Tag: Nwofor

Nigerian striker Uche Nwofor has accepted a deal to join Slovakia champions AS Trencin, supersport.com can report.

Nwofor sealed the three-yeardeal to Trencin earlier this week as a free agent after leaving Portuguese side Boavista.

The 24-year-old forward is expected to join up with his new teammates at the Slovakian club.

The former Enugu Rangers man will now be looking to hit the ground running at Trencin having recovered from his injury worries.

Nwofor was tipped to go places after his stellar performance at the 2011 African Youth Championship (AYC), now known as the Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The big striker helped Nigeria to win the African Under-20 tournament that year, scoring four goals in five matches for the Flying Eagles, including a goal in the final that helped defeat Cameroon 3-2. Nwofor finished top scorer at the tournament.

Nwofor has represented Nigeria at senior level six times and scored three goals which includes a double against South Africa in an international friendly in 2013 in Durban where he scored with a cheeky backheel.

However, injury spells have left Nwofor with little playing time at Boavista as the striker opted to leave after re-appraising his future at Boavista.

Nigeria international striker Uche Nwofor finally debuted for Dutch Eredivise club Heerenveen on Saturday.

Nwofor was an 80th minute substitute when he was thrown into the fray by coach Marco Van Basten to replace Rajiv Va La Parra. Heerenveen lost 3-2 at home to Vitesse Arnhem.

They are 10th on the table with 15 points from nine games.

Nwofor played his first-ever game in an Heereveen jersey when he was used as a substitute in a test game with the reserves in September against Hercules’ reserves.

The former Enugu Rangers hitman joined Heerenveen on a season-long loan from VVV Venlo this summer.

In Belgium, another former Rangers and U20 star Michael Uchebo was the hero of his Belgian club Cercle Brugge on Saturday, when he scored the goal that gave them a point at home to Zulte Waregem.

Uchebo put his side ahead in the 44th minute, but they could not hold on as the game ended 1-1.

This is the former VVV Venlo striker’s first goal in the league this term. He has made nine appearance so far in the 11-week-old league.

Cercle Brugge are 11th on the league table with 10 points.

Uchebo, who once played for Enugu Rangers, scored two goals in the league last season.

 

Heerenveen attacker Uche Nwofor announced his arrival on the world stage during the international friendly between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana back in August.

Introduced as a second half substitute, the 22 – year – old bagged a brace in the 49th and 68th minute to give the African champions a 2 – 0 win.

In subsequent appearances for the National Team, Nwofor failed to find the back of the net in games against Malawi and Burkina Faso.

The youngster has made a statement that he expects nothing but victory against Ethiopia in a World Cup play – off tie today.

“We will work hard as a team and come out victorious; we know it not going to be an easy game but we all want to be in the world cup so we will go out there and give a 100 percent,” Nwofor told Brila FM.

Nwofor has been inactive in the Dutch championship since August 23.

Since his loan move to Heerenveen just before the close of the summer transfer market, Uche Nwofor has failed to debut in the Dutch championship and knows his place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad next summer, if the country defeats Ethiopia over two legs, is at risk.

According to what was reported by Swiss media infoticker.ch , FC Zurich and Young Boys may offer Nwofor a lifeline as both teams are exploring ways to sign him as early as the January transfer window.

Uche Nwofor has contractual obligations with parent club Venlo until the summer of 2015. He has been inactive in Holland for the past 41 days, with his last appearance coming in Venlo’s 3 – 2 win over Helmond Sport on August 23.

Nigeria striker Uche Nwofor could get a huge pay cut come next season if he stays in the Dutch league, MTNFootball.com understands.

The 22-year-old Nwofor is currently on a foreign player’s salary, but by next season he will qualify as a playing Dutch, which means he will then receive far less cash than a foreign player is suppose to earn.

The minimum a foreign player is allowed to earn at the start of his career is an annual salary of 300,000 Euros gross and it is believed that former Enugu Rangers and Shooting striker Nwofor is on about 360,000 Euros.

“He will qualify as a playing Dutch next season and so if he remains in Holland, he would most likely take a pay cut,” a top transfer expert informed MTNFootball.com.

Nwofor, who has been called up by Nigeria for this month’s World Cup playoffs in Ethiopia, moved to Holland in 2011 after he emerged top scorer at the African Youth Championship in South Africa, which Nigeria won.

He reportedly shunned several top European clubs including Benfica of Portugal to join modest Dutch club VVV Venlo. VVV were relegated last season and he is presently on loan to Dutch top-flight club SC Heerenveen. He has yet to make his debut for Heerenveen.

