Paul Ikechukwu Obiefule // (born 15 May 1986 in Owerri) is a Nigerian retired footballer.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Ikechukwu Obiefule | ||
| Date of birth | 15 May 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Owerri, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Planners FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2004 | Heartland | ? | (?) |
| 2004–2007 | Viborg FF | 40 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | Lyn[1] | 52 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Hønefoss[1] | 35 | (4) |
| 2011 | → Lillestrøm (loan)[1] | 12 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | KuPS | 27 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | Assyriska FF | 26 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Møldrup/Tostrup | ||
| 2015–2017 | Holstebro | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2007 | Nigeria | 14 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 August 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 December 2008 | |||
Club career
editObiefule began his career in his home country of Nigeria playing for Planners FC and then Heartland, where he spent two months before being spotted by Danish side Viborg FF, who signed him in 2004. During his time at Viborg he attracted much interest from many overseas clubs but in 2007 it was announced that he had signed a one-year deal for the Norwegian club Lyn, in September 2008 signed a new contract, lasting until the end of 2011 and Was Handed Over The Captain Band Making him the First Black to Captain a Norwegian Premiership Club Obiefule was a transfer target for English Championship side Watford, Scottish Aberdeen and Norwegian Hønefoss.[2] Obiefule verbally agreed on 14 December 2009 for a 3-year long contract with Hønefoss because of a knee injury that jeopardised his moves to either Scotland or England. Obiefule agreed on 6 months loan for Lillestrøm on 2 August 2011 and was drafted into the game against Tromsø the next day, 3 August, without training with his new teammate.[3] In February 2012 Obiefule signed a contract for the 2012 season with Finnish Veikkausliiga team KuPS. [4]
In November 2012, Obiefule was back training with Viborg FF ahead of a proposed move to an unknown Chinese team.[5]
In August 2015, Obiefule agreed for a contract with Danish club Holstebro,[6] after playing for Møldrup/Tostrup.[7] He retired in 2017.
Career statistics
edit| Season | Club | Division | League | Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2004–05 | Viborg | Superliga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | Superliga | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | Superliga | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2007 | Lyn | Tippeligaen | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | Tippeligaen | 24 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 29 | 1 | |
| 2009 | Tippeligaen | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2010 | Hønefoss | Tippeligaen | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| 2011 | Adeccoligaen | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 4 | |
| 2011 | Lillestrøm | Tippeligaen | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | KuPS | Veikkausliiga | 27 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| Career Total | 166 | 9 | 22 | 5 | 188 | 14 | ||
International career
editObiefule is a full Nigerian international and made his debut for the Super Eagles in the LG tournament in 2004. He was a member of Super Eagles squad that won bronze in Egypt in 2006. He has been capped 10 times for his country.
Personal life
editObiefule was studying agricultural economics at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria but gave it up to pursue a professional football career.
His younger brother Polycarp Obinna Obiefule, plays currently for Mosta F.C. in Malta. His brother Pol broke a record as the highest goal ever scored in Maltese Premier League in the 2011/2012 Season with 34 Goals. Formerly member of Planners F.C. Owerri Imo State Nigeria.
References
edit- ^ a b c NIFS profile
- ^ "Hønefoss vil ha Lyns Paul Obiefule". Aftenposten. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ Lynspiller til Hønefoss[permanent dead link]
- ^ KuPS ja Paul Obiefule pelaajasopimukseen Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "PAUL OBIEFULE Training With Viborg:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "Holstebro Boldklub". Holstebro Boldklub. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "Kort om rundens seriekampe". Viborg Stifts Folkeblad. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2019.