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WHO is India’s best known Nigerian right now? The answer may surprise most readers of IndiaPage.
With due apologies to other claimants to such distinction, there is virtually no need to hold any opinion poll! I am pretty certain who India’s best known Nigerian is: Its Odafa Onyeka Okolie. Odafa Who? How Come? – Hang on!
He is a 25-year-old Nigerian footballer – current captain of Goa-based Churchill Brothers Sports Club. He has been known among Indian football aficionados for past six years.
Nevertheless, his hat-trick during 10 minutes of extra time of 122nd Durand Cup final in New Delhi on September 22 has transformed him into a legend.
Odafa single handedly sank chances of famed Mohun Bagan Club of Kolkata of winning the Durand, India’s most coveted, world’s third oldest football cup.
Churchill Brothers’ 3-1 Durand victory followed similar victory over same Mohun Bagan in IFA Shield final a few weeks ago which, too, was largely engineered by Odafa.
Odafa has been playing with various football clubs in India since 2003.
He renewed his annual contract with Churchill Brothers earlier this year reportedly for a fee of around N30 million- making him highest paid footballer in India.
That kind of money puts Odafa into a different Indian league: that of Bollywood stars, who earn even more. But, that’s another story!
Odafa has outclassed other forwards in the penetrating zone for the last three years. After the 21st round, Odafa led the scorers’ tally with 24 goals. Felix Chimaokwu (Churchill Brothers) and Ranty Martins (Dempo SC) came next with 11 goals.
Starting his Indian sojourn in 2004, Odafa never had to look back though he had some anxious years with Mohammedan Sporting of Kolkata and Bangladeshi side Muktijoddha.
However, he won’t be the first footballer to touch the Rs1 crore base in India. Mahindra United defender Mahesh Gawli was signed for close to Rs1.25 crore for a three-year term.
