an impressive 58 league titles; a record 11 Arabian Gulf League titles, six  President’s Cups, three  Federation Cups, one  Arabian Gulf Cup, a record four Super Cups, two Abu Dhabi Championship Cups, one Joint League Cup, Gulf Club Champions Cup and AFC Champions League. The club is the first and only UAE side so far to win the AFC Champions League.

Emenike joined the Abu Dhabi-based side in a lucrative loan deal that fetched him €3.5m in a year, which is reportedly better than what he earned as wages at Turkish giants, Fenerbahce.

Yet, he has been criticised by those who say the all-action striker headed for the UAE for the wrong reasons. But Emenike in this with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN, says he is settling down to a new life in Al-Ain.

“As a footballer, you are bound to be criticised with every move but I am not bothered by what critics may think of me,” Emenike said. “I know what I want and people who criticise me do not know much about my career.”

He continued: “There is no point staying in a big club and be warming the bench or be unhappy; I was not happy in Fenerbahce and anybody who knows anything about football realises that you must be happy as a player to do well.

“For me, football is all about fun, playing happily but when things are not going the way you think, then you find a way out of it.

“I think coming to Abu Dhabi is a mission accomplished in order to get back my scoring instinct because I know I still have something to offer as a striker,” said Emenike, who is among the invited foreign-based professionals by Super Eagles’ coach, Sunday Oliseh, for the forthcoming AFCON qualifier against Tanzania.

He has fond memories of his playing days at Fenerbahce, where he was always in the eye of the storm. He was nearly roped into a match-fixing scandal at some point. There is no doubt that Emenike has found greener pastures in Abu Dhabi.

“I am not missing anything (about Turkey and Fenerbahce) for now, and as a matter of fact, everything is becoming interesting which I think will boost my game as the league resumes,” he said, “My mind is fully here and I am ready for real business; Turkey is a good place but I am not missing anything because my career is here now and I’m going to do my best for Al Ain.”

He showed everyone what he is capable of doing again when he scored twice in the Super Cup to give Al Ain their first trophy of the new season.

“Scoring two goals for Al Ain in the Super Cup was a perfect start for me and a good signal to the fans and the club that I’m ready,“ he said.

“It was a good way to justify their investment in me even when I came with low scoring form but their belief was very high based on my past performance.

“I feel very pleased to have started in that manner. It shows I am good and ready to go for the season.

“The two goals have boosted my morale to score more goals for the club. Scoring two, three goals in an important match like that always spurs your determination to score as many as you can.”

My constant movements

I’ve always said that a footballer is bound to play anywhere provided it has something to do with his happiness.  It is when I have a peaceful mind that I can enjoy playing football and succeed. When the offer of a loan deal came from Al Ain, it was the best in terms of some criteria and, to be candid, staying in Fenerbahce for the coming season was never my intention. Coming to UAE to play for Al Ain was the best option for me and I accepted it because it would allow me to get back on track.  This is contrary to what many thought and I think it’s not right for people to think I’ve come to end my career with Al Ain but time will prove me right. This league may have offered some players the chance to end their career in the past but I am saying it categorically that my game here will say a lot about my move to the league. I had a bad season in Turkey and it affected my game but I’m getting better; and with good fitness at   the start of the league.

Hunt for goals and glory

I am hungry about scoring goals; it’s something I have missed but very soon I will get over it. I am not here to intimidate anybody; I live with good memory of my past experience. I believe God will help me to get it right here.  I really want to score as many goals as possible to at least show people who criticised my coming to Al Ain that I’m not finished as a striker.

Dubai delight

Dubai is a place I know well because I used to be here for holidays with my friends and family. So when the offer came, I was happy to accept it because this is a lovely environment that entertains the whole world. The level of development in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will take the league to a greater height in the next five years. It’s becoming interesting with good pitches and lovely environment. Unlike what many people think, it is not a retirement environment, rather the UAE as a whole is full of opportunities for footballers because they have good facilities here.

Aiming high at Al Ain

Every league has its own top teams and in the United Arab Emirates. Al Ain are one of the top clubs with exposed and promising players. The aim and ambition of the club is high and that is kind of environment I always like to find myself because I’m always ambitious. I’m confident that the team can win another  league title again and, on my part, I will give all to justify my transfer to this great club.I have gotten everything needed for this team to move higher and it’s not going to be with pressure because of what Asamoah Gyan did here. Gyan is a good and lovely striker but I’m here to live by my name and do my best not to fill the shoes left behind by Gyan; but to create a better performance with my teammates. Like I keep on saying, my loan move here will be successful. I feel better in the country everyday and my teammates are helping me to settle well and do better. As for me, this team can be greater and my coming here will change the orientation of other players. Al Ain is a top club and I am glad to be here and experience the atmosphere.

No retirement plans yet

I will play anywhere, provided I will be happy. I don’t read people’s opinion about what I should do and what I should not because it might not be the same with my aspirations… Before I moved to Fenerbahce, I had several offers in Spain, Germany and France as well as in Turkey but I had to be very sure of so many things before I moved to Turkey. I seek happiness before money. I am a jolly fellow; I love to be happy everyday so that I can make people happy as well. My own happiness can influence a lot of people. That I moved to UAE is not a big deal and it can never be the end of my career. I am always good for top league. I can play anywhere that suits me.  Every

footballer needs money and we all play for it but my commitment to all the clubs I have played for is always perfect. Before I accepted the offer of coming here, I made consultation with senior players in Africa who are my friends and brothers. I made a lot of calls for advice and to know more about the league and all my consultation were positive and justified. So I am here with a positive mind and I will prove that it was a good decision for me.

Fit-again Emmanuel Emenike will be back to action for Al Ain against Al Jazirah in a UAE league match on Friday, officials have disclosed.

This will be cheering news for Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh as Emenike is one of 18 foreign pros called up by Nigeria for next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

Al Ain coach Zlako Dalic said Emenike, who had a muscle pain which kept him out of the club’s league opener, will see action on Friday.

“We will play Emenike in Friday’s game for 45 minutes because he did not participate in the team’s training for some days thus he has not attained the required level of readiness that will enable him play a full game, and after the game, he will be released to join his national team” he announced.