Odafa Onyeka Okolie Explained

Odafa Onyeka Okolie (born 6 June 1985) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who spent most of his career in India.^{[1] [2]} He last played for Gokulam Kerala in the I-League.^[3] He was once the highest paid footballer in I-league history, earning approximately ₹16 million per year in 2011 while playing for Mohun Bagan.^[4] Odafa is second in the list of all-time leading goalscorer in the I-League and National Football League history with 179 goals,^[5] and has been the top goal scorer on three consecutive seasons.^[6]

He also holds the record for scoring the most hat-tricks in I-League and National Football League combined, with 14 hat-tricks across all seasons, including 13 of those in the I-League.^{[7] [8]}

Career

Early career

Okolie started his career in 2002 as a defender with Kolkata based clubs Peerless SC and Mohammedan.^[9]

Churchill Brothers

After a lackluster start to his career which saw him play for Indian club Mohammedan,^[10] and Bangladeshi club Muktijoddha SKC where he scored 34 goals from 28 appearances. In 2005, Okolie went back to India and signed for Churchill Brothers as a striker. He debuted for the club in 2005–06 National Football League Second Division and scored 4 goals, which helped the club getting promoted to the National Football League. 2006–07 National Football League was break out season for him, as he scored 18 goals and became the top scorer of the league. Okolie was the top scorer in newly formed I-League in two consecutive seasons and won the league in 2008–09. He scored record 113 top division league goals for the club.^[11]

Mohun Bagan

On 1 June 2011, he signed a then record one-year deal with Mohun Bagan for approximately $600,000.^[4] On 23 October 2011, Odafa scored a hat-trick in his debut for Bagan in a 3–1 victory over Pailan Arrows.^[12]

Return to Churchill Brothers and loan to Sporting Goa

On 13 May 2014, Okolie re-joined Churchill Brothers, but later in March 2015, he joined Sporting Goa on a loan deal after Churchill brothers were excluded from the I-League. He helped the club narrowly avoid relegation and was subsequently retained for another season.^[13]

Southern Samity

In March 2017, Okolie Joined I-League 2nd Division club Southern Samity. He scored 9 goals in the 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division and became the top scorer.

Gokulam Kerala

In January 2018, Okolie joined I-League club Gokulam Kerala.^[14]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Federation Cup		Durand Cup		AFC		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mohammedan		NFL		1	0	0	0	0	—			1
Churchill Brothers	[15]	NFL 2	10	4	3	0	—		—		13	4
	2006–07	NFL	18	18	2	1	1	2	—		21	21
	2007–08	I-League	16	22	1	1	4	11	—		21	34
	2008–09	I-League	22	26	3	7	0	0	—		25	33
	2009–10	I-League	24	22	3	2	2	4	5	3	34	31
	2010–11	I-League	26	25	0	0	0	0	—		26	25
	Total		116	117	12	11	7	17	5	3	164	148
Mohun Bagan
	2011–12	I-League	26	26	3	1	0	0	—		29	27
	2012–13	I-League	22	19	4	4	0	0	—		26	23
	2013–14	I-League	12	6	0	0	0	0	—		12	26
	Total		60	51	7	5	0	0	—		67	56
Sporting Goa (loan)	2014–15	I-League	11	8	0	0	0	0	—		11	8
	2015–16	I-League	12	6	0	0	0	0	—		12	6
	Total		23	14	0	0	0	0	—		23	14
Southern Samity	2016–17	I-League 2	9	9	0	0	0	0	—		9	9
Gokulam Kerala	2017–18	I-League	3	0	0	0	0	0	—		3	0
Career total			211	192	19	16	7	17	5	3	242	227

Honours

Churchill Brothers

• I-League: 2008–09; runner-up 2007–08^[16]
• Durand Cup

2007, 2009

• IFA Shield

2009

Muktijoddha SKC

• Federation Cup (Bangladesh) runner-up: 2005

Individual

• National Football League (India) Golden Boot: 2006–07 (18 goals)^{[7] [10]}
• I-League top scorer: 2007–08,^{[17] [18]} 2008–09,^[19] 2009–10

