Gbenga Okunowo
Encyclopedia
Samuel Gbenga Okunowo is a Nigeria
n footballer who plays mainly as a right defender.
Injury affected the vast majority of his professional career, which was spent in eight different countries other than his own.
an powerhouse FC Barcelona
at only 18. In 1998–99, he competed for starting spot in the main squad with Michael Reiziger
, and managed 14 La Liga
appearances (eight starts), in a final win for the Catalans
.
However, Okunowo did not manage to remain with Barça, going on to serve two unassuming loans, with Portugal
's S.L. Benfica and second division
side CD Badajoz
, and being released in June 2002. He went on to represent (without very little impact as well) teams in four different countries: Greece
, Romania
, Albania
and Ukraine
.
In 2007, Okunowo was on trial at Northwich Victoria
of the Conference National
and Vilanova del Camí in the Spanish amateur leagues, but nothing came of it. Two years later, he returned to active with VB Sports Club
, in the Maldives
. However, in October 2009, he joined English club Waltham Forest
, playing in a league eight levels below the Premier League.
In February 2010, Okunowo underwent a trial with Polish first division side Odra Wodzislaw
, in an attempt to return to topflight football, but nothing came of it. He has also tried out for Norwegian teams without luck.
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
(helping the hosts reach the quarterfinals), the 2000 African Cup of Nations
and the 2000 Summer Olympics
, gaining eight senior caps
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n footballer who plays mainly as a right defender.
Injury affected the vast majority of his professional career, which was spent in eight different countries other than his own.
Club career
Okunowo signed with EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an powerhouse FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
at only 18. In 1998–99, he competed for starting spot in the main squad with Michael Reiziger
Michael Reiziger
Michael John Reiziger is a retired Dutch footballer who played mainly as a right defender.After making a name for himself at Ajax, with whom he won one Champions League, he went on to represent three teams in three different countries, namely appearing for FC Barcelona, for which he played in...
, and managed 14 La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
appearances (eight starts), in a final win for the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
.
However, Okunowo did not manage to remain with Barça, going on to serve two unassuming loans, with Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's S.L. Benfica and second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
side CD Badajoz
CD Badajoz
Club Deportivo Badajoz, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Badajoz, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1905, it plays in 2ªB - Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Vivero, with a 15,200-seat capacity.-History:...
, and being released in June 2002. He went on to represent (without very little impact as well) teams in four different countries: Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
In 2007, Okunowo was on trial at Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
of the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and Vilanova del Camí in the Spanish amateur leagues, but nothing came of it. Two years later, he returned to active with VB Sports Club
VB Sports Club
VB Sports Club is a professional Maldivian football club based in Malé, Maldives. VB Sports Club is the former Island Football Club acquired by a leading entity and renamed on 8 November 2006....
, in the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
. However, in October 2009, he joined English club Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest F.C.
Waltham Forest F.C. are a football club from Walthamstow, who play in the Isthmian League First Division North. They have played under a number of names and were known as Leyton Pennant up until the end of the 2002–03 season.-History:...
, playing in a league eight levels below the Premier League.
In February 2010, Okunowo underwent a trial with Polish first division side Odra Wodzislaw
Odra Wodzislaw
MKS Odra Wodzisław Śląski , was a Polish football club based in Wodzisław Śląski, Poland.-History:The club was established in 1922 as Odra Wodzisław, then changed its name several times. After the Second World War and until 1963 the club was linked closely to the Polish State Railways , so the club...
, in an attempt to return to topflight football, but nothing came of it. He has also tried out for Norwegian teams without luck.
International career
Okunowo represented NigeriaNigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
(helping the hosts reach the quarterfinals), the 2000 African Cup of Nations
2000 African Cup of Nations
The 2000 African Cup of Nations was the 22nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the association football championship of Africa . It was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, who jointly replaced Zimbabwe as host. Just like in 1998, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...
and the 2000 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the 20th official Olympic football tournament. A women's tournament was held for the second time.-Medal winners:-Venues:*Olympic Stadium, Sydney*Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney*Bruce Stadium, Canberra...
, gaining eight senior caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.