Delhi soccer with a dash of Nigeria

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: These Nigerian footballers may easily go unnoticed in their homeland, but they have definitely become the cynosure of all eyes in their adopted clubs here.
While top clubs of India have always had a mix of Brazilian and African players, it's surprising to see a sizeable number of Nigerians turning out for various clubs in the Delhi Soccer Association's super league.Most city clubs have two or three Nigerians in their ranks.
With soccer being the most popular sports and a lucrative career option in Nigeria, one wonders what's prompted them to come all the way to India and play in unhappening leagues like Delhi and Tripura.
For Musibau Adebato, a former Lagos-based Julius Berger FC player, joining Delhi's City FC this season after having played for J&K Bank and Tripura's Noboday club, is a step towards gaining a place in one of the elite clubs like Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting, JCT etc.
In fact, Adebato's entry into Indian soccer was paved by his brother Bolaji Majekodunmi, who currently plays for reigning Durand Cup champions Dempo SC.
"The competition and the game is very tough back in Nigeria, so you have to move out for space," says Adebato, a Barcelona fan whose ultimate aim is make it to a club in Europe. Then there is Paul Anthony Onyeamaechi, who feels that getting a foreign-based player tag adds to their profile back home.
Onyeamaechi's tryst with foreign clubs started in 2003 in Thailand and within a year he moved to India to play with Tripura's Blood Mouth and later to Delhi.
Most of these Nigerians do not look extraordinarily brilliant when compared to their Indian counterparts on the field here. So what has prompted the Delhi clubs to welcome them with open arms?
"They may not be very highly skilled but they are physically stronger and give us a psychological advantage over the rivals," reasons DSA's Sharafat Ullah. But another DSA official disagrees, "It is more of a fashion statement. We should nurture local talent than rely on mediocre talent from abroad."
Benjamin Ogibuisi, Ahbab FC's coach, insists that Nigerians' commitment to soccer puts him and his countrymates ahead of their Indian counterparts here, "And that shows on the field," he says.
This emphatic assertion by Ogibuisi may be hotly debated, but one thing is clear: the Nigerian players do have a field presence which makes the game more entertaining.