He had a solitary cap at senior level to his name before August 14, 2013 but SC Heerenveen attacker, Uche Nwofor may soon be a name on the lips of Nigerians for a long time to come.

A rip-roaring display against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban where he scored both goals in Nigeria’s 2-0 success having come on as a substitute at the break, earned him a call-up for Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

Nwofor knows it is a huge opportunity to stamp his authority on the big stage and is looking to grab his chance on Saturday against the plucky Flames.

“Will I start the game on Saturday? Everything depends on the members of the backroom staff but I am ready to do my job when I am called upon. It doesn’t matter whether I start or I’m drafted in as a substitute, I just want to help my country win,” Nwofor exclusively told supersport.com.

Life changing experience

Nwofor’s well-taken brace against South Africa in the 49th and 68th minutes on August 12 in Durban remains evergreen in his memory and he took the time to discuss both goals with particular emphasis on his first, an outrageous back heel that left South Africa captain, Itumeleng Khune red-faced.

“When I found myself in space, I knew I had to do something special. I was almost losing my balance but I regained it at the right moment. I have actually scored goals like that for my club in training so I was not really surprised to see it go in.

“It was a special moment in my life and I really didn’t know how to celebrate it. The second goal too was special too but in the football world, you are as good as your last game. I cannot stop working hard,” he said.

Competition & attacking riches

Nwofor knows scoring twice against South Africa in a friendly international is no guarantee for a first-team slot in a side boasting of attacking riches like (2013 Africa Nation’s Cup top scorer) Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses, Brown Ideye and Ahmed Musa who has been in stunning form in the Russia Premier League.

The 21-year-old is willing to learn from his more accomplished compatriots but will lurk in the shadows waiting to pounce at the slightest opportunity.

“There are a lot of senior strikers here. I respect them and try to learn from them everyday in training sessions. When they advice me, I listen and thank them because that is one of the fastest way to learn and grow. I am ready to wait for my chance and if I get it, I will not let my country or fans down,” he said.

Nwofor’s international record stands at two games played, two goals scored. He will be looking to add to that tally on Saturday at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

 

Uche Nwafor netted twice against South Africa for Nigeria to lift the Mandela Challenge and he has promised more goals for the Eagles.

The former Flying Eagles striker also spoke on his next destination in Europe after his Dutch club VVV Venlo were relegated this past season.

What was the feeling when you scored a brace for Nigeria against South Africa in your second game for the Eagles?

Nwofor: I felt so good and great, the excitement in me cannot be described. It was a wonderful time. Getting those goals was a dream come true for me because it has been my ambition to play and score goals for my country. It is my job, I play football to score goals being a striker.

Were you surprised when you were invited for the match against South Africa?

Not really. It was not a big surprise to me because I have been looking forward to it and knew it would come one day despite not playing in one of the most followed leagues in the world.

You lifted your first trophy as a full international, how was it?

It was great and I am sure that is the first of many that I will win with the Eagles.

Did you dedicate the success in the Mandela Challenge to anyone?

Yes, the winners’ medal and the trophy are for my family and to God almighty.

You reunited with some of your teammates from the U20 team Class of 2011, Ahmed Musa and Ogenyi Onazi, how was it?

It was a great reunion, it reminded us of those days. It was nice to be together again.

There are a lot of options in the Eagles attack line, do you think you have all it takes to claim a regular place upfront?

I am not thinking about displacing anyone in the Eagles, all for me to do is to give my best to the team whenever the coach calls on me. We are all working to move the team forward. Mine is to keep fit and keep doing well.

You have been linked with a move away from Venlo to EPL with teams like Stoke City, Newcastle United and Roda JC in Holland, where is your likely next destination?

I can’t say anything on that. I am at Venlo, let wait and see what happens. I have no idea on my next destination.

At a time you had three other Nigerians with you at Venlo, but now you are a lone ranger, are you feeling lonely?

Not really but I miss them no doubt, but I don’t let it bother me because that is the nature of my job and I have to face it.

What can you say about Dutch league?

I am lucky to be playing here in Holland. It is a very technical league to play in. The league is tough and I am happy to start my career here.

Which player is your role model?

That is Cristiano Ronaldo, but I also love Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovich.

Do you have any club you wish to play for?

No, I am praying to God to lead me to the big team who will give me an improved offer.

Comparing top flight and the second division in Holland, what can you say?

Definitely they are different, top flight is top flight. But in terms of football, it is the same.

Thanks for your time.

You are welcome, it’s my pleasure.