Etiosa Ighodaro’s move to Kaizer Chiefs will come with the Nigerian striker aiming for what he hasn’t been offered for all the years he has spent in South Africa.
Ighodaro has signed a deal that should keep him at Chiefs for at least two years.
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The 24-year-old started out with Mamelodi Sundowns’ feeder team M Tigers in the ABC Motsepe League after arriving from Nigeria as a teenager.
He has now spent the past four years moving out on season-long loans from Sundowns to University of Pretoria, Chippa United, SuperSport United, and AmaZulu FC, putting his arrival at Naturena as his first permanent deal.
This move will come on the back of several Nigerian forwards having failed to make an impact throughout the PSL years.
The first striker at the Soweto giants from the most populous country on the continent into the PSL era years was Wasiu Ipaye.
This was in the 1997/98 season with Ipaye having already been to the 1985 U20 World Cup and then the 1990 AFCON finals, where he had Daniel Amokachi and the late Rashidi Yekini for company.
Amakhosi saw enough of Ipaye in that single season and then offloaded him.
He scored once – against Vaal Professionals – in 13 appearances.
The sitter that he missed against Mamelodi Sundowns at Odi Stadium in January 1998 is the most vivid memory of his time on the field in the famous Gold and Black jersey.
Ipaye was already closer to 30 upon joining Chiefs and disappeared from professional football after his release in May 1998.
Next was Anthony ‘Tony’ Ilodigwe, who was recruited from African Wanderers at the beginning of the 2000/01 season.
Ilodigwe was as forceful as he was clumsy with his signing motivated by the fact that he had scored a hat-trick against Mother City and a brace against Orlando Pirates while at Wanderers.
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He had temper issues and an aggression in his play, which is why he was frequently sent off.
At Chiefs, he lasted only a season, scoring five goals in 22 appearances before being moved out to Ria Stars.
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
