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Tag: Omeruo

  • Omeruo hits camp March 18

    Omeruo hits camp March 18

    • Nigerian in good display for Den Haag on Saturday

    ADO Den Haag of Holland defender, Kenneth Omeruo will arrive in Nigeria latest on Monday 18th March, 2013 ahead of the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya slated for Calabar on March 23rd.

    A close confidant of the player, who does not want his name in print, said the Chelsea of England star who has been on loan in Holland for the past two seasons would strive to hit Nigeria on Sunday or Monday after honouring his club’s Match Day 27 home fixture with Vitesse this Saturday.

    The teen sensation was in the victorious Eagles team that landed the nation her third AFCON trophy at South Africa 2013.

    He has been in dazzling form for club and country since making his debut for Nigeria against Spanish regional side, Catalonia FC.

    On Saturday Omeruo featured for the entire duration of the game as Den Haag battled to a 1-1 away draw at AZ Aikmaar.

    The feat shot Den Haag to 7th on the Dutch Eredivisie Table after 26 games. They leapfrogged former occupants of the position, NEC Nijmegen who were upset by Heracles 1-0. Den Haag have 36 points from as many games played.

  • Omeruo: I’m popular now in Holland

    Omeruo: I’m popular now in Holland

    Nigerian thrilled with astronomical rise

    More accolades have not ceased coming the way of the Super Eagles’ defender, Kenneth Omeruo after his scintillating performance for his country’s senior national team which culminated in the victory at the recently held South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Chelsea of England on loan star to Dutch Club, ADO Den Haag got another recognition over the weekend when he was invited for a special interview by top Dutch football magazine, Voetbal International (VI) and would be published this Wednesday.

    Speaking on the length of his popularity since the AFCON success in South Africa, Kenneth Omeruo told SportingLife exclusively that his profile has ranked higher than when he was newly introduced to the Dutch League and that one of his best special moments was when he was called up for an interview by the Dutch top football magazine in Holland, Voetbal International(VI) to grace their page.

    “I am more popular now than it used to be in the past. I was told most of the fans of Den Haag supported Nigeria because of me and also watched the Nations Cup matches too for my sake.

    “The celebration was awesome when I returned to Holland. I had the reception with the Nigeria’s Ambassador to Holland and on Friday I was invited for an interview by Voetbal International-the best selling sports magazine in Holland.

    “The interview will come out on Wednesday. I am happy and grateful to God that all these are happening to me when I am just starting my professional career. I won’t be carried away by it but I will continue to strive harder to excel in my chosen field,” Omeruo disclosed.

    Voetbal International which has been publishing since 1965 is the oldest Dutch football magazine that is still running. The magazine is read by approximately 800,000 people every week.

    In addition to the regular magazine that comes out every Wednesday, VI every summer publishes season previews before the start of the Dutch league season.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria international was a rock solid in the heart of defence for Den Haag on Sunday in a Dutch Eredivisie Match Day 25 clash against Heracles Almelo after helping his club to another important win.

    Den Haag won the match 3-1 and thus maintain their stronghold on their 8th position with 35 points from 25 games and widened the gap between them and 9th placed Heerenveen to 6 points.

    The modest club could jump to 7th if they beat AZ Alkmaar on Saturday and NEC Nijmegen, who currently occupying that position with a point better, capitulate away against Heracles Almelo.

  • OMERUO IS FIRST PRO TO STORM FARO

    OMERUO IS FIRST PRO TO STORM FARO

    •Ideye, Dike, Uche hit camp too

    THE Super Eagles camp in Faro, Portugal is gradually bubbling to life as invited foreign-based professionals trickle in. First to arrive the camp of the national team was Holland based central defender, Kenneth Omeruo.

    The lanky former Flying Eagles ace arrived at lunch time on Saturday and took part in the lunch. He was there at the time the Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal, Ambassador Ijeoma Bristol and her husband were addressing the team. He has since jelled with the rest of the team and took part in Saturday afternoon training. Also in town is Ukraine based hitman, Brown Aide Ideye, who came in on time to join the afternoon training session too.

    Also expected to join in the team last night are USA based striker Bright Dike and former Enyimba of Aba hitman, Uche Kalu who has since moved to a Turkish second division side. Camp is now full of activities as the team is billed to travel out to Catalonia, Spain on New Year’s day for the international friendly against the Catalan side on January 2.

  • OMERUO ITCHES FOR AYC ACTION

    OMERUO ITCHES FOR AYC ACTION

    ADO DEN HAAG defender Kenneth Omeruo has expressed desire to play for Nigeria at the 2013 African Youth Championship.

    Omeruo, who is believed to be one of the Euro-based players that Stephen Keshi will call upon as he tries to rectify the problematic Super Eagles defence at the forthcoming African Nations Cup in South Africa said he is looking forward to play for the team.