Bibliography

• Book: Kapadia . Novy . 2017. Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football . Penguin Random House . 978-0-143-42641-7 .
• Book: Mukhopadhay, Subir . সোনায় লেখা ইতিহাসে মোহনবাগান . 2018 . 978-93-850172-0-9.
• Book: Banerjee . Argha . Basu . Rupak . মোহনবাগান: সবুজ ঘাসের মেরুন গল্প . 2022. Shalidhan . 978-81-954667-0-2.
• Book: Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora. 2001. Frank Cass Publishers. London, United Kingdom. 978-0-7146-8170-2. 33. Dineo. Paul. Mills. James. 25 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220725072732/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Soccer_in_South_Asia.html?id=71JHZiiP3hoC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y.
• Book: Martinez. Mukharji . Projit B. 2009. Football: From England to the World: The Many Lives of Indian Football . . 978-1-138-88353-6 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702174505/https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&dq=kerala+footballer+in+Burma&source=gbs_navlinks_s . 2 July 2022 .
• Book: Nath, Nirmal. History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10. 2011. Readers Service. 9788187891963. https://web.archive.org/web/20220722172604/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/History_of_Indian_Football.html?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y. 22 July 2022.
• Web site: Time to regain lost glory. 17 January 2015. Hariprasad. Chattopadhyay. telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph India. Kolkata. 22 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20160505102054/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150117/jsp/sports/story_19347595.jsp#.VxdCgvl97IV. 5 May 2016.
• Web site: The Telegraph Calcutta — Odafe comes to Bagan with hope and promise . 2 June 2011 . 26 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026074636/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110602/jsp/sports/story_14061029.jsp . dead . 2 June 2012 . telegraphindia.com . Kolkata .

External links

• • Odafa Onyeka Okolie at GSA (archived)

Notes and References

1. Web site: From the history book, roll of honour. 10 January 2015. 12 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234522/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=6148. 9 January 2015. the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. dead.
2. Web site: Sengupta. Somnath. Tactical Evolution Of Indian Football: Part Four – Modern Era (1999—2011). Kolkata. 13 July 2011. 11 October 2022. thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. en-US. 18 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210918041621/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-four-modern-era/.
3. Web site: Player profile of Odafe. Goal.com. 27 April 2012. 2 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120502134945/http://www.goal.com/en-india/people/nigeria/21142/odafa-onyeka-okolie. live.
4. https://web.archive.org/web/20140115033007/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-01/top-stories/29607824_1_odafe-onyeka-okolie-mohun-bagan-mohammedan-sporting Mohun Bagan sign Odafe for record Rs 3 crore one-year deal
5. http://www.espn.in/football/india/story/3327725/by-the-numbers-mohun-bagan-soar-past-600-goals-in-national-league By the numbers: Mohun Bagan soar past 600 goals in national league
6. http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/item/174240-mohun-bagan-signs-odafe-for-record-rs-3-crore-one-year-deal Mohun Bagan signs Odafe for record Rs. 3 crore one-year deal
7. Web site: From the History Book. All India Football Federation . the-aiff.com . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717033518/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=1965 . 17 July 2014.
8. Web site: NFL Champions and Goalscorers . Rediff . 16 July 2021 . 3 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220719/http://www.rediff.com/sports/nflroll.htm . live .
9. News: From defence to attack: Odafa is the man for all seasons . indianexpress.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20140912110556/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/from-defence-to-attack-odafa-is-the-man-for-all-seasons/ . 12 September 2014 .
10. Web site: Leading Goal Scorers . Rediff.com . 24 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040828213707/http://www.rediff.com/sports/nflsco04.htm . 28 August 2004 . 14 May 2004.
11. https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/ind-i-league-2008-2009-spieltag/22/ I-League 2008-2009 points table and statistics
12. Web site: Goal.com, Match statistics between Mohun Bagan and Pailan Arrows . 23 October 2011 . 27 December 2012 . https://archive.today/20121227173713/http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/69203/pailan-arrows-vs-mohun-bagan/lineup-stats . live .
13. Web site: Sporting Clube de Goa seek Odafa's scoring touch. Sportingclubedegoa. 17 March 2015. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091014/http://www.sportingclubedegoa.com/news.php?nid=1418. live.
14. Web site: Debutants Gokulam Kerala FC set to sign ex-Mohun Bagan star Odafa Okolie . mykhel.com . 2 January 2018 . 31 December 2022 . 31 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231123817/https://www.mykhel.com/football/debutants-gokulam-kerala-fc-set-sign-ex-mohun-bagan-star-odafa-okolie-077610.html?story=1 . live .
15. Web site: India 2005/06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221014015944/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india06.html . 14 October 2022. live.
16. News: 1st "ONGC" I-League — Division 1 2007/08: from 24.November 2007 upto 23.February 2008 all over the country. IndianFootball.de. Arunava . Chaudhuri. 24 November 2011. 24 November 2011. 16 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140316152349/http://www.indianfootball.de/seasons/2007-08il.html. dead.
17. Web site: ONGC I - LEAGUE 2007 - 2008 :Kolkatafootball.com. 2021-01-12. www.kolkatafootball.com. 5 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305013342/http://www.kolkatafootball.com/i-league_teams.html. live.
18. News: I-League 2007–08. Indian Football. 24 November 2011. 24 November 2011. 16 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140316152349/http://www.indianfootball.de/seasons/2007-08il.html. dead.
19. Web site: I-League 2008–09 . Soccerway . 7 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140922000356/http://int.soccerway.com/national/india/i-league/2008-2009/regular-season/r7539/ . 22 September 2014 . live .