Ikpeba joins Belgium strugglers Charleroi

Alaafin · Post by **Alaafin** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:02 pm

Ikpeba joins Belgium strugglers Charleroi

BRUSSELS, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has joined struggling Charleroi on a six-month contract, the Belgium club announced on Monday.

The 30-year-old striker, voted African Footballer of the Year in 1997, joins forces with Robert Waseige, the coach who discovered him at FC Liege in 1989.

Ikpeba went on to make his name with French club Monaco, scoring 55 goals in 170 league games, before a two-season stay at with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

After a disappointing spell with Real Betis in Spain Ikpeba moved to Libya to play for Al Ittihad, the club owned by Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the son of Colonel Gaddafi.

Charleroi are bottom of the Belgium league and Waseige is delighted to have Ikpeba on board.

"I found Victor in excellent shape," said the former Belgium national coach. "He is as good as ever and that showed in all our medical tests."

Bigpokey24 · Post by **Bigpokey24** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:03 pm

its about time

bayo · Post by **bayo** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:06 pm

The guy was always overhyped in my opinion.

balo · Post by **balo** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:17 pm

Ikpeba was never oherhyped. He has always been excellent baller in my books.
He definitely shown for Monaco.

Chief Ogbunigwe · Post by **Chief Ogbunigwe** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:17 pm

he's a supremely talented player. Just never acheived his potentials.

asabatex · Post by **asabatex** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:26 pm

good luck....a true patriot

Abbey · Post by **Abbey** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:28 pm

he's a supremely talented player. Just never acheived his potentials.

maceo4 · Post by **maceo4** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:37 pm

YIPA!!!!! MY BOY IS BACK O!!!!! Abeg all saying he underacheived need to go back and check what he did for club...na only for SE wey dem dey treat am just like them dey do Ijeh right now...Di bobo was always top of the scoring charts in France, he was even on top of the European scoring charts a couple of times banging in goals in the CL like nobodies business (even when he came off the bench to play only 20 or so minutes). Di bobo was a true 'Prince of Monaco', which one of our current strikers would we be confident that we can leave them up top alone and they would torture the opposing defense (like he did against Spain), the only player that comes to mind is Martins b/c Agha gets shut down if he's left uptop alone...

ANC 2000 was his time to shine and b/c of Bonfreres stupidity he didn't get a chance to shine, he played wayyyyyyyy less minutes than Kanu and still scored 200% more goals than him

I believe Bo Jo waiting till extra-time to bring him on cost us the cup b/c once he came on he was a thousand times more dangerous than Chukwu Ndukwe, we would have never had to lose by that controversial penalty....

Anyways, MY BOY IS BACK!!!!!!

omonaija · Post by **omonaija** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:40 pm

bayo wrote:The guy was always overhyped in my opinion.

Men! pls., Ikepba is always been a good ball player...the only super eagle to make the team on merit only not to shine for his motherland!

Riche007 · Post by **Riche007** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:06 pm

bayo wrote:The guy was always overhyped in my opinion.

I doubt if u ever knew Ikpeba!

cidoski · Post by **cidoski** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:23 pm

omo that guy na footballer. remember his days at monaco. good luck to him

Bigpokey24 · Post by **Bigpokey24** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:34 pm

His a great player the only problem de bobo to dey abuse the coach, eg Bonfere, sammer, cos Ikpeba hates being benched or subbed

maceo4 · Post by **maceo4** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 8:45 pm

U can't fault the guy for wanting to play especially when he thinks he has something to offer the team

Bigpokey24 wrote:His a great player the only problem de bobo to dey abuse the coach, eg Bonfere, sammer, cos Ikpeba hates being benched or subbed

Chima · Post by **Chima** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:13 pm

Ikpeba na baller for life. Hope this will help him through his tough personal life now his wife is deceased. Up Ikeba!

omey2k4 · Post by **omey2k4** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:17 pm

Victor Ikpeba has always been the man,left and right foot the guy was a warrior.My most interesting moments when he played CL football with Monaco back in the 97/98 season.Monaco then had Trezeguet,Henry and Ikpeba.I remember how Henry and Ikpeba single handedly destroyed Bayer Leverkursen 4-0.2 goals each from henry and Ikpeba,then Henryused to run with his head down,but his speed was crazy.

Bigpokey24 · Post by **Bigpokey24** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:18 pm

omey2k4 wrote:Victor Ikpeba has always been the man,left and right foot the guy was a warrior.My most interesting moments when he played CL football with Monaco back in the 97/98 season.Monaco then had Trezeguet,Henry and Ikpeba.I remember how Henry and Ikpeba single handedly destroyed Bayer Leverkursen 4-0.2 goals each from henry and Ikpeba,then Henryused to run with his head down,but his speed was crazy.

old news

Naija fan · Post by **Naija fan** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:26 pm

bayo wrote:The guy was always overhyped in my opinion.

Overhyped? No! Headcase? Yes! Ikpeba was benching Trezeguez when they were both at Monaco and he was highest scorer in the French league that year.

Post by **Cellular** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:29 pm

I thank God, I hope my boy makes the best of this opportunity...

Up Naija!!!

Bigpokey24 · Post by **Bigpokey24** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:33 pm

he should be invited to camp nowwwwwwwww

calli65 · Post by **calli65** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:35 pm

bayo, shut up, Ikepba at his prime was the real deal.

original skeepolah · Post by **original skeepolah** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:44 pm

He is only 30, chei!!!So young!!!!!!!!!!!Hope he can achieve more and excel while still in his prime. Hey, and by the way, he is not overhyped or average, he was and still is one of the best..............Who cares if he plays for last place or a 1st place team................It is still in premiership, not some cats squandering their talents in an unknown division 2 or 3...........HE IS BAAAACCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry Ashagbe · Post by **Larry Ashagbe** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:48 pm

Good luck Victor.

furiously frank · Post by **furiously frank** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:50 pm

Chief Ogbunigwe wrote:he's a supremely talented player. Just never acheived his potentials.

What potentials? What else can a player prayed, he had played the game at the topmost level. He won silver at U 17 level, Olympic gold with Under 23. He has played in the ECL more than any Nigerian. He has scored more goals at the ECL with Monaco than any other Nigerian. He has played in the senior WC and scored at the world stage, one of his goals advanced Nigeria to the 2nd round......I meant how many present or past Eagle can boast of this resume...how many? Okocha????