Monday 11 June 2012

FRANCIS: The new Jay Jay okocha on the block

Pattani FC creative midfielder Francis Ifeanyi is currently making waves in the Thailand league with fans already dubbed him the ‘special one’ in the country.
The 22 year-old midfieder has grown more mature in the centre pack of the midfield, and his explosive performance has gone noticed with French Ligue 1 clubs already on the card for the player who could be seen as new Jay Jay Okocha in the nearest future .

“Ify is a special one in the country, they love him because of his stylish display and creative performance, John Imegu another player from the league reveals Francis performance in the league.

“I am looking for avenue to take my games out the league so that my talent can be seen. I joined the league as a matter of playing out of Nigerian league and it seems my decision has paid off now. I am enjoying every bit of the game including the fans attitude but football is beyond static performance. I have played for two clubs here and they really appreciated my games,” Francis told 9jasoccerboysblog in a telephone chat.

“Last year I almost led them to Champions League but due to little mistake we couldn’t make it due to several injuries with many players but we finished 3rd, but this year we have planned ahead.
“I scored 11 goals that helped the team  and  I have scored lots of goals this season.

I have won Southern Thailand cup when I was loan by my team to play with Yarang FC and my lone goal at the final gave the hospital team the trophy in 2010 when I came the team newly because I joined this team at the mid season. But despite the interest of my old team for my return but this team couldn’t let me go, even the fans are ready to make violence because they love me and my game.

“Hmmm life here is good, especially when you are a football player you will be respected but very soon, I will take my game to Europe by his grace. But I wish to promote this team before leaving them
I am going to either France or remain in Thai premier league next season because I play here now as a consent, they begged and the money involved too.

EMMANUEL EMENIKE: I’m a real ‘goal fighter’

Spartak Moscow striker Emmanuel Emenike has described himself as a real goal fighter whenever he wore his jersey to lead the attacking role and do everything possible to make the fans smile but he remain as calm as water off the pitch.
The former Karabukspor of Turkey king of goal scored a sensational 13 goals to help the club for a ticket to next season’s UEFA Champions League. But despite his quick exploits in the Russian League, Emenike yet to be boastful of his personal achievement but rather focused on how to improve his goal scoring ability that will make him known as one of the best strikers in the rank of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and David Villa on the most prestigious campaign next season.

Few would deny that Emmanuel Emenike remains one of the most elegant and gifted creative striker of his generation. Cerebral, unerringly accurate from open play and set pieces, and a fine striker of the ball, currently enjoying a well-deserved post-season break, as he recharges his batteries for next season campaign. The talented striker graciously made time for an in-depth and exclusive interview with 9jasoccerboysblog.

“I’m a different person whenever I am on the pitch, infact whenever I wore my club jersey, I have become a goal fighter, said Emenike.
‘I don’t like defending my attitude but what I can tell you is that I’m a cool headed guy off the pitch and that is why you see everybody behind me here now, I love hanging around with my family and my friends off the pitch so that they can tell me the wrong path of my attitude. Some people who doesn’t know me have wrote a lot of things but I never care because my career is very important to me. And I understand the fact that you can satisfy everybody in this life and that is my slogan.

“I thank God for everything because scoring 13 goals in my first season in Russian league could not be seen as easy task, I fought hard to make myself happy and to score the goals.
“The leagues requires lots of stamina and little ruggedness otherwise you will be flop but maybe because of where I was coming from made it easy for me.
“You must be very ruthless with the Russians so that you can make you name in the country, they like to frustrate foreigners but once you show them your stuff, then you will be respected. Living in the country was a sweet one because it’s a lively place to be especially Moscow.

Emenike entertained 9jasoccerboysblog with his goals highlights DVDs in what a colleague described as stadium TV placed on the wall.
“As a striker, you must know how to score some difficult goals, I was commended with some goals I scored against Nsofor’s club and that is why most fans called me open goal scorer.