    “I’m still eligible to play for the team and it will be a great honour if the coach calls for my service which I wouldn’t hesitate to accept, he said with the promise of helping the team retain their AYC title.”

    Omeruo is on loan to the Dutch top-flight club from Chelsea and has been one of the key players for the club this season winning a number of individual awards in recognition of his great form so far.

  • I’M RIPE FOR EAGLES, SAYS OMERUO

    I’M RIPE FOR EAGLES, SAYS OMERUO

    WITH REPORTS rife in the media of an impending call up to the Super Eagles, Chelsea of England loanee to ADO Den Haag of Holland, Kenneth Josiah Omeruo has declared his readiness to don the country’s senior national team jersey if given a chance.

    Omeruo has been very pivotal to his club’s impressive start to the Dutch Eredevisie League season and recently helped the Flying Eagles to the Africa Youth Championship(AYC) ticket after a 4-2 aggregate victory over Amajita of South Africa.

    In a chat with SportingLife the former U17 international noted that he would welcome his invitation to the Super Eagles having been called up before under the previous coach, Samson Siasia.

    “I will be thrilled to play for the Super Eagles if given a chance. I am not a total stranger to the senior national team having received a call up before. Ahmed Musa combined the Flying Eagles with the Super Eagles I can also do the same too,” Omeruo said.

    Omeruo was in the last U20 team that exited the 2011 FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia at the quarter final stage after a 3-1 loss to France.

     

  • Omeruo out of South Africa tie

    Omeruo out of South Africa tie

    Club commitments will again rule Kenneth Josiah Omeruo out of the African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifier between the Flying Eagles and Amajita of South Africa slated for Nelspruit on Friday, a source close to the player has revealed.

    Omeruo, who was also called up by Nigeria’s U-20 chief coach, John Obuh in the last round against the Ngorongoro Heroes of Tanzania, couldn’t honour the two legs for the same reason.

    The source, who does not want his name in print, told SportingLife that Omeruo, who has developed into an integral member of his club in the Dutch League, ADO Den Haag, would be needed for their blockbuster league match at home to Ajax Amsterdam next Sunday hence the decision of the club to hold on to the lanky defender.
    The source further revealed that Omeruo did not only play the entire duration of the game against Heerenveen on Saturday very impressively but also had an assist in their 3-1 away win.

    “It is official that Kenneth will not be playing against South Africa despite all John Obuh has done to ensure he makes the game. Den Haag need Kenneth for a league match against Ajax Amsterdam. He will not be released for Nigeria.

    “Kenneth has been very fantastic for Den Haag and he has played in the club’s five matches played in the league this season. He was even awesome against the Marco Van Basten-coached Heerenveen in a match they won away 3-1. He also had an assist,” the source disclosed.

    Omeruo went to the last U-20 World Cup in Colombia and was signed from Standard Liege of Belgium by Chelsea FC before he was farmed out to Den Haag on loan for two seasons so as to have more playing time.

    Den Haag currently lie in 6th position after five games in the Dutch Eredivisie and could move higher than their present position if they beat second-placed Ajax on Sunday in a Week 6 duel.

  • Omeruo faults Eagles squad

    Omeruo faults Eagles squad

    Nigeria and Chelsea defender, Kenneth Omeruo says the entire team and not the Joseph Yobo-led Super Eagles defence should be blamed for the late goal that drew Liberia 2-2 level with Nigeria in last weekend’s African Cup of Nations qualifier in Monrovia.

    Speaking with BrilaFM on Thursday, the Nigeria youth international that is currently in the second of his two years loan spell at Dutch Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag, maintains that the stalemate leaves Nigeria in a vantage position to qualify for next year’s final in South Africa.

    “I wouldn’t blame the defence for the late goal that bedded the game 2-2, but the entire team because they played as a unit. Despite that, I see Nigeria winning the second leg convincingly to qualify for the finals, which is the ultimate goal,” says Omeruo.

    Onmeruo, who continues to string up sterling performances in the colours of ADO Den Haag, says he is primed to fight for a place at Chelsea’s backline, adding the Blues have made quality summer signings

    He said: “I have a year left in my two-year loan stint with Den Haag, after which I hope to return to Chelsea and fight for a place at the backline. I think I have garnered enough experience to become a mainstay at the Blues.

    “I am also pleased with the club’s summer signings like Eden Hazard, Oscar. Things are changing at the club and I know these players will help their transition.”

    It could be recalled that Nigeria gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with the Lone Star at the Samuel Doe Stadium in Monrovia on September 8.

    The hosts’ early opener was cancelled out by Real Betis new signings Nosa Igiebor, while Ikechukwu Uche put Nigeria 2-1 up from the spot after Victor Moses had been hacked down by a Lone Star defender.