Sports

Standout NPFL: Onigbari Akeem, the dependable defender

 

With Toyin Saheed

Onigbari Akeem Olamilekan is a big and strong hearted central defender who started his professional football career with Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS Ilorin) FC
He joined the Harmony Boys Kwara United FC in 2012/2013 football season under the tutelage of Coach Samson Unuanel.
Incontrovertibly, Onigbari has remained resilience, versatile, intuitive, consistent and a big factor in the center defence of the state darling team for the past six years.
The former Crown FC of Ogbomoso is cool, composed and confidence on the ball; physically fit and imposing, tireless on the park with high work rate. He is a purposeful adventurous defender with no nonsense approach.
The captain of the Premier League side is endowed with terrific bullet shot, one of such shots led to the first goal against his former club, ABS, in the final of 2017 Kwara FA Cup.
It is hard for any striker to beat him or dribble pass him, especially when you face him one-on-one because his calmness and doggedness on the field always helped him.
The defender’s composure on the ball can be compared with that of the ex-Eagles international, Uche Okechukwu and former Inter Milan defender, Taribo West.
Though, he sometimes plays very rough on the field, which earns him punishment from referees because of his hard tackle.
His tremendous performance this season really gave him an edge over the new players just signed for the team for the 2018 NPFL season.
The former ABS defender has enjoyed good season with his compatriots, Francis who paired with him at the center defence.
Onigbari’s defensive partnership with Francis in 2017 Nigeria National League worked well and they continued with it in NPFL season until injury knocked Francis out of the team.
His consistency in the last six years has kept him going with the team and if he continues with that impressive form, he would definitely get a call up to the national team.

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