PETER UTAKA eyes great start with Beijing

Super Eagles striker, Peter Utaka, is looking forward to a great start after being  cleared to make his debut for Beijing Guoan on Sunday against Chuks Akabueze's Wuhan Zall.

Utaka has also revealed how he snubbed European clubs’ offers to stay in China after he penned a two-and-a-half- year deal with Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan.

The 29-year-old hit-man was unveiled by Beijing Guoan on Tuesday evening after passing the traditional medical examination.

“It will be great to start with a goal, just for the fans to know that I am here to score goals and make them happy with good performance. I am happy to be have been cleared for the match and I promise to give my best at all time," said Utaka. 

"It was a dream move for me and the club because they have been trying to sign me last season after my former coach joined them and he made an offer just for me to join the club but it was not enough, so they tried this time around and it happened. I am happy because they have shown that they love me and want me, and my former coach has been looking for our reunion which eventually came to fruition.

"You don't move for money alone because money can't buy you happiness, and there are other things it can't still buy you in life, but I decided to stay in China and make a move to Beijing because I am wanted and loved by the Chinese fans, they have been showing me love. It goes by my heart to know where should move to and it is here now in Beijing.

"I have offers in Europe, but I am enjoying life in China and that is why I chose to join a bigger club, which is Beijing, because they are ambitious and well-respected and will always love to be like Manchester United and Real Madrid."

CHIBUIKE set sights on 'great sesaon'

Rosenborg of Norway attacker, John Chibuke, has remained calm over his dream to play for Nigeria’s national team after scoring two goals in the Europa League Cup play-off on Thursday.

The 24-year-old midfielder was excited after helping his club to easily defeat Northern Irish team, Crusaders, 7 - 2 on Thursday, with Chibuike on target in the 35th and 51st minutes of the encounter.

“For now, I am focusing on my club. I believe that should be my focus because that is where my life’s all about for now - taking my club to Europa League is on my mind, maybe I will be considered for good if I play in the UEFA games, but I know my time is coming to play for Nigeria,” said Chibuike.

“I am still very much hopeful of playing for Nigeria but I think I just have to let it be in God’s time. I don’t want to rush myself. It will come when God has ordained it and it will be at my best time. So I’m still looking forward to play for Nigeria.”

It could be recalled that Stephen Keshi had promised to give the talented midfielder to prove himself in his team, Keshi’s comment came after it was reported that the former Enugu Rangers ace could dump Nigeria for Sweden.

Chibuike has scored four goals in his last three games, three goals in Europa League play-off so far, as Rosenborg qualified for the second round of the Europa League.

“I played some good games in last season’s Europa, I scored and got injured at some points but I want to do it bigger this time around with a good fitness rate and high-grade performance. I don’t want to leave anything behind to prove myself to the club and achieve something better this season. We are on course for the league but we need to work harder and give it all in every game.”

ONDUKU heaps praises on Keshi

Home-based Super Eagles attacker Gomo Onduku has continued heaping praises on Nigeria’s coach, Stephen Keshi, for opening a new way for the Nigerian league players.

The home-based Super Eagles beat Ivory Coast 4-1 in Kaduna last weekend in the first league of the CHAN tournament, and Onduku, who had a good game before he gave way for Edeh, believes the team will finish the business at Cote d’voire.

“We will not want to be carried away with our results because we want to keep building more confidence in the coaches. He has really done great for us, it was not like this in the past but I think there are lots of changes in Keshi’s tenure.

“Everybody is ready to die for Keshi because he’s making us happy, he’s making our family happy and that is why he will remain the best in the sight of many players in the league. Keshi is a versatile coach, and that is what makes him different if we are to look at it from the past. I think he deserves all the respects.”

Hot-shot CHIMA eyes Eagles call up

Nigerian forward Daniel Chima Chukwu believes he has a lot to prove to Stephen Keshi if he’s being considered for a place in the Super Eagles team.

The 21-year-old Molde’s attacker has remain undisputed rave of the moment in the Norwegian topflight since his move from Lyon Oslo in 2010, claiming  the league top scorer award last season with league crown. Chima played a vital role in Molde’s second league crown last season and that has made him an outstanding player in the Norwegian top league currently on six goals.

“I want to keep scoring for my club as my first priority and I know my goals can lift up my team,” said Chima in an exclusive interview.

“It’s unfortunate we didn’t start the beginning with good result and that is what is affecting us now but we can turn the table around. We all know the good things in getting result for our club at this level of the league and with more results coming for us, we can catch the leader. This is football, anything can happen, I can’t rule out my team because anything can happen and my coach has told us to wake up and fight for the team.”

“I don’t want to believe that it is our achievement last season that made us to relax, it was just unfortunate that we experience bad beginning and it can still turn around for good.”

“I am very sure that my goals this season will not go unnoticed, I want to play for Nigeria, which is my focus and my objectivity of being working hard. I scored some great goals for Molde last season and I thought I could have earned a call but I am not relent neither do I felt bad but it enable me to work more harder and get a place to represent my country for major tournament.

JOEL OBI: I'm back for good!

Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi says he's looking forward to big return to action after injury lay off that denied him of AFCON 2013 actions in South Africa.

The 22-year-old midfield anchor has passed through all the necessary steps for recovery and joined his Italian club this week for full training sessions ahead of the new season.

"It's great to be back after spending some time on injury treatment. Now, I am back for good and looking forward to be better than I was before," said Joel.

"I don't need to hide my feelings for missing virtually everything about the game because it is something you have been doing before, so I really missed my playing on the pitch."

"It's early to set any target for myself because I just return and I am only hoping to get better in shape and match fitness, though I am fine but my mission is to return bigger."

His club Inter Milan obviously had poor outing last season with their failure to qualify for UEFA tournament but Joel who is eagerly ready to get his starting shirt said the San Siro club will bounce back next season.

"All clubs have their low time, I think we have experience that and we will bounce to the biggest stage of the occasion, it’s all down to the new season."

Earlier this year, Newcastle and Sunderland have both been linked with the 22-year-old and although the Nigerian international’s agent was not naming names, he claimed there are Premier League sides interested.