HOME > NEWS > EDWARD OFERE LEAVES MALMO FF FOR LECCE

Edward Ofere leaves Malmo FF for Lecce

Ofere joins Lecce

Posted: 2010-08-28 17:02

Striker Edward Ofere has agreed a deal to join Italian club US Lecce from Sweden's Malmo FF.

Sources close to the player told KickOffNigeria.com that both parties had agreed on the switch, with a formal contract signing scheduled for early next week.

The 24-year-old joined Malmo in 2005 from Nigerian club Enugu Rangers, where his 24 goals in 85 appearances attracted interest from a host of European clubs, starting with Middlesbrough and Newcastle back in 2008.

This summer Ofere has been on the radar of several clubs, including English sides West Ham, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.

Last week, he was reported to be on his way to Genk, and was even in the stands to see Genk go down 3-0 to Porto in the Europa League, but the deal failed to happen.

Comment on this article:

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princess: 2010-08-28 19:11

lol,these are stories.2 me,the guy is not a good player.I feel collins udoh is just trying 2 market him 2 super eagles.we shall see

princess: 2010-08-28 19:19

HOME > NEWS > EDWARD OFERE LEAVES MALMO FF FOR LECCE
Ofere joins Lecce

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Edward Ofere leaves Malmo FF for Lecce
Ofere joins Lecce

Posted: 2010-08-28 17:02

Striker Edward Ofere has agreed a deal to join Italian club US Lecce from Sweden's Malmo FF.

Sources close to the player told KickOffNigeria.com that both parties had agreed on the switch, with a formal contract signing scheduled for early next week.

The 24-year-old joined Malmo in 2005 from Nigerian club Enugu Rangers, where his 24 goals in 85 appearances attracted interest from a host of European clubs, starting with Middlesbrough and Newcastle back in 2008.

This summer Ofere has been on the radar of several clubs, including English sides West Ham, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.

Last week, he was reported to be on his way to Genk, and was even in the stands to see Genk go down 3-0 to Porto in the Europa League, but the deal failed to happen.

Colin Udoh


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Recent Comments (1) :

princess: 2010-08-28 19:11 [ Report ]

lol,these are stories.2 me,the guy is not a good player.I feel collins udoh is just trying 2 market him 2 super eagles.we shall see

Olumide: 2010-08-28 22:12

24 goals in 85 appearances, he will never make a danger man.

Leonard: 2010-08-28 22:43

Chelsea - Mikel Takes Centre Stage!

The emergence of Jon Obi Mikel as a playmaker of Chelsea FC hasn`t happened overnight. He has endured some sharp criticism both from media and even a section of our own fans. But Mikel is now emerging as the link between attack and defence; a player capable of playing a short pass to find a team-mate in space or a 40 yard Pirlo-esque beauty to set-up a goal-scoring chance.

Young Jon Obi Mikel has started out his career as an attacking midfielder for Lyn Oslo and Nigeria. Unfortunately for Mikel he joined a club managed by Jose Mourinho, who noted Mikel`s physique and Makelele`s aging body - did the simple thing by putting two and two together and started grooming Mikel for the holding role.

Unfortunately for Mikel, a young hot-headed player unknown for his defensive play, it would prove to be a steep learning curve. Any attacking intent was quickly coached out of him by Mourinho`s totalitarian style. The player was fined several times for lack of discipline. Early on, Mikel was mainly a stand in for Makelele and Essien when one of them was out, he filled in. But hot on his heels was another emerging talent, Lassana Diarra, now of Real Madrid. A natural holding midfielder, Lassana, however saw his opportunities limited to appearances off the bench and stepping in at right back. He was none too happy about it.

Mourinho quickly got rid of Diarra for a reported £2.5 million fee (who 2 years later became a £20 million buy for the Los Blancos), as he saw greater potential in Mikel. However, the game was changing. The need for 'Makelele` role was disappearing. Teams with deep-lying playmakers were emerging. Something that has been long practiced by Carlo Ancelotti who long-time ago found a guy called Pirlo in Milan`s reserves. But soon Mourinho was gone too, after unspectacular start to a season. In came Grant who trusted Mikel a starting role in his first match in charge.

Unfortunately, due to an already bad reputation - Mikel was given a straight red card in the match against Manchester United. To this day yours truly believes it to be one of the harshest red cards he`s ever witnessed (Essien vs Derby, Lampard on Alonso are other examples that have stayed in my memory).

Grant`s reign continued, chopping and changing players saw some success but in the end, we managed to finish second best in pretty much every competition. Not good enough. Mikel wasn`t trusted by Grant. And neither was he trusted by Phil Scolari. But those two reigns ended sharply and painfully. Guus Hiddink came in and steadied the ship before came the arrival of King Carlo. Carlo arrived with big plans for Mikel:

'I have a lot of trust in Mikel, I think he can be the playmaker of this team. He is a young player, but has great quality, both technical and tactical.`

The Nigerian midfielder signed a new deal at the start of 2009/10 campaign. The midfielder didn`t start many games at first, but was brought in to the starting line-up in a game against ****nal in what would be one of the finest defensive performances of young Mikel to date. As Essien started on the right of midfield, Mikel played the holding role. And he had to defend for much of the game, but kept Fabregas and co at bay, with the Gunners restricted to limited opportunities in the match. Chelsea ran riot and defeated our London rivals, as Drogba proved to be the bogeyman once again in the Wenger`s nursery.

