Former Stars invade NSL league in America
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Former Stars invade NSL league in America
Former stars invade NSL league in America
The Nigerian Soccer League (NSL) in the United States has been the major event on weekends in the Washington DC area.
With three games each weekend, there is a lot to cheer and celebrate. Among the attractive names to watch have been a few old veterans spruced among the young explosive college age players. These veterans include the likes of Azuka Harbor, Amaechi "Stone" Igwebuike, Pius "Essah" Tabi, and Abiodun Quadri.
Azuka Harbor is the huge and physical forward who graced the Nigerian scene in the early 1980s with a goal scoring spree. He first hit the Nigerian headlines while at Lagos Mandilas and was among several Lagos Mandilas boys who joined Abiola Babes in 1981 to lift Abiola into a national sensation.
Azuka was one of the over 100 players invited to the Nigerian national team camp by Adegboye Onigbinde in 1983 and he proceeded to make one appearance for Nigeria in the 0-0 tie with Egypt in February 1983. In any case his club career in Abiola Babes was short-lived before he faced the NFA wrath when he signed a double contract with both Abiola Babes and Enugu Rangers.
In any case, he hardly suffered the NFA hammer because he moved quickly to the United States. Azuka proceeded to make several appearances for the US National Team where he was the first choice striker. Now in the NSL, he suits up for the Raccah Rovers after being part of a trade that sent four Raccah players to IICC "Shooting Stars" of the NSL.
Amaechi"Stone" Igwebuike is a well-known name in Nigeria where he played a well-chronicled career from the U-13 Greater Tomorrow at the First National Sports Festival in Lagos in 1973 to the East Central State Academicals via CIC, Enugu. However, he became a major name when he played for Enugu Rangers during their domineering years and was invited to the national camp where he competed with the likes of Muda Lawal. Igwebuike proceeded to the United States where he made it big by joining another sports – American gridiron football. He rose to the very top of the American football by playing in the NFL as a kicker for both Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings before ending his career playing in the Canadian Football League. Presently, Stone is the skipper of the NSL’s Raccah Rovers.
Pius "Essah" Tabi is a very physical defender who is well respected by the Cameroonians in the United States. Tabi played for the Cameroun national team "The Indomitable Lions" in the All Africa Games in the mid 1990s. Presently, he plays solidly for NSL’s Inter Nationale.
Abiodun Abbey Quadri still looks as fit and young as ever. Quadri is a diminutive midfielder with vision. In Nigeria, Quadri played for several top clubs including Shooting Stars, Port Harcourt Sharks, and Lagos Stationery Stores. Presently, Quadri marshals the midfield of NSL’s Inter Nationale and remains one of the league’s mercurial players.
culled from Daily Independent Newspapers.
The Nigerian Soccer League (NSL) in the United States has been the major event on weekends in the Washington DC area.
With three games each weekend, there is a lot to cheer and celebrate. Among the attractive names to watch have been a few old veterans spruced among the young explosive college age players. These veterans include the likes of Azuka Harbor, Amaechi "Stone" Igwebuike, Pius "Essah" Tabi, and Abiodun Quadri.
Azuka Harbor is the huge and physical forward who graced the Nigerian scene in the early 1980s with a goal scoring spree. He first hit the Nigerian headlines while at Lagos Mandilas and was among several Lagos Mandilas boys who joined Abiola Babes in 1981 to lift Abiola into a national sensation.
Azuka was one of the over 100 players invited to the Nigerian national team camp by Adegboye Onigbinde in 1983 and he proceeded to make one appearance for Nigeria in the 0-0 tie with Egypt in February 1983. In any case his club career in Abiola Babes was short-lived before he faced the NFA wrath when he signed a double contract with both Abiola Babes and Enugu Rangers.
In any case, he hardly suffered the NFA hammer because he moved quickly to the United States. Azuka proceeded to make several appearances for the US National Team where he was the first choice striker. Now in the NSL, he suits up for the Raccah Rovers after being part of a trade that sent four Raccah players to IICC "Shooting Stars" of the NSL.