“I do watch my goals video before I go for the next match, that will enable me to see my errors and I can make corrections. And that is Europe for you.
(cuts in….) Emenike’s family was all over the gigantic sitting room while his close brother (football agent) Ebuke Felix Emenike inserted another DVD of Emenike against Dynamo Moscow to show us the scene behind his racism allegation in Russia.

“The fans were looking for ways to frustrate us because beating them could throw them out of UEFA competition and that was why they started such behavior. They thrown me snow ball several times, I even told one of their players to try talk to them but the guy told me to ignore them and I could not hold back my emotion, then I decided to show them my middle finger (lol).
Excited Emenike further speaks on UEFA Champions League.
“That is the big one, I can’t just wait to be there. I have seen a lot of good African players excel in the Champions league and I hope to follow their steps, maybe that will be my final breakthrough to the highest scene in football.

“People want to see me there, my club want me to be there and they know I can make the club proud, the fans can’t just wait to see me scoring goals but I pray to God to give me the wisdom to excel when I am there.
The 25-year-old has also debunked the reports linking him to Liverpool, Totteham and Chelsea.
“The decision of moving is with my club, and as I am talking to you now, no any official talk from my club. Maybe when I return but for now I am still a player of Spartak Moscow for good.

“Apart from that, I want to win trophies with Spartak, so I think I am more confident that I will stay. Though I have a dream to play in England and maybe another season coming but for now I want to stay in Russia.
“I will be a perfect player for English teams, there is no way a good player will move from Russian league to England and will be flop because you already have the strength and the ruggedness involve to compete, so I will be a star in any team base on my quality.

The former FC Capetown of South Africa looking towards Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in Champions league draw.
“When you play and score a against big clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea then you know you can always do it well with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona.

(Cuts in… Emenike on phone with former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze in VGC)

The Super Eagles striker refused to comment on the latest exclusion of some foreign based stars in Super Eagles team.
“That I am not part of the team? life goes on. I have no comment on that please.

STANLEY IHUGBA boasts mature game

Sarpsborg 08 midfielder Stanley Ihugba said his improved form will help him attracts big offer next season as Sarpsborg set sight on topflight.

The 23-year-old has remain one of the consistent player in his team this season and every arrangement has made by the club management to extend his deal but the talented midfielder refused to pen a new deal, claiming that he has the mission of taking the club back to the topflight and move to a bigger club.

His move to one German club fell out due to injury in last season campaign, but the Nigerian international has highlighted his improvement and hopes it will improve his chances of moving to a bigger club either in Norway or other country.

"I am more mature in the game now," Ihugba told 9jasoccerboysblog in an exclusive interview.
"I make more efforts for the others on the pitch, I am aware of my improved form likewise everybody in my club and I wish to continue like this so that my dream of taking Sarpsborg back to topflight will come true.

“Every failure makes you grow. I know this season will be great one for me, I want to really help my club because of their commitment but I can’t guarantee them of another deal for now.
"Obviously my team is doing well and we can move ahead in the subsequent matches.

OBIEFULE rules out China move

Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule is not interested in a move to Chinese league, and wants to remain patient to choose the best offer on his table as some clubs in Israel and Turkey already in talk with his agent.

Obiefule, who set a new all-time goal-scoring record in the Maltese championship last season when netting 34 goals during spells at Marsaxlokk and Mosta, has been reported to have an invitation from China League One outfit for a trial with a view to offering him a contract.
But the 24 years old striker has denied the report linking him to second division in China for a trial.

According to the TimesofMalta.com reported that Guangdong, who play in the second tier of the Chinese national league, have already acquired the necessary travelling documents for Obiefule, 24, to make the long trip to Asia and start his trial.

“It’s just a rumour to sell create traffic for their website, I have no interest in Chinese league now, I understand the fact that there is money there right now but I still have a lot to give in this game than rushing my career to China, “ said Obiefule.

“My mates are thinking on how to play in England, Spain, France and Germany, and did you think I will be so daft to go for a trial in second division club in China of all leagues?
“Presently, I have good clubs on the queue but I think I will only reveals Macabi of Israel because that’s already everywhere but for now, my future lies on the hand of God. I’m patiently ready to choose the best offer.