The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oboabona

  • Oboabona confident of World Cup qualification

    Oboabona confident of World Cup qualification

    Rizespor new signing, Godfrey Oboabona is confident Nigeria will qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    The ex-Sunshine Stars skipper played for 90 minutes as the Eagles defeated the Flames on Saturday, with the defense failing to concede a single goal.

    ”It is a thing of joy It is what we have been praying for to beat Malawi and top our group and be on our way to qualifying for Brazil 2014 World Cup. We are getting there.

    ”We thank God that everything worked out well for us. It is not over yet. We still have some qualifiers to play. Our aim is to get to the world cup and make sure we do well and make Africa proud,” Oboabona told reporters.

    23 – year – old Godfrey Oboabona is credited with 1 goal in 22 appearances for the Super Eagles.

     

  • ‘I didn’t come to sit on bench’

    ‘I didn’t come to sit on bench’

    OBOABONA TO RIZESPOR

    Super Eagles defender and Çaykur Rizespor new signing, Godfrey Oboabona has told the club that he’s not in Turkey to sit on the bench, as he is 100 per cent fit.

    The former Sunshine Stars skipper despite completing Saturday’s training, was not listed in Sunday’s Toto Super lig 2-1 home win against Kayseri Erciyesspor.

    The AFCON 2013 title winner while speaking with reporters on the good working environment made his mind known.

    “I’m used to it and I’m happy here in Rize. Its very good here, as people welcome me well everywhere I go. So I am used to it, “he said.

    Asked if he is fit to play in Çaykur Rizespor’s match, Oboabona, said:”I came here to play, not to sit on Çaykur Rizespor’s bench.

    “Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a player who has the character to play and of course, score goals.”

  • Turkey move: Keshi happy for Oboabona

    Turkey move: Keshi happy for Oboabona

    Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, has spoken of his excitement at the transfer of home-based player, Godfrey Oboabona to Turkey side, Rizespor, although he would have wanted him for next year’s Africa Nations Championship.

    SportingLife gathered from a top source that Keshi recognises that the player’s future is also very important.

    Another delight for the coach was that Oboabona did not have to undergo any trial before signing.

    “The coach is really impressed that Godfrey did not have to attend any trial. Like he told them before the Africa Cup of Nations, that clubs will come for them if they played well, and today we are seeing it coming to pass,” said the source.

    The defender was one of Keshi’s revelations at the Nations Cup and would have been at the Africa Nations Cup (CHAN) next year if still with Sunshine Stars.

    “But the coach equally feels bad that he is gradually losing some of the domestic players that would have featured in the Africa Nations Championship, he still understands that it is the future of the players that matter,” added the source.

    Next year January, Nigeria will be participating in the Nations Championship which is meant for domestic players across Africa leagues, for the first time.

    Last week, Oboaboan completed a 450,000euro move to the newly promoted side.

     

  • Rizespor fail to start Oboabona

    Rizespor fail to start Oboabona

    • Uche Kalu to lead attack 

    SUPER Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona may not make his dream Turkish Super Lig debut after Rizespor failed to name him in their starting eleven for tonight’s encounter.

    SportingLife gathered that the Nigerian, who has been training with the Turkish League debutants after completing a 450, 000 euros per year move on Wednesday, was not listed in the starting 11 leaked on the club’s Twitter page on Sunday night.

    Rather Oboabon’s countryman, Uche Kalu has been named to lead the attack in tonight’s Black Sea derby away to Trabzonspor.

    The development means that the Nigerian could, perhaps, come from the bench, as the leaked starting 11 list did not feature the names of likely subsititutes.

  • Oboabona celebrates Rizespor move

    Oboabona celebrates Rizespor move

    Defender Godfrey Oboabona is in celebration mood after securing a four-year deal with Turkish club Caykur Rizespor on Thursday.

    The Nigeria international defender, who joined from Sunshine Stars for 650,000 euros (US$870,000), revealed that his new club’s ambition was a big factor in persuading him to move to Turkey.

    “It’s a big decision and a dream move, too,” Oboabona told BBC Sport.

    “I had offers from England, Germany, Spain and Ukraine, but Rizespor have an attractive project that will be good for my development. God has been good to me.

    “My desire is to be a successful footballer and this club is a good place to start my European career.

    “Some people suggested that I should go here and there, forgetting that to progress you need to be playing regularly and enjoy motivation. I believe in my ability, this is a starting point for me and a step to bigger and greater things in life.”

    The 23-year-old has been a regular for the Super Eagles since Stephen Keshi took over the national team in 2011, and he was quick to acknowledge the role of the former Nigeria captain in his meteoric rise.

  • Rizespor snatched Oboabona from Bastia

    Rizespor snatched Oboabona from Bastia

    Turkish club Rizespor unveiled Godfrey Oboabona on Thursday, hours after Bastia, the French club rushed a late but better bid for the Nigeria star.

    The 23-year-old player has completed a four-year deal with Rizespor after he successfully passed the routine medical, but MTNFootball.com can specially reveal he had a chance to move to the more prestigious French league instead.

    About a month ago, Bastia had come into the fray to sign Oboabona, who was a top revelation for Nigeria at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    A top source who was privy to the deal said the deal would have seen the Sunshine defender start his European adventure in Lique 1: “Last month I got a call from an associate of mine in France that Bastia wanted to reinforce their central defence and had Oboabona in mind.

