The possibility of former Super Eagles’ striker, Odion Jude Ighalo featuring for Remo Stars FC of Ikenne in this year’s CAF Champions League appears to be a mirage, if the club’s owner, Honourable Kunle Soname’s words are anything to go by.
Sports247 reports that, though Soname admitted that his team need two new top strikers for them to stand any chance of going far in the money spinning elite clubs’ continental championship this sesson, he doubts if Ighalo will play for them.
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While acknowledging Ighalo’s quality and expressing admiration for his abilities, Soname believes the striker is unavailable because he may not be ready to play at an ‘affordable price.’
Soname made his thoughts known while speaking against the backdrop of the CCL’s official draw that pits his Ikenne-based side against US Zilimadjou of Comoros Island in the first qualifying round, to be followed by a likely clash in the next stage with former champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
The astute businessman and football entrepreneur, who is also the majority shareholder at UD Feriense of Portugal, completely ruled out a move for Ighalo, but stressed that his team needs two lethal hitmen upfront.
Soname expatiated, “In my own estimation, what I think we need to challenge more on the continent are two good strikers. That’s what we need to make us go the distance.
“I also heard that Ighalo said he wants to come and play, but I know he will not be able to play.”
Soname went on to explain that he is simply ruling out Ighalo from playing for Remo Stars or any other club in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) because none of them can afford his wages.
“(Ighalo won’t play in Nigeria) unless he wants to only come and contribute his own quota to the game locally. No club in this country can pay him. So, he should forget it.”
Soname, though, admitted that the NPFL would surely benefit from Ighalo’s presence, as he reasoned that the former Lyn Oslo of Norway, Udinese of Italy as well as ex-Watford and Manchester United of England star will outshine all other strikers in the domestic league.
The ValueJet and Bet9ja boss affirmed conclusively: “If he wants to come and play, Ighalo is 1,000 better than any striker is this league as it is now.”
Sports247 reports that Remo Stars are now in a race against time to either get Ighalo or the two ‘good strikers’ Soname spoke about, as their first game in this season’s CAF Champions League is at home next month.
They will host US Zilimadjou on the weekend of September 19-24 and then go for the reverse fixture on a date from September 26-28, after which the winner will lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns early in October.
