Nigerian Amputee Footballers Secure Professional Contracts In Turkey.
In a major breakthrough for Nigerian amputee football, several players have secured professional contracts with top Turkish clubs, marking a new era of growth and opportunity for the sport.
Nigerian Players Making Strides in Turkey
Three new Nigerian players have recently moved to Turkey to continue their careers:
– Abba Musa (Gebze Gucu Engelliler Spor Kulübü)
– Olaogun Bolaji David (Gebze Gucu Engelliler Spor Kulübü)
– Friday Habu (Sakarya Bedensel Engelliler Spor Kulübü)
They join a growing number of Nigerian players already excelling in Turkish amputee football, and other parts of Europe including:
– Nwachukwu Izuchukwu (Gebze Gucu Engelliler Spor Kulübü)
– Issah Yusuf (Gebze Gucu Engelliler Spor Kulübü)
– Umaru Grema Muhammed (Depsaş Enerji Spor Kulübü)
Beyond Turkey, Nigerian amputee footballers are also making an impact in Europe. Bamgbopa Abayomi Alabi plays for WKS Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, while Michael Ishiguzo represents Chelsea Amputee FC in England.
Driving the Growth of Amputee Football
This milestone is the result of relentless efforts by Ambassador Paul Maduakor, President of the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation, who has been instrumental in creating international opportunities for Nigerian players.
The federation’s Technical Director, Coach Victor Nnewne, highlighted the importance of these overseas transfers, stating that professional experience empowers players financially while also strengthening the national team.
“This initiative strengthens our national team, as seen in the last Nations Cup, where the few professionals in the squad played a vital role in our fourth-place finish, which qualified us for next year’s World Cup,” Nnewne explained.
To further develop the sport, the federation is working towards launching a National Amputee Football League in Nigeria. This league will keep home-based players active and ensure a steady pipeline of talent for the national team, the Special Eagles.
Captain Oyeleke Welcomes the Progress
Nigeria’s national team captain, Sarafadeen Olalekan Oyeleke, expressed his delight at the increasing number of Nigerian amputee footballers in Turkey. Oyeleke, who was the first Nigerian to play in Turkey when he joined Istanbul Özürlüler Spor Kulübü in 2015, also played a key role in helping Bursa Amputee Football gain promotion to the Turkish Amputee Super League in 2018.
“This was our dream—to open doors for more Nigerian players in professional amputee football. Seeing this happen now proves that our efforts, alongside the vision of Ambassador Paul Maduakor, are paying off,” Oyeleke stated.
A Bright Future for Nigerian Amputee Football
With more Nigerian amputee footballers securing professional contracts abroad, the future of the sport in Nigeria looks promising. The federation’s continued push for development ensures that more players will have opportunities to shine on the world stage while strengthening the national team for future competitions.
