Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, on Saturday won his first trophy with his United Arab Emirates club, Al Ain, africanFootball.com reports.
The Fenerbahce of Turkey forward, who is on a year loan deal at Al Ain, was on parade as the club won the Champions Trophy by defeating Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 5-4 on penalty after the game ended 3-3 in regulation time.
Emenike scored one of Al Ain’s penalties.
The competition is played between UAE league winners and Moroccan champions.
Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, will pocket a whooping 3.7 million Euros (more than 925 million Naira) for his season-long loan at Al Ain of Dubai, africanFootball.com reports.
A top source close to the Eagles told africanFootball.com this latest move could well secure the future of the Super Eagles star, who still dreams of playing in England before he quits the game.
“I have come across various figures that Emenike will be paid for moving to Al Ain, but they do not come close to what he will really get,” the source said.
“He will pocket a staggering 3.7 million Euros for the time he will be on loan in Dubai.”
According to the source, it was Fenerbache who insisted on extending Emenike’s contract by a year because the team officials still believe they could still benefit from his next transfer rather than let him leave as a free agent.
Emenike is a direct replacement for Ghanaian skipper Asamoah Gyan, who has also taken up a very lucrative offer in China.
He has been handed jersey No 9 and will travel with the rest of the squad to Austria for pre-season training.
Fenerbahce president, Aziz Yildirim, revealed that the club has recently rejected a €10 million bid for Emmanuel Emenike.
The Super Eagles forward has been strongly linked with a move to the English Premier League, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur rumoured to be interested in his services.
However, the club’s president has come out and revealed why the Istanbul giants rejected an offer for the striker, although he did not reveal from which club.
“Emenike’s offer came, the club gave 10 million Euros. However, I trust him. I therefore rejected the offer,” sl10.ng quoted the Fenerbahce president as saying on Monday.
Yildirim added that the Nigerian forward will be key to the side’s success.
“I trust Emenike and Diego. Emenike, as well as Diego will add to the strength of our team in the second half of the season,” he added.
Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim has revealed the Turkish club rejected a 10 million Euros offer for Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike recently.
“Emenike’s offer came,they gave 10 million Euros.However,I trust him.I therefore rejected the offer” said the boss of the Turkish champions.
Yildirim has also thrown his weight behind the ex-Spartak Moscow forward, who has scored only two goals so far this season.
He said he has complete confidence in the striker to shine in the New Year.
“I trust Emenike and Diego. Emenike,as well as Diego will add to the strength of our team in the second half of the season” he remarked.
“They will give the performance expected of them.They will make a major contribution towards our success.I have no doubt about this.”
Champions Fenerbache are second on the table with 33 points two points behind leaders Besiktas.
In this season of giving, Super Eagles star, Emmanuel Emenike tells Taiwo Alimi, why he gives to less-privileged and his closeness to Samuel Eto’o
Why I’m close to Samuel Eto’o
SUPER Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike is deeply touched by the sight of the less-privileged in the society, hence his resolve to devote a good part of his earnings to charity. According to the Turkey-based Nigerian star, whose charitable gesture has found the big headlines of recent, it is something he cultivated from his teens while playing on the streets of Nigeria.
Speaking from his base, he notes that his friendship with Cameroonian star player and four-time African Footballer of the Year, Samuel Eto’o, was sparked by the godly art of giving. “Samuel Eto’o is my idol but I was drawn to him when we were together in Russia due to his large heart. He loves to give. Eto’o usually takes out of his earnings to give back to his society in Cameroon. I love that about him and we became close because of that.”
A humble giver, Emenike takes his time to highlight his aspect of his life.
“I like to give in secret and I don’t like the world to know about it, but one way or the other it gets out. “When I was a small boy, looking around to play football, I saw people begging and I felt bad. I used to pray to God to bless those people begging, because I did not have material things to give them but I had big sympathy for them. Then at football pitches where fans stayed to cheer footballers, you would see other people among the crowd coming to you to beg for money and food. At that point, I felt bad and prayed that someday if I make money I would use it to help others,” informs Emenike.
In spite of this, Emenike does not see himself as a philanthropist: “I don’t call myself a philanthropist. It is the will of God in my life. I cried to God years back to give me everything to succeed as a footballer, and that I will do my best to give back to the poor ones. It was a vow that I made with God and for whatever I give secretly, God is multiplying his blessing openly.”
He adds: “That I give back to the society does not make me a philanthropist. I am just doing his will. I have a strong belief that God exists and I do my things with fear and honesty. Anybody can give out. I am not trying to impress anybody or to intimidate anybody. I am only fulfilling a promise. I told God that should he bless me and I become a player of repute, I will take from his blessing and make people in distress happy. In fact my first salary as a professional salary was given out to charity. It is something I did from my heart. One thing I don’t like about being a celebrity is publicity. Sometimes, you may want to do some things silently but you will still find out that it’s the same people you have told not to make it public that will call journalists. Giving out does not make me perfect nor prove I am a saint, but the reality in Nigeria is that some people are suffering. I grew up in Nigeria and I know what I’m saying. I don’t do it to intimidate anybody, it’s what I like to do; it’s my upbringing and God has always be doing wonders for me. It’s a promise for God that if he blesses me, I will be one of his servants to make others happy, still I am not a philanthropist. I am a Catholic, I believe in the spirit of God, he’s everywhere. I never think negative when challenges arise. I assume every time as positive, even though it’s tough time, I remain positive and that is how I conquer every tough time.”
