Former MFM FC and Plateau United striker, Sikiru Olatunbosun says he is excited to join Turkish second tier league side, Menemenspor Kulubu and is eager to help the modest side win promotion to the Super League, Completesports.com reports.
Olatunbosun signed a two-year contract with the TFF League 1 side on Thursday. But it’s unclear if he joined as a free agent or through outright transfer from NPFL club, Plateau United. He joined the Jos side last season after an impressive five-year stint with MFM FC.
“Really excited to join this team on a two-year deal. I love it here, it’s a new challenge for me in my career,” Olatunbosun tweeted on Wednesday after his unveiling by Menemenspor.
“The target is promotion to the Turkish top league which I believe we will get at the end of the season.”
Menemenspor confirmed Olatunbosun signing earlier on Wednesday via their official Twitter platform.
“Transfer | Our team signed a
two-year contract with Sikiru
Olatunbosun, a striker and wing
player who played for Plateau United last season,” Menemenspor tweeted.
Olatunbosun is famous for a memorable goal he scored for MFM FC in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match against Enugu Rangers at the Agege Stadium Lagos which CNN named its goal of the week.
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COMMENTS
Interesting….Turkey is fast becoming a preferred hunting ground for Nigerian players. If only we had a competitive league, so a good number of our players can ply their trade at home. I remember the days of Leventis United, Abiola Babes, Flash Flamingoes, NNB, ACB, Iwuayanwu Nationale, etc. Days when the Nigerian league was a joy to watch. I never missed MATCH OF THE WEEK every Sunday night at 10pm in those days. Now, Nigerians are watching Premier League, Champions League, and any other league. To even replace the crocked Ebuehi, Rohr has to look outside Nigeria. I heard he is lining up a youngster in Germany by he name of FELIX AGU, a 19 year old who plays for VFL OSNABRUCK a German division two club. Perhaps Rohr could have had options within Nigeria, if our league was up and running. Anyway, if Felix Agu accepts the invite, he is welcome to the fold. Let’s hope he justifies his invitation handsomely.
Whilst it’s always good news whenever a homebased player moves to pastures anew, it also leads to certain questions being raised about the declining quality of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Olatunbosun has just moved from a Premier League to a second division side, so, is that progress? Is that a step in the right direction?
Assuming Accrington Stanley FC of League One in England (division 3 equivalent) were to put an offer to sign Olatunbosun, I have a feeling he would take it with open arms (or feet as the case may be).
Gone appears to be those days when we look to our domestic league for the next Ighalo; these days, we look to foreign born Nigerians.
The exodus of players from the domestic league often to obscure clubs in random leagues speaks to the moribund nature of our league as a viable option for players to think they can thrive and compete with others on a level playing field.
It is good that the NFF is trying to pay attention to all our national teams in a manner that drives success. However, our domestic leagues demand such attention too.
After all, charity they say begins at home.