Anglo - Nigerian shot-stopper Edward Ogbebor-Onaiwu has ended speculation about his future by penning a two-and-a-half-year contract with English Championship outfit Charlton Athletic.
After being linked with a plethora of teams in the EPL including Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle United, the deal that will see him remain at The Valley until the summer of 2017 went through on Tuesday.
In his first words after completing the transfer, Ogbebor-Onaiwu told SL10.ng :''I have signed a two-and-a-half year deal, and there is a possibility I will stay longer if I perform up to standards.
''I picked Charlton Athletic Football Club because it's a great club to be at where they look after you, it's like my family somewhere.
''I have settled in quickly. The best thing about the club is giving the young players a chance in the first team.''
The Charlton Athletic youth - team coaches had watched the Nigeria Under 17 national team invitee at close quarters for few weeks before reaching a decision on whether to offer him a contract.
And the 14-year-old goalkeeper has admitted that he was well taken care of during his probationary period.
''They were very nice, I couldn't have asked for any better love. The staff and the players around always wanted to get the best out of me.
''I give all thanks to God for His work, with God all things are possible, and thanks to my parents too,''
The ex Crystal Palace goalie would have been in Nigeria now undergoing another round of trials with the country's Under 17 team if not for an expired travel document.
Edward Ogbebor-Onaiwu has cited Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois as his role models.
A long time ago (probably my first ever PE lesson), my dream of one day playing for Charlton was crushed. A shorter time ago, I realised that my eldest son would never live the dream either. Today, I find that the club is signing kids younger than my youngest. It is with heavy heart that I finally concede that the battle is lost to that generation and that the crushing weight of my dreams to spawn a Charlton player and vicariously taste the glory I could not attain for myself are to be passed on to my, as yet, unborn (and hopefully unconceived) grandchildren.
Here he is, supposed to be some kind of wunderkind, but is there a single incidence of him getting ahead of Phillips? Or Mitov?
No. In fact, I don't think he has made a single appearance for the U18s yet.
If you consider that the likes of Cousins, Gomez, and, dare I say it, Poyet were always playing one age group higher than there actual age, how good can this kid actually be?
It is either very good propaganda by his agent/father/significant other, or, perhaps the longest joke in Charlton Athletic's history.
Rather like the couple in the centre circle, only continued until the birth of the baby conceived on that day...
He is with Paul Senior (ex CAFC head scout) in that pic! When Alfie is away the U14s also travel with the U10s and I've never seen him before not unless he is playing for the U15s all the time hence why I would never see him play or at sparrows lane either?
He is with Paul Senior (ex CAFC head scout) in that pic! When Alfie is away the U14s also travel with the U10s and I've never seen him before not unless he is playing for the U15s all the time hence why I would never see him play or at sparrows lane either?
I think this is because he is so good that we are keeping him under wraps by never playing him
Here he is, supposed to be some kind of wunderkind, but is there a single incidence of him getting ahead of Phillips? Or Mitov?
No. In fact, I don't think he has made a single appearance for the U18s yet.
If you consider that the likes of Cousins, Gomez, and, dare I say it, Poyet were always playing one age group higher than there actual age, how good can this kid actually be?
It is either very good propaganda by his agent/father/significant other, or, perhaps the longest joke in Charlton Athletic's history.
Rather like the couple in the centre circle, only continued until the birth of the baby conceived on that day...
He is 14 to be fair, I think it is a little too early to be questioning why he isn't ahead of Mitov or Phillips.
I think I saw him at Sparrows Lane after the title decider against Crystal Palace. He's not exactly as small as I expected.
We just need to take our time with him and see what happens. To question why he is not challenging for years above his age group is in my opinion lunacy
Comments
Journalist: "So tell me Edward, are you happy to have signed for Charlton"?
Edward: "S'pose"
Journalist: "And what attracted you to the club"?
Edward: *Shrugs shoulders* "Dunno"?
*weeps, silently*
http://www.sl10.ng/news/articles/categories/nigeria-players-abroad/england-and-nigeria-in-tug-of-war-over-charlton-athletic-superkid-ogbebor-onaiwu/207985
He'll be pushing Neuer out of the Bayern team in a couple of years
Here he is, supposed to be some kind of wunderkind, but is there a single incidence of him getting ahead of Phillips? Or Mitov?
No. In fact, I don't think he has made a single appearance for the U18s yet.
If you consider that the likes of Cousins, Gomez, and, dare I say it, Poyet were always playing one age group higher than there actual age, how good can this kid actually be?
It is either very good propaganda by his agent/father/significant other, or, perhaps the longest joke in Charlton Athletic's history.
Rather like the couple in the centre circle, only continued until the birth of the baby conceived on that day...
Give it two or so more years yet.
We just need to take our time with him and see what happens. To question why he is not challenging for years above his age group is in my opinion lunacy