Yet, it was only through unfortunate circumstances of Michael Essien`s injuries that Mikel became a first choice at Chelsea. And undeniably, he had a dodgy moment or two - namely against Anorthis Famagusta, playing a back pass into a striker`s path under pressure. However he slowly but surely grew into newfound responsibility and found confidence that was previously sucked out of him by Mourinho. In fact Mikel was getting enough confidence to get further forward and try a shot or two (to horror of many fans). But perhaps what went unnoticed is that he became one of the best passers in the league over a short period of time. And where previously under Mourinho he was asked to play it short and simple, Mikel now had a confidence to play the ball in the channels that Ancelotti`s new expansive style provided.

The start of the season has seen defensive responsibilities shared between Mikel and much-impoving Essien. It was Mikel`s pass to Anelka in a game against Wigan that made people stand up and take note of what previously went unnoticed. Mikel unlike majority of our senior players actually had a superb pre-season. He started attacks and did his defensive duties.

If you watch Chelsea play now, you will rarely see an attack where Mikel doesn`t touch the ball. He can no longer be accused of passing it backwards, or not looking around when playing the pass. A lot of this has to be down to Carlo`s coaching and tactics but the player is finally maturing. People will naturally choose to compare him to Makelele, although Makelele in 2010, would be an obsolete player. Mikel offers so much more than the Frenchman did, and whilst people won`t be naming it a 'Mikel` role for a while, I suspect a few more neutrals will take note of the much improved Mikel.

Don`t get me wrong Mikel has still a lot to prove, to many people, including a lot of Chelsea fans. What I urge you to do, is to watch Mikel more closely in the next game, and appreciate all the little neat touches he makes and passes he plays. The way he finds a team-mate in space and starts an attack.

Now though, Mikel`s development is under threat with the arrival of Ramires. I would be disappointed to see Mikel lose his place in the first eleven, particularly having made such a huge step forward. But I guess at this level you have to accept competition for places, I just hope it doesn`t come at a price.

BULLY: 2010-08-29 01:23

“PRINCESS”:
Maybe you should go try and play for Rangers, then Malmo, then….. Before you come here and pull others down with negativity.

OLUMIDE:
Why are u and princess so negative rather than encourage the player.
How would you guys feel if someone said the same about you?
Please wake up!

stan'Lee: 2010-08-29 05:26

Welldone Edward.
That was a smart and brilliant move.
From Sweden to Italy....!!!
I believe in you and pray you explode in Lecce FC so that very soon, bigger Serie A clubsides will clamour for your services.
I am impressed with the fact that most of our players are beginning to land offers with clubsides where they will either improve on their skills by having more competitive playing times rather stay put and rot on the bench.
I am wishing you the best, Ed!!!
Go and shine....!

However,......
I find it hard to comprehend why it is easy for fans to out rightly condemn or say negative things about a player.
This is a player that has starred about 5-6 solid seasons with the then Enugu Rangers before taking his ply abroad and yet still making wave and waxing stronger!
Yet I read a few fans writing that he is no good to the game.

This is surprising....but one basic fact is that as a Foreigner, as long as you are successful in your profession aboard to the extent that those at the home-ground still heard something great coming from you.....THEN, YOU ARE A GREAT PERSON...no doubts!!!!
This is because it is never easy to break ground in a foreign land and succeed.
The competition is very high and as a foreigner, your target bar is even raised higher to meet up expectations when compared to that of those that owns the land.

So if any of our players somewhere outside the home-front is making the headlines, it is proper and considerate that we give him (or her) a pat on the back to surge him to soar higher instead of poor remarks that can de-moralize him.

JUST TO MENTION A FEW........

Take Jon obi Mikel for Instance.
There are lots of fans that never say well of this lad.
Well, I will always remain proud of him because no matter the star-studded Chelsea FC team, he still gets playing time...even when a new coaching crew is installed.
This lad always have a share in that overcrowded highly rated midfield.
Just yesterday in their win against Stoke, the highly rated Essien came off for Ramires while JOM played on.

Also, 2 weeks ago...Lots of us said negative things about Osaze’s move to WBA but after his goal in that scintillating debut last week, some of us have either changed opinion or withdrew to their shameless shell.

Now how about Sanni kaita...The lad with that red card against the Greek in SA.
Hours after, rumour and news followed that he got ugly death threat messages.
But as I write, I just imagined what would have happened to Gyan (assuming Nigeria was Ghana)...after that last minute penalty miss against Uruguay that would have book Ghana’s Quarterfinal slot.

Then how about this great news, I hear that Ghana honours one of their finest captains, Stephen Appiah immediately he announced international retirement from the black stars.
What have we done for our own captains and players alike...nothing!

Cameroun still honour Mac Vivien Foe till this day for this commitment to the Indomitable Lions before his sad demise....This is just one of the best you can do to keep his memory and make his family appreciative.
Now, how about our dear Samuel okwaraji, Yemi Tella and a host of others...
What have we done lastly to immortalise such patriotic gentlemen.

See.....It is high time, WE LEARN TO APPRECIATE OUR OWN...no matter what!
A word is enough......
God help us!!!