Tag: Udoji

Chinedu Udoji has said Enyimba’s chairman single-handedly fuelled the tough decision to switch club allegiance to former Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars.

“I felt it was a personal slap on me as captain that we did not win any trophy or continental ticket in the out gone football season which we have always done in the past.

“ I have started planning on how we will correct the mistakes that saw us end the season without a trophy when I heard the news of what the chairman wants to do to some players he said have stayed too long in the team.

“For the chairman to invent this idea that I have stayed too long in the club as well as blame me for the poor performance of the club in the out gone season showed I’m no longer wanted in the team.

“Agreed we did not do well in the past season but the chairman’s approach in casting aspersion on some players is equally wrong to instil confidence in the players to fight harder in the coming season.

“In all these the chairman never took me into confidence, called or invited me as captain to discuss or review the event of the past season. These are the factors that immediately triggered my decision to switch loyalty to former champions, Kano Pillars.

“I have not yet signed for Pillars but we have concluded discussion only waiting for the contract papers to endorse so I can comfortably say I’m 95% a Pillars’ player.

“The decision to leave Enyimba was not premeditated or based on ill-feeling as what was uppermost on my mind is how to bring back the side to win a trophy and return to the continent in the coming season.

“I never wanted to leave Enyimba to any other Nigerian side but to head outside the nation’s shores to continue with my trade but for the sudden untoward plan of the chairman.

“Enyimba made me what I am today without Enyimba there is nothing like Udoji but it’s wrong for anybody to blame me for the misfortune of the side.

“Last season some new players were brought into the team who actually earned more than I did but I did not complain as far as they will add value to the team.

“I’m not a greedy person I carried on as if nothing happened to give my very best to the team so why turn around when things went amiss to complain that some players have stayed too long in the team.

“I’m not a bad influence to the players as nobody could accuse me to take alcohol, womanising or indulging in other bad acts. I respect myself, I’m ambitious and I know exactly what I want.

“I have been the best defender in the past three seasons, I have won seven major trophies including the FA Cup in the past seven seasons I deserve some respect from the chairman when certain decisions are about to be taken.

“It’s common knowledge that the level of indiscipline in the team last season was unheard of in the history of the club. Indiscipline contributed to 100% of the team’s failure aside other issues bordering on poor motivation. For once we were owed 21-match bonuses and three-month salaries and when players asked to be paid the chairman took offence.

“If not that God intervened and showered us with his grace Enyimba would have gone on relegation at the end of the season,” said Udoji to supersport.com.

Ahead of their CAF Champions league tie against Mamelodi Sundowns today at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium otherwise called the LMM Stadium, Enyimba Captain Chinedu Udoji has declared that they are not under pressure. Chikatara was reacting to fears in some quarters that the Peoples Elephants will be walking tight-rope, especially after losing the first match at home against Zamalek of Egypt. Chinedu, who described his team-mates as seasoned professionals who take their jobs seriously, said the players have resolved to focus on the positives as they file out against the South Africans at the 28,900 capacity stadium.

“We are professionals and we are not under pressure.  We may have lost the first match at home but we cannot dwell on that, we have a job at hand and we are ready to do it. We are focusing on the positives and I believe that will be to our advantage,” he said.

On whether the pile up of matches in the local league is affecting the team, Chinedu said it is not an issue. “It is our job, you actually perform better by playing regularly,” he added even as Sundowns’ midfielder, Tiyani Mabunda said it will be tough.

Chinedu Udoji, the captain of Enyimba  has stated that they felt bad after conceding a late minute equaliser against Nasarawa United last Wednesday.

The Solid Miners came from behind to level matters in the second match of the Nigeria Professional Football League Super Four played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Joseph Osadiaye’s sublime free kick from the edge of the box gave the People’s Elephant the lead in the 35th minute of play while Nasarawa United pulled an  equalizer via a simple tap from second half substitute Phillip Azango on the stroke of 90th minute.

“I feel disappointed for conceding a goal. We made some mistakes towards the end of the match and we paid we for it.

“We just have to go back and correct our mistakes before the next game, ” he added.

Enyimba will face Akwa United today for the continuation of the NPFL Super Four first round while Warri Wolves trade tackle against Nasarawa United in a late kick off at 7pm.

Enyimba captain Chinedu Udoji scored twice for Enyimba in a Week 31 game as they beat title chasers Wikki Tourists 2-0 in Aba on Sunday.

Enyimba remain top of the league table with 58 points from 31 games, Wikki have 51 points from 31 games.

Udoji took the shine off the strikers as he opened the scoring with a well-taken goal in the 43rd minute for his first-ever goal for Enyimba.

He went on to seal the victory with the second goal when he converted a spot kick in the 52nd minute after Peter Onyekachi was brought down inside the six-yard box.

In the 16th minute, Paul Godwin in Wikki’s goal saved Markson Ojobo’s free kick.

Musa Najere got injured and was replaced with Kingsley Sokari in the 65th minute.

Wikki’s Harrison Madu was red carded after a second booking.

Femi Thomas in goal for Enyimba was on holiday for most of the game as Wikki played a defensive game and hardly created any chance to shoot at goal.

Enyimba skipper, Chinedu Udoji has stressed that the People’s Elephant’s players would approach their Glo Premier League Week 9 Oriental derby clash with Heartland today at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri with same mentality – to get all points.

The Aba Millionaires are seventh on the log with 11 points from seven matches after a 3-0 home thrashing of Lobi Stars last Wednesday but they have a tougher assignment against Heartland who are yet to win a game after eight matches this season and are desperate to have one.

Speaking with SportingLife ahead of today’s crunch tie, Udoji said that they would be approaching the tie with the same mindset to gain all maximum points and recoup the points they have lost at home owing to the loss to Abia Warriors at Aba.

He insisted that the players were not attaching any special interest on the clash with their next door neighbours and that they see the tie as one of the league matches they must honour to get to their target this season.

“We are confident of a good display against Heartland and the spirit is high in camp. We are not attaching much importance to the game. We see it as another premier league match which we are more than determined to win.”

The striker also praised the management of Enyimba for the purchase of out of favour Super Eagles’ midfielder, Sani Kaita insisting that the acquisition of the former Kano Pillars’ player would add steel, experience and maturity to the game of the People’s Elephant.