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As soon as they knew that the three-time I-League golden boot winner Odafe Onyeka Okolie was available, Sporting Clube de Goa were the quickest of the blocks and succeeded in getting the prized signature. The transfer formalities were completed at the clubs headquarters in Panjim today.
Odafe had rejoined Churchill Brothers at the start of the season hoping to guide his former club back to I-League glory, but after the club were not allowed to take part in this seasons I-League, Odafe had been getting a little restless following the end of the Goa Pro League as the club is also not playing in the 2nd Division I-League.
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Sporting Goa are currently bottom of the I-League table with just three points from eight matches. The recent introduction of the defensive duo Sandesh Jinghan and Miguel Garcia steadied the ship at the back, but now its goals they are after. They have dominated teams and created ample opportunities but have frustratingly fallen short inside the opposition's box, with only three goals so far.
With Churchill Alemao giving his blessing for the sake of his favourite football son's career and the better interests of Goan football, it looks like Odafe joining Sporting Goa is a marriage made in heaven.
Speaking on the occasion, Odafe expressed his happiness in being back in the top flight of Indian football and promised to take up the challenge of putting Sporting Goa back on the map.
"I am delighted to have signed for the Flaming Oranje. Their current position does not give a true account of the pedigree and the stature of the club and I will play my part in helping my new teammates get back on track," remarked Odafe.
Odafe's journey in Indian football started in 2003 in Kolkata with Mohammedan Sporting, before moving to Bangladesh for a short stint with Muktijoddha. He soon returned to India in 2005 with Churchill Brothers where his sheer athleticism and eye for goal started to flourish. Between 2007 and 2010 he was the I-League's highest goal scorer for three straight seasons, while also helping Churchill Brothers to win the I-League in 2009.
His success led to a big money move to Kolkata where he donned the colours of Mohun Bagan AC for three years before moving back to Varca.
"The name Odafe Onyeka Okolie is synonymous with goals in Indian football. We believe his addition to the team will give us that much needed boost. His track record speaks for itself," stated Sporting Clube de Goa president Peter Vaz.
