By Chinedu laurel Okorodike
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit
The Club Friendlies match between Valencia and NPFL All Stars will be taking place on Wednesday, August 10.
Valencia is coming fresh off a 3:1 loss to its Club Friendlies rival Crystal Palace on August 6.
The NPFL All Stars players are coming into this game full of confidence after a sterling performance for their respective clubs. Except an explosive encounter.
One thing The NPFL All Stars players have in their basket is talent and experience. Many of them have played for Nigeria national teams at different levels, with different numbers of caps in the senior national team.
Also some of them have had experience in international and continental competitions. They are very confident players who will not be intimidated by the big boys in Valencia.
The side is Captained by Enyimba FC of Aba top player Chima Akas, the team also parades some of the best legs in the NPFL. The list includes goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa of FC IfeanyiUbah, Nnewi, Theophilus Afelokhai of Enyimba FC of Aba and Emeka Nwabulu of Wikki Tourists, Bauchi.
Others are Mathew Etim (Rangers), Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors) and Jamiu Aliyu of Kano Pillars. Also in the squad are Enyimba’s Joseph Osadiaye, Rabiu Ali of Kano Pillars, Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists and Ezekiel Bassey of Enyimba.
Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers, Emmanuel Ariwa (Akwa United), Ifeanyi Ifeanyi of MFM, Ismaila Gata of FC IfeanyiUbah, Samuel Nweke of Nasarawa United and Charles Henlong of Wikki Tourists also made the list.
 |
| Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo and Wikki Tourist coach Abdul Maikaba will be in charge from the bench |
The rest of the squad are Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars, Chisom Egbuchulam of Rangers, Sikiru Olatunbosun of MFM, Chinedu Udoji of Enyimba and his teammate Dami Ojo.
The team is being handled by Nigeria national team coach, Salisu Yusuf, assisted by Imama Amapakabo of Rangers International FC of Enugu and Nigerian ex-international, Ike Shorunmu as goalkeepers trainer.
TIME OF MATCH
The match is slated for 8:30pm (Nigerian Time) (9.30pm Spanish time). and will be live on the network service of Africa Independent Television (AIT)
STATS OF BOTH TEAMS
The home team Valencia got 2 wins 1 draws and 3 losses in the last 6 games. Scored 29 goals and conceded 33 goals in the last 20 games.
The away team NPFL XI Nigeria got 0 wins 0 draws and 0 losses in the last 0 games. Scored 0 goals and conceded 0 goals in the last 0 games
Valencia got 6 wins in the last 19 home games, NPFL XI Nigeria got 0 wins in the last 0 away games.
NPFL All Stars Players to watch
1. IKECHUKWU EZENWA
Expect the Ifeanyi Ubah goalkeeper to start. His experience has seen him play for Ocean Boys F.C., Heartland F.C, Sharks F.C, Sunshine Stars F.C and presently Ifeanyi Ubah F.C.
He was a member of Nigeria U-20 and also Nigeria U-23 at the 2008 Summer Olympics , featuring in the qualifier games. He got the call up to the Nigeria Super Eagles in 2015 under the authority of Coach Sunday Oliseh. He has been part of the squad in the World cup and Nations cup qualifications.
2. OBINNA NWOBODO
Often compared to Xavi and Riquelme , Obinna is a delight to watch any day and time whether in the colours of Rangers of Enugu or in the colours of the Nationa U-20 team.
He possesses an unusually high tactical awareness, good passing range and is able to equally pass and shoot with both foot. He has been played in a deep-lying playmaker role tis season.
He has started majority of Rangers games the season, his playmaking and distribution has helped move Rangers to the top of the NPFL 2015/2016. He has contributed 5 goals and 6 assists at the midway stage of the season.
Personally my instinct tells me if this young lad put up a sterling performance, he will be snapped up by European clubs after this competition as his playing style fits the Spanish league
3. ISMAILA GATA
Ismaila Gata is presently among the Nigeria premier league highest goal scorers. He is a Former Enyimba and Niger Tornadoes players. He recently moved to Ifeanyi Ubah from Niger Tornadoes.
In 2014 he cancelled his contract with his foriegn club FK Kukesi of Albania due to little money he was offered as salary by the club.
He is one of the most respected and feared striker in the NPFL and can cause problems for the Valencia defence
4. CHISOM EGBUCHULAM
When you want to watch good free kick I recommend you watch this young man. He steps forward without fear to convert most of Rangers free kick during matches
The player have attracted interest from fellow Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, IfeanyiUbah FC, among other big teams.
The winger dazzling skills and pace will be too hand full for the back line of Valencia to contain. Foreign scouts will keep their eyes on him
5. EZEKIEL BASSEY
The Enyimba of Aba player is a delight to watch any day. The winger nicknamed Hazard, who represented Nigeria at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) has the ability to trouble defence with his dribbling skills and pace.
His display in the colours of the Super Eagles and Enyimba has seen him being linked to West Ham in the past. Expect explosive displays from this man
Valencia Players to watch
1. Nani
Nani has played as a professional for Sporting Clube Portugal de Lisboa (2005-2007, 2014-15), Manchester United (2007-2014) and Fenerbahçe (2015-2016).
He began his senior career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, later playing for Manchester United from 2007 to 2014. While in Manchester he won four Premier League titles (2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013), the League Cup (2009), the UEFA Champions League (2008) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2008), amongst other honours.
Returning to Sporting on loan for the 2014/15 season, Nani won his second Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup). The 29 year-old spent the 2015/16 campaign at Fenerbahce, making 46 official appearances and scoring 12 goals. He also won the recently concluded European championship with Portugal.
2. Martin Montoya
Martin Montoya was previously a player for FC Barcelona, coming up through their La Masia academy and debuting for the first team in La Liga on February 26th, 2011, against Mallorca at the Iberostar Stadium.
A right back who has also played on the left side, Montoya has represented Spain at Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. He was European Champion with the Under-17 squad in 2008, and with the Under 21s in 2013. In July of 2012 he was included in the Spain squad for the Olympic Games in London.
At club level, he has three La Liga titles, one Champions League, two Copa del Rey wins and two Spanish Supercopas to his name, all with FC Barcelona. Montoya started the 2015/16 season on loan at Internazionale in Italy’s Serie A before returning to Spain with Real Betis, for whom he played thirteen games during his loan spell.
3. Shkodran Mustafi
Arsenal badly needs this man. Shkodran Mustafi is a skillful defender who, despite his youth, has extensive international experience and is a recent World Cup winner with Germany.
He is a strong defender, confident and adept in the air. His speed and perfect positioning allow him to anticipate movement from opponents.
4. Dani Parejo
Parejo is a player with a tremendous ability to run play. He combines great vision with a useful defensive contribution, and thus his presence in the midfield provides a relief for his team mates as he carries the strategy. The player was a youth team member of Real Madrid, although he would not enjoy too many chances to shine with the first team.
He was loaned out to Queens Park Rangers in 2008 and transferred to Getafe in 2009, for whom he played until signing for Valencia CF. Witht he national team he has won the Gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in 2009, the Under-21 European Championship in 2011 and the Under-19s version in 2007 a competition in which he scored the only goal in the final
