The Nation Newspaper

Tag: utaka

  • Utaka eyes Flying Eagles’ coaching  job

    Utaka eyes Flying Eagles’ coaching  job

    Former Super Eagles forward John Utaka has applied to be the next coach of Nigeria’s U20s, the Flying Eagles.

    Utaka confirmed his interest in the vacant Flying Eagles post in a radio interview.

    He is currently a coach with the U19s of French Ligue 1 club Montpellier.

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    Utaka played in the Premier League and Ligue 1.

    He represented Nigeria at the 2022 World Cup as well as the 2004 and 2006 AFCONs.

    The NFF have asked for interested persons to apply for the Flying Eagles position with August 4, 2024, as the deadline for the submission of applications.

  • French club monitoring Utaka

    French club monitoring Utaka

    French Ligue 1 club Angers SCO are running the rule over former Nigeria international, John Utaka.

    The experienced striker is not a stranger in France, having had previous spells with top-flight clubs Lens, Montpellier and Stade Rennais.

    Allnigeriasoccer.com can reveal for the first time that PAOK had been on the brink of announcing the capture of Utaka in the summer transfer market but the deal collapsed after Dimitar Berbatov’s move to Aston Villa fell through, with the Bulgaria star joining the Greek Super League club instead.

    Though Utaka has been undergoing individual training before his arrival in western France, the attacker has to prove he is in good physical condition to manager Stéphane Moulin before he is considered for a contract.

    Apart from the aforementioned teams, the 33 – year – old has turned out for El Mokawloon , Ismaily, Al Sadd, Portsmouth and Sivasspor.

  • Utaka returns to scoring ways

    Utaka returns to scoring ways

    Former Nigeria international forward,John Utaka scored for Sivasspor in the 3-1 win over Eskisehirspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

    Utaka netted in the 69th minute to temporarily give Sivasspor a 2-1 lead at the Eskisehir Atatürk Stadyumu. The Nigerian’s goal was a combination of sheer strength and ice-cool finishing.

    He received a punted ball from a teammate in midfield and proceeded to hold off Eskisehirspor’s Mustafa Yumlu with impressive upper body strength before turning the hapless defender inside out.

    The hosts’ Brazilian left back Diego Ângelo sensed the danger but as he quickly moved to snuff it out, the quick-thinking Utaka promptly pulled the trigger and hit a delightful shot with the inside of his right foot past goalkeeper Ruud Boffin.

    The 33-year-old Utaka has now scored three league goals for Sivasspor and four in all competitions this season.

  • Utaka out for two weeks

    Utaka out for two weeks

    Sivasspor forward John Utaka is set to spend at least two weeks on the sidelines due to a muscle tear in his left leg.

    The Nigeria international did not take part in full training on Wednesday, and jogged around the pitch instead, alongside ex-Golden Eaglets striker Macauley Chrisantus, who is also recovering from injury.

    The 32-year-old sat out Sivasspor’s 2-2 draw with Akhisar Belediyespor, raising suspicion that he might not be physically fit.

    The ex-Portsmouth and Rennes man scored in the opening round of the Turkish Super Lig, hitting the back of the net after 52 minutes in the 2-1 loss to Gaziantepspor.

    John Utaka comes off contract with Sivasspor at the end of the current season.

  • Turkish Super League opener: Arokoyo relishes clash with Utaka

    Turkish Super League opener: Arokoyo relishes clash with Utaka

    Ahead of both sides’  Turkish Super Lig opener, new Gaziantepspor signing Gbenga Arokoyo is relishing the prospect of facing fellow Nigeria international John Utaka, who is expected to lead Sivasspor’s charge for goals on Sunday.

    The central defender penned a four – year deal with The Falcons in the middle of July, drawing down the curtain on his two – year association with Mjällby AIF in Sweden.

    ”It was a very good experience for me in pre – season. I played seven games,we won four and drew three.

    ”I’m prepared for the big step and with God on my side I believe everything will work out fine,” says Gbenga Arokyo to SL10.ng.

    The Gaziantepspor number 15 added : ”Sivasspor are a good side and playing against John Utaka makes it more interesting.

    ”It is not about stopping Utaka that’s most important but how we can play together as a team and achieve a good result at the end.”

    Arokoyo played 48 Allsvenskan games for Mjallby, scoring once against Brommapojkarna in April 2013.

    Meanwhile, Macauley Chrisantus is sidelined for the next three weeks with a muscle complaint, and misses the tie at the Eylul Satadium.

  • Shenxin snap up Utaka on loan

    Shenxin snap up Utaka on loan

    Chinese club Shanghai Shenxin has disclosed that it has reached an agreement with Beijing Guoan regarding the temporary acquisition of Nigerian attacker, Peter Utaka.

