The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obaje

  • Obaje predicts home win for Plateau Utd

    Obaje predicts home win for Plateau Utd

    Plateau United’s striker, Joshua Obaje has revealed that the Peace Boys are desperate to record a home win against Wikki Tourists in a North Central local derby on Sunday.

    The Jos side relinquished their position as league leaders on Wednesday despite picking a point against Rivers United in Port Harcourt but they will return to the top of the table if they beat Wikki at the Rwang Pam Stadium and MFM fail to defeat Nasarawa United in Lafia.

    Obaje who has been in sparkling form for Plateau United agreed that the Sunday tie will be tough but that they are out to repay the confidence repose in them by all in the club and the state government also by getting the maximum points and returning to the top of the table.

    Plateau United are currently second on the log with 29 points from 16 games and are up against 16th placed Wikki who have 18 points from 15 fixtures.

  • CONFED CUP REMATCH: Ifeanyi ubah get Obaje boost

    CONFED CUP REMATCH: Ifeanyi ubah get Obaje boost

    FC Ifeanyiubah are confident NPFL hotshot, Godwin Obaje will be registered in time for next weekend’s CAF Confederation Cup return leg match against Egypt’s Al Masry.
    The Nigerian cup winners are walking a tight rope after they could only manage a lone goal home win over the Egyptians on Sunday.
    Obaje made a late move to ‘The Anambra Warriors’ meaning he was not eligible for Sunday’s first leg narrow win in which the hosts threw away a lot of scoring chances as they were carved out.
    However, the club’s financier Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has now disclosed that they are working on securing Obaje’s license for the return leg match.
    “We had submitted our list of players when we signed Godwin Obaje. But we are making all efforts to have him for the return leg match and we are getting positive signs, so I can say we will have him available for the match in Egypt”, a delighted Ubah said.
    Obaje scored 18 goals last season to emerge as the NPFL’s top scorer. He was close to a deal with Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia before the deal collapsed, leading to the former Wikki Tourists forward switching to the Federation Cup holders.

  • Obaje heads for Turkey

    Obaje heads for Turkey

    The search for a club overseas for Nigeria league hotshot Godwin Obaje will continue after he did not bag a contract at Club Africain of Tunisia and there are now strong indications he will explore possibilities in Turkey.
    Last month, a reported deal to Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel for the Wikki Tourists striker first came to nought.
    A high-profile move to top Russian club Spartak Moscow had also crashed.
    “Godwin is now looking at considering some offers he has in Turkey,” a source informed AfricanFootball.com.
    “He’s now back in Nigeria from Tunisia.”
    Last NPFL season, Obaje fired 18 goals to help Wikki finish third in the championship.
    Over the years, NPFL hotshots have cashed in on their goals to move overseas – Gbolahan Salami moved to Finland and Emem Eduok transferred to Esperance of Tunisia.

  • Wikki in talks with Club Africain over Obaje

    Wikki in talks with Club Africain over Obaje

    • North African side hijacks deal from Etoile du Sahel

    Wikki Tourists have  opened transfer talks with Club Africain of Tunisia after they pulled out of the transactions with Etoile du Sahel over the sale of Godwin Obaje because of both clubs inability to agree on the mode the transfer fees would be paid.

    The Bauchi side have revoked transfer negotiations with the 2015 CAF Champions League winners and have begun discussions with another Tunisian club, Club Africain.

    The Chairman of the club, Mallam Isa Matori told SportingLife that Etoile du Sahel breached the agreement between both clubs and that they have refused to accept their plea that they would like the cash to be paid in three instalments.

    He said Etoile du Sahel also wished that they release Obaje’s International Transfer Certificate (ITC) even before cash is paid but that they have informed the Tunisian side that they won’t settle for that and so have ended contract discussions with them and have started talking to other clubs.

    Matori told SportingLife that he is certain that Obaje will seal a move abroad after the striker declared that he won’t like to play in the NPFL in the coming season and that everything is being done to ensure that the highest scorer in the league last season with 18 goals moves abroad during the January transfer window.

  • Obaje vows to repay Etoile’s confidence

    Obaje vows to repay Etoile’s confidence

    Godwin Obaje has insisted that he will repay Etoile du Sahel’s confidence in him after signing a long term deal with the Tunisian topflight.
    The 19-year-old forward joined the Stade Olympique de Sousse outfit on a four-and-a-half-year deal after passing medical at the club on Tuesday, and he believes he will succeed with the Red Devils.
    “The club has demonstrated tremendous confidence in me as a striker and I hope to deliver. It’s a huge step for me to make, I believe I have the right ambition and desire to succeed with Etoile,” Obaje told BBC.

