Udo Nwoko
Encyclopedia
Udochukwu Nwoko is a Maltese
-Nigerian football midfielder. He plays for Telephonat Bani Sweif
in the Egyptian Premier League
.
at the age of 14 in the hope that it could one day lead him to one of the top leagues in Europe. He started his career at Hibernians
. His main break came during the 2002–03 season, where he made 16 appearances for the club, but failed to find the net.
He then moved to Xewkija Tigers
of the Gozo Football League
in 2004, and transformed into a predator in front of goal. Nwoko hit 15 goals in just 17 appearances, and became one of the hottest prospects in Maltese football.
Following the successful spell with Xewkija Tigers, Nwoko found himself back in the Maltese Premier League
joining Mosta
for the 2005–06 season. He made 20 appearances and scored six goals for the club, but it wasn't enough to save the club, and they were relegated by the difference of a point.
Despite the relegation, Nwoko's form hadn't gone unnoticed and was re-signed by his first club Hibernians
for the 2006–07 season, getting another chance to play in the Maltese Premier League. He made 13 appearances with the club and scored one goal.
He then moved on loan to fellow Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk
for the remainder of 2007. He made 11 appearances, but failed to score any goals; he did however finish the season as a part of the 2006–07 championship-winning squad and won his first ever Maltese Premier League.
In 2007, he moved to Portuguese club Leixões, where he marked his debut with a goal against giants Benfica. He was linked to a £1.25m transfer to the Premiership club Reading
in January 2008, but an unfortunate injury at the short transfer window stopped the transfer. . Nwoko recently terminated his contract with Portuguese club Leixoes. He signed a short contract with a Brazilian top league club, on 21 March 2009 Clube Náutico Capibaribe
in Brazil. In summer 2009, he signed for Panthrakikos F.C. in the Greek Super League, and left at the end of the season when the club was relegated. In January 2010, he signed for Doxa Katokopia in the Cypriot First Division, staying there for just 6 months before in June 2010, he signed for Pas Hamedan in the Iran Pro League. On 29th August 2011, Udo signed for Telephonat Bani Sweif in the Egyptian Premier League.
for the first time ahead of a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Hungary
in Budapest
on 13 October 2007 and also played at home to Moldova
four days later. He was available for selection after being granted Maltese
citizenship in August 2007.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
-Nigerian football midfielder. He plays for Telephonat Bani Sweif
Telephonat Bani Sweif
Telephonat Bani Sweif is a football club of an Egyptian Communication Company from the city of Beni Suef...
in the Egyptian Premier League
Egyptian Premier League
The Egyptian Premier League is an Egyptian professional league for football clubs and represents the top flight of Egyptian football. The championship consists of nineteen competing teams in a home and away league system. It is currently known as the Etisalat Egyptian Premier League, after the...
.
Club career
Nwoko moved to MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
at the age of 14 in the hope that it could one day lead him to one of the top leagues in Europe. He started his career at Hibernians
Hibernians F.C.
Hibernians F.C. is a Maltese football club hailing from the town of Paola, Malta. It is one of the top football teams in Malta. The club was founded in 1922, but football in Paola, Raħal Ġdid in Maltese, dates back to 1894. The team has a long successful story in its history. Hibernians has always...
. His main break came during the 2002–03 season, where he made 16 appearances for the club, but failed to find the net.
He then moved to Xewkija Tigers
Xewkija Tigers F.C.
Xewkija Tigers F.C. is a football club from the village of Xewkija in Gozo, Malta. The club was founded in 1939 and is named after the name of the village...
of the Gozo Football League
Gozo Football League
The Gozo Football League is a football competition for clubs on the Maltese island of Gozo.The league is run by the Gozo Football Association and currently has 14 teams split equally into two divisions, the First Division and the Second Division, thus making it two levels in the process...
in 2004, and transformed into a predator in front of goal. Nwoko hit 15 goals in just 17 appearances, and became one of the hottest prospects in Maltese football.
Following the successful spell with Xewkija Tigers, Nwoko found himself back in the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
joining Mosta
Mosta F.C.
Mosta Football Club are a Maltese football club from the second largest city in Malta of Mosta, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:...
for the 2005–06 season. He made 20 appearances and scored six goals for the club, but it wasn't enough to save the club, and they were relegated by the difference of a point.
Despite the relegation, Nwoko's form hadn't gone unnoticed and was re-signed by his first club Hibernians
Hibernians F.C.
Hibernians F.C. is a Maltese football club hailing from the town of Paola, Malta. It is one of the top football teams in Malta. The club was founded in 1922, but football in Paola, Raħal Ġdid in Maltese, dates back to 1894. The team has a long successful story in its history. Hibernians has always...
for the 2006–07 season, getting another chance to play in the Maltese Premier League. He made 13 appearances with the club and scored one goal.
He then moved on loan to fellow Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
for the remainder of 2007. He made 11 appearances, but failed to score any goals; he did however finish the season as a part of the 2006–07 championship-winning squad and won his first ever Maltese Premier League.
In 2007, he moved to Portuguese club Leixões, where he marked his debut with a goal against giants Benfica. He was linked to a £1.25m transfer to the Premiership club Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in January 2008, but an unfortunate injury at the short transfer window stopped the transfer. . Nwoko recently terminated his contract with Portuguese club Leixoes. He signed a short contract with a Brazilian top league club, on 21 March 2009 Clube Náutico Capibaribe
Clube Náutico Capibaribe
Clube Náutico Capibaribe, also known as Náutico, is a Brazilian sports club, including a professional football team, in Recife, Pernambuco....
in Brazil. In summer 2009, he signed for Panthrakikos F.C. in the Greek Super League, and left at the end of the season when the club was relegated. In January 2010, he signed for Doxa Katokopia in the Cypriot First Division, staying there for just 6 months before in June 2010, he signed for Pas Hamedan in the Iran Pro League. On 29th August 2011, Udo signed for Telephonat Bani Sweif in the Egyptian Premier League.
International career
Nwoko was called up by MaltaMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
for the first time ahead of a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
on 13 October 2007 and also played at home to Moldova
Moldova national football team
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...
four days later. He was available for selection after being granted Maltese
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
citizenship in August 2007.
Position
A small but agile attacking midfielder, who can also play on either side of the wing or just behind the strikers. He is not an out and out goal scorer, but prefers holding up play (unlocking the defense with his silky skills) and providing the final pass to attackers. He has been compared to JAY JAY Okocha and Frank Ribery.External links
- Udo Nwoko profile at MaltaFootall.com
- Udo Nwoko profile at leixoessc.pt
- http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.joueurs.udochukwu.nwoko.26159.en.html at footballdatabase.eu