Amaechi"Stone" Igwebuike is a well-known name in Nigeria where he played a well-chronicled career from the U-13 Greater Tomorrow at the First National Sports Festival in Lagos in 1973 to the East Central State Academicals via CIC, Enugu. However, he became a major name when he played for Enugu Rangers during their domineering years and was invited to the national camp where he competed with the likes of Muda Lawal. Igwebuike proceeded to the United States where he made it big by joining another sports – American gridiron football. He rose to the very top of the American football by playing in the NFL as a kicker for both Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings before ending his career playing in the Canadian Football League. Presently, Stone is the skipper of the NSL’s Raccah Rovers.
Pius "Essah" Tabi is a very physical defender who is well respected by the Cameroonians in the United States. Tabi played for the Cameroun national team "The Indomitable Lions" in the All Africa Games in the mid 1990s. Presently, he plays solidly for NSL’s Inter Nationale.
Abiodun Abbey Quadri still looks as fit and young as ever. Quadri is a diminutive midfielder with vision. In Nigeria, Quadri played for several top clubs including Shooting Stars, Port Harcourt Sharks, and Lagos Stationery Stores. Presently, Quadri marshals the midfield of NSL’s Inter Nationale and remains one of the league’s mercurial players.
culled from Daily Independent Newspapers.
To contibute my quota
ayomeks wrote:Quadri was good.
His strength was his speed on the flanks and can use the left leg very well.
Was one of the important players for the team at that time.
Ayomeks:
The guy is still good and always with the left foot but now plays more in the middle where he utilizes his superior vision. He is still quick but must have lost a step or so.
su
ayomeks are old you for you to be telling this story, and to put the record right Azuka harbor played for nepa while the junior one played for leventis (IDDO TIGERS)omo-eko played was asisstant coach to femi shiwoku, so please stop telling lies
Martin wrote:Interesting article. Azuka Harbor was known as Jean Harbor in the US and even played in the first year of MLS back in 1996.
If Amaechi Igwebuike was a kicker in the NFL then he was known as Donald Igwebuike.
Yea, Donald and Amaechi are different names for the same guy.
Omo-eko:
Btw, is AZuka's brother the one who is also in the NSL now and goes by the name Jones Harbor?
Omo-eko:
I am pretty sure Azuka played for Mandilas. In fact I was resident in Abeokuta when Azuka and other Mandilas boys (Mandilas had then been disbanded) joined up with Abiola Babes. My brother and Kayode Balogun were then playing with Abiola Babes.
The NSL site is http://www.NigerianSoccerLeague.com
I am pretty sure Azuka played for Mandilas. In fact I was resident in Abeokuta when Azuka and other Mandilas boys (Mandilas had then been disbanded) joined up with Abiola Babes. My brother and Kayode Balogun were then playing with Abiola Babes.
The NSL site is http://www.NigerianSoccerLeague.com
de
Enugu11 wrote
am pretty sure Azuka played for Mandilas. In fact I was resident in Abeokuta when Azuka and other Mandilas boys (Mandilas had then been disbanded) joined up with Abiola Babes. My brother and Kayode Balogun were then playing with Abiola Babes.
What year are you talking about because i was with the team when it was disbanded
am pretty sure Azuka played for Mandilas. In fact I was resident in Abeokuta when Azuka and other Mandilas boys (Mandilas had then been disbanded) joined up with Abiola Babes. My brother and Kayode Balogun were then playing with Abiola Babes.
What year are you talking about because i was with the team when it was disbanded
Re: de
omo-eko wrote:Enugu11 wrote
am pretty sure Azuka played for Mandilas. In fact I was resident in Abeokuta when Azuka and other Mandilas boys (Mandilas had then been disbanded) joined up with Abiola Babes. My brother and Kayode Balogun were then playing with Abiola Babes.
What year are you talking about because i was with the team when it was disbanded
I believe 1981/1982. In any case, I can confirm from Azuka himself.
Azuka Harbor also known as Gene or Jean Harbor also played in the A league with the Montreal Impact and Score a cracker of a free kick in the cup finals. Harbor also played in Jamaica for a bit. He ended his career at Colorado Rapids in the MLS. Although drafted in the first round behind Brian McBride, Harbor never really established himself in the league - Shame. He was a strong striker.
Spurs
Spurs