  • Obaje, ‘Muazam’, Barnabas Imenger head for Tunisian club Etoile

    Obaje, ‘Muazam’, Barnabas Imenger head for Tunisian club Etoile

    Nigeria league hotshot Godwin Obaje, Ibrahim Alhassan ‘Muazam’ and Barnabas Imenger will try out with Tunisian club Etoile du Sahel this week.
    Obaje, who finished top scorer of the NPFL with 18 goals, failed to bag a contract with top Russian club Spartak Moscow after he did not pass a medical.
    Former Nigeria U-17 and U-20 star Ibrahim Alhassan ‘Muazam’ rose to prominence as the star of the 2013 Golden Eaglets that he was compared to the legendary Nwankwo Kanu.
    Imenger, 25, who has posted a brief stint in Sweden, has been capped at full international level by Nigeria.
    He is the son of former Eagles striker Barnabas Imenger Snr.
    The three strikers are to undergo two-week trials at Etoile, who have also contacted Enugu Rangers on star striker Chisom Egbuchulam.
    Rangers have asked for a transfer fee $500,000.

  • Russia weather harsh but…, says Obaje

    Russia weather harsh but…, says Obaje

     

    Wikki Tourists striker Godwin Obaje has revealed to SportingLife that it took him two days before he could adapt to the Russian weather when he went for trails with Spartak Moscow.

    The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) highest goal scorer believes he could cope with the severe weather if he is eventually getting an offer from the Russian premier league giant.

    “It is not easy playing in Russia. The weather is somehow harsh but I can adapt with the situation. It was a new experience for me when I arrived in Russia but I was able to adapt after two days,” Obaje disclosed to SportingLife.

    The lanky striker added that he learnt new things during his short stay with the club.

    “I trained once daily with Spartak Moscow but what I can say is that their training pattern is more tactical while it is more of physical training here in Nigeria. I have learnt a lot and I know it will help me in my career,” he said.

    On his contract, he added: “Everything went well but I will still allow my agent to finilise before I say anything about it.”

  • Spartak Moscow woo Obaje

    Spartak Moscow woo Obaje

    The top scorer in the recently concluded Nigeria Professional Football League Godwin Obaje is back in the country after spending time on trial with Russian side Spartak Moscow.
    Owngoalnigeria.com can authoritatively report that the 19-year-old was offered a five-year deal by the Russian side, and he had a routine medical before leaving Moscow after doing very well during the trials.
    However, according to his elder brother Joshua Obaje, the deal has areas yet to cleared by his owners Wikki Tourist and Obaje’s representative.
    ” To God be the glory, he was offered a five-year deal but there are some grey areas we need to sort out before the deal can be made official,” Obaje told Owngoalnigeria.com.
    ” I can’t reveal the areas at least for now, but he had his medical which was okay, although lasted very long. There are issues to be sorted out with Wikki Tourist and even himself. Let us say for now the deal could happen, it could not.”

  • Obaje prefers European move

    Obaje prefers European move

    Joshua Obaje has said he is happy at NPFL club Plateau United and will only consider a move away if there was a good offer from abroad.

    The former ASO Chlef of Algeria forward said the technical crew, management and fans have showed him love and encouragement since his arrival at the club and he is willing to stay on for next season.

    “I am with Plateau United, I signed a two-year deal which will end at the conclusion of next season,” said Obaje, who has also played in South Africa with Black Leopards.

    “I want to remain here but only a good offer abroad will make me to leave United. Though there are offers from abroad now but they are not good enough. The chairman, crew, entire management, my teammates and the fans are lovely people. I am happy here as the atmosphere is nice.”

     

  • Obaje gets CSKA Moscow, FC Spartak Moscow offers

    Obaje gets CSKA Moscow, FC Spartak Moscow offers

    The management of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi has received offers from Russian Premier League giants, CSKA Moscow and FC Spartak Moscow for Godwin Obaje, SportingLife can exclusively report.

    Obaje emerged the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorer after netting 18 goals for the Bauchi-based outfit in the just concluded season.

    A top club official revealed to SportingLife that Obaje will be on his way to Moscow as soon as he secures a Russian Visa.

    “We have received two offers from Russian league clubs CSKA Moscow and FC Spartak Moscow for Obaje and he will be traveling for trials very soon. He will start processing his visa. So when he is granted visa he will travel. Our hope and prayer is for him to excel in his career. I believe he will perform well in Europe because he is a good player,” a top Source disclosed to SportingLife