The Otuocha-born player was also influenced by his parents’ open mindedness. “In my family, we try to understand the true meaning of ‘love’. I don’t discriminate. I am open and we like to make people in distress happy. I have been doing charity work for the last seven years in Europe. I want to see myself as someone that has touched the lives of many people one way or the other.
“After God, it’s my parents, they give me everything, they told me what to do at every blessed day of my life, and they preach the sermon of giving out from my sweat. My parents taught me how to make people happy and by doing so, they say, I will be happy. So whatever I do to make others happy, it comes from my heart and it equally brings joy to me.”
To show his appreciation to them, the former Fenerbahce striker is donning a new tattoo of his parents’ portraits on his right arm. “I just want to do something that will make them understand my love for them. I have a crucifix tattoo that shows I am a symbol of Christ, and the latest tattoo on my arm is that of my parents. It is my Christmas gift to them and they deserve it. I am the baby of the house in my house. My parents made me a better player by giving me all their support to get to the level I am. There is no word to describe it. I tested it and I discover that it will look fine on me. It’s nice.”
Asked if he would quit bachelorhood in the coming year, 2015, he reluctantly answered.
“I am still taking my time, I will like to have a successful marriage, a peaceful home but I am taking my time. Maybe I will start thinking about it in 2015.” After retirement, Emenike has a big sight on coaching: “After hanging my boot, I would still be very much active in football.”
Emmanuel Emenike will be named in the starting eleven when Fenerbahce take on Altinordu in the Turkish Cup on Tuesday, according to Fanatik.
The Nigeria international shocked supporters of the Super Lig champions three days ago in their game with Kayseri Erciyesspor after he went straight to the dressing room following his substitution.
But coach Ismail Kartal has decided not to throw out the baby with the bath water, and he will give Emenike another chance to turn a new leaf in tomorrow’s tie.
For over a year now, the 27 – year – old has not featured in this competition, having made his last appearance against Fethiyespor on December 3, 2013.
Emmanuel Emenike is struggling to hit target this term, with only 2 goals ( 2 assists) in 13 matches.
Fenerbahce chairman, Aziz Yildirim, has reiterated that the “deadweight” in the team should shape up or ship out.
Turkish sports daily Fanatik has reported that five players – Emmanuel Emenike, Diego Alves, Papa Sow, Emre and Raul Meireles – have not lived up to expectations in recent matches, including Monday’s tie against Bursaspor.
It would be recalled that the Fenerbahce supremo was very bitter with the performance of Emenike against Bursaspor, and went as far as labeling him selfish and wasteful.
To cap it all, the 2013 African Cup of Nations golden boot winner does not have a cordial relationship with some of his teammates and has usurped the authority of manager Kartal in the past, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.
The Super Eagles striker has made seven starts for the Super Lig champions after ten matches.
Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, hopes to end his goals drought in Nigerian shirt in Wednesday’s African Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa, saying when his goals start coming again, they will come in a rush.
Emenike has not scored for Nigeria since his brace in October 2013 World Cup play off against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, africanFootball.com reports.
But the Fenerbache striker is likely to start again ahead of new discovery Aaron Samuel, alongside Ahmed Musa and Ike Uche up front.
“My target is to win the game and score some goals because it has been long since I scored in the national team, but am not worried because when the goals would start coming they would be in a rush,” he told africanFootball.com
The 27-year-old striker, who debuted for Nigeria in 2011 against Sierra Leone in Lagos, said the African champions will defeat the South Africans to qualify for 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.
“I think everyone is motivated and since we came back from Congo everyone has been training so hard. As you see that everyone is motivated,” Emenike said.
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has picked Emmanuel Emenike and Gbolahan Salami in his starting XI for Wednesday’s African Cup of Nations qualifier between South Africa and Nigeria, africanFootball.com reports.
Both strikers started from the bench against Congo in Calabar at the weekend with Salami scoring Nigeria’s second goal in a 2-3 loss to the East Africans.
Emenike was sensationally axed for reporting late to training camp, but he injected urgency and purpose when he came in for Uche Nwofor at the start of second half.
Israel-based Nosa Igiebor, who was also a second-half substitute, will start against Bafana in this crucial AFCON qualifier in Cape Town.
Altogether, Keshi has made three changes to the team that started against the Congolese on Saturday, with Ramon Azeez, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Nwofor dropping to the substitutes’ bench.
Nigeria’s starting XI:
Austin Ejide – Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Godfrey Oboabona – Ogeny Onazi, Mikel Obi, Nosa Igiebor, Ahmed Musa – Gbolahan Salami, Emmanuel Emenike
Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has warned his team mates that Congo could be very dangerous on Saturday, saying the East Africans have nothing to lose against the African champions.
Nigeria welcomes the Red Devils to Calabar for the opening qualifying match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, africanFootball.com reports.
In the last meeting between the two teams, the Congolese held Nigeria to a goalless draw at the 2000 AFCON co- hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
And the Fenerbahce star has warned his team mates that desperation and arrogance cannot bring results especially when playing against a team like Congo and other Africa teams tagged as underdogs.
“Being the defending champions could make it tough for us and the Congolese have nothing to lose,” Emenike told africanFootball.com
“Maximum three points is important and that’s what we are looking forward to in Saturday’s game, but we should expect a tough test from Congo.”
He added: “Fans will be expecting a massacre, but we will be wrong if we think the Congolese will be an easy team to ride over.
“I believe we will win, but we must show humility and respect for our opponents. I understand from experience that desperation does not work for us.”
Emenike, for one, will hope to end his goal drought for the Super Eagles after he failed to score in four matches played by Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“Everybody in camp is ready, it’s a collective battle and it will be a victorious one for us by God’s grace,” he assured.