Turkey Tickles 14 Nigerians One of the dramatic realities of the outgoing summer transfer market is the sudden emergence of Turkey as the new centre of attraction in the swoop of wheeling and dealing for Nigerian players, as not less than four major moves have occurred for lads from this country into the Super Lig or the lower flight league, while a couple of others were also enacted within the internal regions of same country. At the last count, the total number of Nigerian players plying their trade in Turkey was 14, which included several former youth internationals that have since fallen into the shadows of national and international reckoning, while the like of out-of-favour Super Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo as well as former Flying Eagles and Dream Team captain, Isaac Promise are still battling to hold their own. The list of Nigerian players in Turkey, though, would be enlarged when three less popular players are added to the roll call, as vastly unknown former South Africa-based attacker, Chibuzor Nwogbo stars for Adanaspor, Gideon Sani is on loan at Turkish second division side, Tavsanli Linyitspor and Chibuzor Madu joined second division Karharamamaspor this summer, but his ex-Rangers International of Enugu teammate, Razaq Adegbite is back home in Nigeria after finding his a two-year deal with the same lower division side cancelled recently. On the other hand, the big Nigerian moves into Turkey in the summer spree turned out to be Emmanuel Emenike (from Spartak Moscow to Fenerbahçe), Taye Ismaila Taiwo (from Dynamo Kiev to Bursaspor) and John Chukwudi Utaka (from Montpellier to Sivasspor). The Nigerian deals of lower value into and round Turkey include the arrival of 2013 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) top scorer, Umar Aminu at another lower division side, Samsunspor from Wikki Tourist of Bauchi, only to be joined few days later by former Nigerian league top scorer, Ekigho Ehiosun, who moved in from a loan deal at Genclerbirligi. It would be recalled that the first Nigerian player to move to Turkey was former Super Eagles skipper, Uche Okechukwu, who joined Fenerbahçe in 1993, and was later joined at same club by another ex-national team captain, Austin Okocha and current Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi followed suit in 1996 when he linked forces with Beşiktaş. NIGERIAN STARS IN TURKEY 1. John Utaka - Sivasspor 2. Michael Eneramo - Beşiktaş 3. Kalu Uche - Kasimpasa 4. Uche Kalu - Rizespor 5. Taye Taiwo - Bursaspor 6. Emmanuel Emenike – Fenerbahçe 7. Joseph Yobo - Fenerbahçe 8. Umar Aminu - Samsunspor 9. Ekigho Ehiosun – Samsunspor 10. Nduka Ozokwor - Mersin Idmanyurdi 11. Isaac Promise - Antalyaspor 12. Akeem Agbetu - Tavsanli Linyitspor 13. Raheem Lawal - Mersin Idmuyurdu 14. Simon Zenke - Istanbul BB
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:34:50 +0000
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