    Utaka, 30, will spend the remainder of the 2014 season on loan at the Jinshan Sports Centre, Shanghai.

    The Nigeria international has seen his first team opportunities limited this season, making only 6 starts in the championship after 16 games.

    Also,Beijing Guoan are hoping to bolster the squad with the signing of an expatriate player in this window, and must free up space on the roster to accommodate the foreigner.

    The Belgian – Nigerian’s contract with the capital outfit expires at the end of next season, that is December 2015.

  • Utaka scores goal No. 2

    Utaka scores goal No. 2

    • As Sivasspor beat Elazigspor 4-2

    Former Super Eagles ace, John Utaka scored his second goal of the season as Sivasspor defeated Elazigspor 4-2 in a thrilling, helter skelter game.

    The away side had a two goal lead within the 20 minutes – Manuel De Costa and Utaka’s goals put Sivasspor in the driving seat going into the half-time break.

    However, Elazigspor got off to a great start in the second half, Ahmet Görkem and Sane scored within a 10 minute spell to draw the home side level by the 60th minute.

    Sivasspor then had Costa sent off on 64 mins but still managed to regained the lead when Aatif scored on 76 mins.

    Elazigspor were thrown a lifeline when a penalty was awarded on 84 mins however, Sane missed from the spot kick and Aatif put the game out of sight five minutes later with his second goal of the evening.

  • Utaka fails to save Aerbin

    Utaka fails to save Aerbin

    FORMER Super Eagles star Peter Utaka failed in his bid to save Chinese Super league side Dalian Aerbin from defeat Saturday.

    The former Odense of Denmark ace scored Aerbin’s second goal in the 86th minute but it was not enough to stop the side from losing 3-2 to Aiyegbeni’s Guangzhou

    Although the Yak on his part failed to score, he nontheless gave a good account of himself in his 46 minutes action on the pitch before he was replaced Zhang Shuo Jiang Ning grabbed the first goal for Guangzhou in the 35th minute; Yu Hanchao registered the second just before half time only for Ning to return for his second goal of the match in the 64th

  • Besiktas lead in race for Utaka

    Besiktas lead in race for Utaka

    Turkish club Besiktas have shot to the lead of the chase for Montpellier striker John Utaka, who will be a free agent in the summer.

    MTNFootball.com has specially gathered that Utaka has been tempted by the offer tabled by Besiktas after it all seemed he was heading back to Asia.

    “Besiktas are now leading the chase for Utaka,” a top source informed MTNFootball.com

    “Before now, he was considering options in Dubai and Qatar, but then along came the Turkish came and it is now looking very much like his next destination will be Turkey.”

    He added: “What I can tell you is that he is really looking forward to a new challenge and the way it is looking, it is likely going to be in Turkey.”

    Daniel Amokachi was the last top Nigerian star to feature for Besiktas, who have now been overshadowed by Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbache.

    Utaka played for top Qatari Al Sadd between 2001 and 2002 before he eventually ventured to Europe, first to France and then England.

    At 31, the striker’s next transfer is expected to secure his financial future. He won the England FA Cup in 2008 with Portsmouth. And it was at Montpellier that he achieved the highlight of his career when he played a big role in the club winning a first-ever French Ligue 1 championship in the 2011/2012 season.

    This season though Montpellier failed to keep up the pace with the likes of big-spending and eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon. They are eighth on the table with 52 points and a game to spare.

  • Lyonnais challenge for Utaka

    Lyonnais challenge for Utaka

    Returns to action  after yellow card

     

    Nigeria international and Montpellier striker John Utaka will be hoping to ginger up his side to earn three points in the French Ligue 1 on Friday as the side continue their battle for a place in the top four

    Montpellier are three places away from the top four with 32 matches played with 48 points in the kitty. The 2011/12 Ligue 1 champions are desperate to navigate their way to top with a view to having an opportunity to play in the Uefa champions league next season. At the moment runaway league leaders PSG are on 67 points with Marseille, Lyonnais and Saint-Entiene following closely on 58, 56 and 54 points respectively.

    Friday’s battle at the Stade de la Mosson will not be a tea party for Utaka and his teammates as Olympique Lyonnais are equally eager to better their third place position.

    Utaka who bagged a yellow in Montpellier’s home tie against Valenciennes which ended 3-1 in favour of the homers, subsequently missed the away match aginst Bordeaux which saw the Rene Girard-tutored side lose 4-2, and will be hoping to return with a bang against Lyonnais. Aside from hoping for a good outing on Friday, the former Rennes and Portsmouth ace will equally be hoping to return to the score sheet after scoring in the 2-0 home defeat of Sochaux late January.