Ike Uche

Entertainment, Sports

Super Eagles forward, Ike Uche breaks Mutiu Adepoju and Finidi George's records in Spain.

30 year-old Nigerian footballer, Ikechukwu Uche played his way into the history books yesterday, November 3rd 2014 at his Villareal club in Spain when he broke the record of appearances made by any Nigerian in the country.
The Super Eagles forward who played for 71 minutes in the game between Villarreal and Valencia has now made 176 appearances. He surpassed appearances previously made by ex Nigeria internationals, Mutiu Adepoju and Finidi George who made 175 appearances each in the Primera División.
Ike, who was recently recalled to the Super Eagles team achieved the feat with 5 clubs namely; Recreativo Huelva, Getafe, Real Zaragoza, Granada and Villarreal. Finidi George made 175 appearances with RCD Mallorca and Real Betis while Mutiu Adepoju reached the landmark with Real Madrid, Racing Santander, Real Soceidad and Salamanca.
Credit: Super Sport
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As far as Stephen Keshi is concerned, Uche Ike's 'invitation' case is closed.

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has finally lifted the lid on Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche’s invitation to play for the national team. Recall that the last time he played for the team was during the 2013 African Cup of Nations. Keshi when quizzed during a recent press conference maintained that the Nigerian international’s case has been closed.

“This will be the last time I will speak about Ike Uche and I will not speak about him again, we are not quarrelling. Before the match against Congo, i gave them the list because I never thought I will come back to handle the team. I told them I will not do the list because I am not your coach they say no, so I did the list.

“Ike Uche’s name was in the 24-man list. He didn’t even know about it, I did not tell him. Uche called me four days later and I was like ah, we spoke and that was it. The next time I told the team secretary to ask the players if they had South African visa and if they don’t have it so that they can get the visa. When Uche was asked, he said why are you asking me, what do you need my passport for? I hate to speak without Uche not being here. You can call him and put it on speaker, if I’m telling lies let him say it.

“Please nobody should ask me about Uche again; Uche said he wants somebody to explain to him why they said he was a bad kid, and if not he is not playing. I said ok take his name out. I am not going to beg Uche, I’m not going to ask Daniel to beg Uche. We all played for this country for twenty something years and nobody begged us to play. We were begging to play. So let it be the end today, don’t ask me about Uche. Why not encourage the kids who have come here to play for their country. Why must it be Ike Uche, is it only him, Obafemi  is not saying anything, we have hundreds of other players who are not here,” Keshi warned.

Credit: Vanguard

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"You don't just bump into players and invite them." Stephen Keshi denies recalling Ike Uche

Super Eagles Head coach, Stephen Keshi has debunked reports that he’s recalled Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche and his brother, Kalu for Wednesday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa. Big Boss as fondly called said he heard the news and laughed it off.

“I have heard it myself and I just laughed because those who should know that we have no time between our last game and the match against Bafana Bafana are the same people misleading Nigerians. These players are professional footballers and there are processes for invitation, you don’t just bump into them and say come and play, that is very unprofessional and I never did that,” Keshi affirmed.

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Eagles/Bafana clash: Stephen Keshi finally recalls Ike Uche

So they’ve both sheathed their swords! Or maybe there was no feud afterall. National team coach Stephen Keshi has finally recalled Nigerian forward, Ike Uche. This is coming less than 5 days after both parties clashed. The Villareal striker will serve as a replacement for Uche Nwofor during Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifier against South Africa in Cape Town.

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"The boy should be forgiven". Governor Orji urges Stephen Keshi to recall Ike Uche.

Reactions have continued to trail Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi’s squad list for the 2014 World cup. Some players like Ideye Brown and John Ogu have expressed their disappointment for being excluded from the squad. Another player who shockingly didn’t make the list is Ikechukwu Uche and as far as Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state is concerned, the Villareal striker deserves to make it to Brazil in June.

A statement through his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewunmi reads thus, “As a passionate football fan, I appeal to my good friend Keshi, to have a change of mind and include Uche in his World Cup team. The boy should be forgiven since he is now remorseful. Football is a competitive game; we should not allow personal interest to override national aspirations. I salute Keshi for bringing back Yobo and Osaze. I wish he could extend same to Uche.”

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2014 World Cup: Stephen Keshi clears the air on his choice of players.

Nigeria’s national team coach, Stephen Keshi has cleared the air on his choice of players for the forthcoming 2014 World Cup. Speaking to Vanguard, the former defender who has been criticized for not recalling the likes of Osaze Odewengie and Ike Uche maintained that team spirit and tactical considerations are his criteria for selecting players.
“It is wrong for any coach to shut the door against any player and ban such a player from playing for the National team. But time matters in all things including football. There are times good players may lose form and you allow them time to be fit again and there are times a player may not contribute to the success of a team due to behavioral problems and if you, as a coach, feel that it will be for the best interest of the team to allow such a player time to conform to the acceptable conducts, you do so to help the team.
I’m aware of the comments people have made on some of our players. All good players deserve to be in the national team but there are also team spirit considerations. There are tactical considerations. If you have a concept and a player does not and refuses to conform to that concept what do you do?  What I want people to know is that I want to go to Brazil and do well. And I will not leave out any person who I feel will help us do well.
No reasonable coach will do that. If I leave out any player, it simply means that I feel that such a player may not help the general interest of the team in Brazil. It is a serious matter and it will not be nice to trivialize World Cup selection matters. It is a serious matter and I wouldn’t want sentiments to sway us.”
Credit: Vanguardngr.com
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IS MIKEL OBI ON STEPHEN KESHI'S LIST?

Stephen Keshi

There are speculations that Nigerian Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi may not include Chelsea’s Mikel Obi in his list of players playing in the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Rwanda.

Though Mikel has resumed training after seven weeks out with a muscle problem, the coach insisted that only fit players will be involved in the game.
“It’s very simple only fit players would be invited now. We have three major qualifiers, there is CHAN 2012, AFCON 2013 and the World Cup qualifiers, so we are just building and everyone would get a chance but right now only fit players will be invited”.

“My list will consist of only players who are in action every week.”

With this statement, would Mikel who has been absent in his club for weeks be included in Keshi’s list?
On whether Blackburn Rovers striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who has been given a back seat after he missed a sitter against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup would also feature, he said that, “There was no time I said Aiyegbeni was on my list. But if he makes it to the list, that means he deserves to be there,” said the coach.

However, those who top the list of call-ups include Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie, Obinna Nsofor, Efe Ambrose, Ike Uche, Taye Taiwo, Joel Obi, Brown Ideye, Ekigho Ehiosun and Austin Ejide.

Source: MTN football

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