An impending deal with nouveau riche Manchester City, that’s what? and Nigeria striker, Kayode Olanrewaju is the man reaping the fruits of his potency, What do 17 goals in an Austrian season get you?
The forward has joined Man City from Austrian League and is expected to spend the next season on loan to Spanish side Girona.
Here are five things about the new City arrival-then-departure.
- Olanrewaju was a member of the Nigeria Under-17 class of 2009, which finished as runners-up to Switzerland at the World Cup in Nigeria. Although he played in every single game, he never lasted a full match and failed to score a single goal. Some of his contemporaries on that side were Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Ramon Azeez. International stars who played include Alvaro Morata, Shkodran Mustafi, Mario Gotze, Granit Xhaka, Isco and one Neymar, … who managed to score a grand total of one goal.
- ‘Larry’ also played at two other FIFA cadet tournaments – the Under-20 World Cups in 2011 and 2013, scoring a combined total of five goals. Three of those came in Colombia in 2011, where he scored in consecutive group phase games.
- Kayode started his career with an Ibadan-based Marvelous FC, from where he moved to Ghana to join Red Bull FC. It was from Ghana that he was recommended to Nigeria Under-17 coach John Obuh, went for tryouts, and was picked for the World Cup match. Prior to all of that, he was trained by one of the country’s top youth coaches and spotter of talents, simply called Zico. Olanrewaju says he is grateful for the tutelage, telling KweséESPN: “I am happy with him and everyone else for what they contributed to my career.”
- It has been a grueling road for Olanrewaju, who had to overcome numerous roadblocks as he clawed his way up. Loaned out to ASEC Mimosas by Red Bull, he had trouble settling at the club and was eventually forced to go back home, where he was registered with Heartland before he could make his move to the Israeli second division club, Maccabi Nentaya. During his time in Israel he was managed by Emeka Ezeala, who used to work with former Germany coach Berti Vogts when the latter coached Nigeria. Olanrewaju’s 13 goals and six assists helped haul Netanya to promotion.
- Olanrewaju is a quick striker, who can play centrally, but he is equally well-equipped to operate as a wide forward. Former teammate and Birmingham-bound midfielder Ogenyi Onazi says the striker has always been ready to take in as much knowledge as possible. “He is a person who always wants to learn and join in everything,” Onazi said.
Onazi says even in their cadet days, the potential was there: “He was fast then, but the issue was his finishing. Now he has played under good coaches and learned how to finish, he will be deadly.” A bold statement to make, however, sources close to the player’s camp told KweséESPN that Pep Guardiola watched films of the youngster for two months before making a decision on him. If true, that tells its own story, and a good one too.
NPFL Statistics
- Sunday Adetunji has scored more brace than any other player in the #NPFL since the start of last season. Style #GetwellsoonAdetunji
- Since Abia Warriors gained promotion to the #NPFL, only Enyimba Int’l (52) have accrued more away points than them.
- Abia Warriors ended a run of 80 home #NPFL matches without a defeat for Lobi Stars.
- Destiny Ashadi has ended a run of 831 minutes in away #NPFL games without a goal for Katsina United.
- Sikiru and S. Odey have provided a combined total of 10 assists for each other – the best by any #NPFL duo this term.
- 18 – Stephen Odey has now scored 18 goals in the #NPPL this term – double his goal tally last season.
- Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has now scored three free kicks this season, no #NPFL player has scored more – tied with Elisha Golbe.
- Sunshine Stars have won two successive #NPFL away games, but didn’t win any of the previous 22 away games.
- Rivers United lost a home game for the first time in their #NPFL history, ending a run of 31 matches.
- Tony Okpotu has scored more goals from open play (excl. penalties & direct free kicks) than any other #NPFL.
- ABS FC has now gone 24 consecutive away games in the #NPFL without keeping a clean sheet.
- Enyimba Int’l won only once in their last 6 games against Lobi Stars in the #NPFL (2D 3L).
- Rivers United have never won a #NPFL game against Sunshine Stars in three attempts (1D 2L).
- The home side has won the last eight #NPFL matches between Nasarawa United and El-kanemi Warriors.
- All of Sunshine Stars’ goals since the appointment of Duke Udi as head coach have come in the second half of matches.
- MFM FC has now scored the first goal in 17 games through Odey’s 17th goal of the season – outright record for club and player.
- Tony Okpotu has now scored 13 goals this term, one more goal than his total tally in the whole of last season.
- Only FC Ifeanyiubah (12) have been awarded more penalty kicks than Niger Tornadoes this season.
FIXTURES
NPFL
ABS v Plateau Utd
Rangers v Katsina
Ifeanyi Uba v Akwa Utd
Kano Pillars v Abia Warriors
Lobi v El-Kanemi
MFM v Gombe
Rivers v Enyimba
Shooting v Nasarawa
Sunshine v Tornadoes
Wikki v Remo
EPL
Swansea City v Man Utd
Leicester City v Brighton
Liverpool v C/Palace
Burnley v West Brom
Bournemouth v Watford
Southampton v West Ham
Stoke City v Arsenal
Man City v Everton
Tothenham v Chelsea
Huddersfield v Newcastle
LA LIGA
Leganés v Alavés
Valencia v Las Palmas
Celta Vigo v Sociedad
Girona v Atlético Madrid
Sevilla v Espanyol
Athletic Club v Getafe
Barcelona v Real Betis
Deportivo v Real Madrid
LIGUE 1
Metz v Monaco
Lyon v Bordeaux
Saint-Étienne v Amiens
Rennes v Dijon
Nice v Guingamp
Troyes v Nantes
Montpellier v Strasbourg
Lille v Caen
Marseille v Angers
PSG v Toulouse
BUNDESLIGA
Bayern v Leverkusen
Wolfsburg v Dortmund
Hertha BSC v Stuttgart
Mainz 05 v Hannover
Hoffenheim v Bremen
Hamburger SV v Augsburg
Schalke 04 v RB Leipzig
Freiburg v Frankfurt
M’gladbach v Köln
SERIE A
Juventus v Cagliari
Hellas Verona v Napol
Atalanta v Roma
Sassuolo v Genoa
Crotone v Milan
Bologna v Torino
Internazionale v Fiorentina
Sampdoria v Benevento
Udinese v Chievo