    “It was a good proposal from them but after I discussed with Mike Idoko of Sunshine, Bastia seemed uncertain. At times, it is like that with French clubs when they are interested in African players that are coming to Europe for the first time. One minute they are chasing after the player, the next they are not.

    “About two weeks later they called again and this time around proposed they would be able to pay between 400,000 to 500,000 Euros as transfer fee and also give Sunshine 30% of an onward transfer fee for the player.

    “They also offered to start the player on an annual salary of 350,000 euros, increasing it by 50,000 euros every year on a four-year contract.”

    The source added: “I believe it was a good package and I believe both the player and Sunshine were at home with it. But again, nothing was heard from the Bastia people until yesterday. (Wednesday) when I guess they heard the boy was about to sign in Turkey.

    “May be they were looking at bringing another player in the same position and probably had Oboabona only as a second option.”

    The source told MTNFootball.com that Bastia would have been a much better destination for Oboabona.

    “I believe Bastia would have been a better option for Oboabona than Rizespor. For one, the French league is of a far higher standard than the league in Turkey and provides better exposure to the bigger clubs in England, Spain, Germany and England,” he argued.

    “Bastia have a good history with African players and the present trainer Frederic Hantz, likes African players. That’s where Micheal Essien and Alex Song made their names before moving on to England and I believe if Oboabona had gone there, he would have moved on to the Premier League after two seasons.

    “It is the board of Bastia and not the coach that delayed and I am sure in the near future they will realise what chance they lost.”

  • Godfrey Oboabona’s contract: Sunshine insert 20 per cent sell on clause

    Godfrey Oboabona’s contract: Sunshine insert 20 per cent sell on clause

    Godfrey Oboabona passed his Rizespor medical conducted in Istanbul on Wednesday, and was signed by the Super League club.

    The Super Eagles centre-back was afterwards officially unveiled by Rizespor. He appended his signature on a four – year contract.

    The deal that took Godfrey Oboabona to Rizespor was brokered by influential 28-year-old Turkish agent, Mustafa Sezgin, and he has now broken his silence on the details of the contract.

    ”Godfrey Oboabona has passed his medical and will sign a four – year contract on Thursday (yesterday) morning.

    ”He will earn 450,000 euros every year in the four – year deal while Rizespor will pay Sunshine Stars 650,000 euros.

    “During negotiations, Sunshine Stars inserted a 20 per cent sell on clause in Oboabona’s contract,” Mustafa Sezgin, who also represents another Nigeria international Kalu Uche, informed allnigeriasoccer.com before the signing took place.

    Godfrey Oboabona has been named by Super Eagles manager Stephen Keshi in his roster for the World Cup qualifying fixture against Malawi on September 7.

  • Oboabona hits Turkey Tuesday

    Oboabona hits Turkey Tuesday

    TWENTY-THREE year – old Nigeria international Godfrey Oboabona will depart the shores of Nigeria on August 20 to formalise his move to Turkish club Rizespor, allnigeriasoccer.com has been specially informed.

    The Super League newcomers, who have another Nigeria international, Uche Kalu on their payroll, have agreed to terms with the central defender on a four – year contract.

    This portal can exclusively report that the deal that will see Godfrey Oboabona join Rizespor is worth in the region of 450,000 euros and that figure excludes what Sunshine Stars will pocket from the future sale of their prized jewel.

    Godfrey Oboabona had attracted interest from teams in Ukraine and France before choosing to pitch his tent up with the Rize based outfit.

  • Sunshine to get .3m Euros from Oboabona’s transfer

    Sunshine to get .3m Euros from Oboabona’s transfer

    Sunshine Stars will earn 300,000 Euros from Godfrey Oboabona’s impending move to Turkish club Rizespor.

    The Super Eagles ace defender has agreed to join Rizespor on a four-year contract and he will fly in from Durban, venue of Wednesday’s international friendly between Nigeria and hosts South Africa, to complete the signing formality.

    Top Sunshine official, Mike Idoko, has confirmed to MTNFootball.com the player is set to join Rizespor.

    Sunshine will get at least 300,000 Euros from this transfer, according to fanatik.com

    Oboabona, who could play at right back, central defence or defensive midfield, will team up with his compatriot Uche Kalu, who returns for a second spell at the newly promoted club.

     

  • Oboabona denies criticising Wenger

    Oboabona denies criticising Wenger

    Sunshine Stars ace,Gofrey Oboabona has denied ever criticising Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger.

    “I never said anything about a highly respected manager like Mr Wenger showing me a lack of respect,” he said.

    Oboabona also says he was not aware of any invitation for a trial.

    “I have had so many text messages, phone calls about it, the rumour that I was invited on trial was not true, I only read about it like everyone else,” he explained to the BBC.

    “I’ve always said I will take my time, focus on my development as a player and continue to give my best in every game.

    “At the appropriate time, when clubs must have seen me well enough, they will hopefully approach Sunshine Stars in Nigeria.

    “My desire is to grow every day, sadly all the things written about Arsenal did not come from me.”

    The 22-year-old played a big part in Nigeria’s victorious 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign and was also part of their Confederations Cup squad.

    He was an integral part of Nigeria’s qualification for the African Nations Championship, the continent’s tournament for locally based players only, for the first ever time.

    The Sunshine Stars’ chairman, Mike Idoko also insisted there has been no approach from Arsenal.

    “It all began in the media and ends there,” he told BBC Sport.

    “If there was any substance to the story, we expect Arsenal would approach his club first.

    “We haven’t had any official communication with Arsenal or any Premier League club about [Godfrey] Oboabona.”