By Chima Azu
Watford FC have signed Nigerian first choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam on a five and half year deal. Maduka will remain with Sparta till January 1st when the transfer window opens in Europe.
Okoye is the first choice goalkeeper for both club an country and he was called up by the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde. He has been pivotal for Nigeria as they currently top their group whilst the same can’t be said for his club side that is struggling and are placed 16th in the Eredivisie table which comprises of 18 teams.
Watford now has 5 Nigerians in their team Etebo, Troost Ekong, Dele Bashiru, Emmanuel Dennis and now Maduka Okoye and it should be recalled that they once had Isaac Success who signed for Udinese in August. With the Nations Cup coming up in January, Watford will have to play with out at least three of their Nigerian internationals who are regulars for the national team and are likely to participate in the competition.
Maduka will now compete with the likes of Ben Foster and Bachmann who has now taken over the number one spot from long term goalkeeper Foster. Nigerians will be optimistic that he can become the first choice goalkeeper with his performances with the Super Eagles.
