Stephen Worgu

Stephen Worgu (born 6 April 1990 in Brass, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Bowsher Club in Oman.

Stephen Worgu
Personal information
Full name Stephen Worgu
Date of birth (1990-04-06) 6 April 1990
Place of birth Brass, Nigeria
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Bowsher Club
Number 88
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Ocean Boys
2007–2008 Enyimba
2009–2013 Al-Merrikh 34 (13)
2010–2011 → Al-Ahly Benghazi (loan) 7 (0)
2013 → Enyimba (loan)
2014–2015 Al-Hilal Omdurman
2015– Bowsher Club 7 (2)
National team‡
2011 Nigeria U23 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 December 2010
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 December 2010

Club career

Ocean Boys (2005–2007) and Enyimba (2007)

In 2006, Worgu was a member of the Ocean Boys F.C. team that won the Nigerian Premier League under the tutelage of former Enyimba International F.C. manager, Maurice Cooreman. Throughout his two-year stay with the Bayelsa State club, the diminutive player enjoyed a low profile rating compared to Ideye Aide Brown, team captain Blessing Okardi and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa,[1] before joining Enyimba in July 2007.

Worgu spent one year with Enyimba, which turned out to be a very successful year for the rising star. He lifted Enyimba to the semi-final of the CAF Champions League 2008, their best position since their championship title in 2004. Worgu was the top scorer in the competition accumulating 13 goals, five goals ahead of Daouda Kamilou of Cotonsport Garoua.[2]

Al-Merrikh (2009–2010)

On 22 October 2008, Worgu agreed to a 4-year contract with the Sudanese giant, Al-Merreikh who outbid the Egyptian club Al Ahly.[3] The deal was worth an estimated $2.5 million, with $1 million annual salary and the remaining $1.5 million to the former club.[4] Worgu cited the favour of the Sudanese bid over others, due to the seriousness of their offer. Along with his compatriots Idahor and Osunwa, Worgu becomes the third Nigerian attacker to join the Al-Merreikh squad that competed in the African Champions' League for the first time since 2003.

At Al-Merreikh, Worgu was given the number 10 jersey, that replaced the number 27 jersey that he wore in Enyimba. With the high salary and the former Champion's league top scoring performance, the expectations were set high for the Nigerian youth star. He got to a slow start, with Al-Merreikh defending their Sudan Premier League title, and he was yet to score a goal in seven premier league and three champion's league matches. On 21 April 2009, in an interview with the BBC, Worgu uttered his struggle to adapt to his new professional destination away from home, citing language and cultural barriers. "Going onto the pitch the fans are singing your name, but I don't know what they're saying, I have to ask a friend," he said.[5]

On 23 April 2009, in the first match following the interview, Worgu managed to score his first goal in the Sudanese league against Al-Ittihad, where Al-Merreikh won 2/0. Despite his earlier yellow card in that match, Worgu rushed towards Al-Merreikh fans to celebrate his first league goal by taking his shirt off. He was shown a second yellow booking, which warranted him also his first red card in the competition.[6]

Later on in August, Worgu was caught drinking which is illegal in Sudan. The club paid 24 million pounds on his behalf and he punished by 40 lashes.[7]

Al-Ahly Benghazi (2010–2011)

Striker Stephen Worgu agreed to join Libyan side, Al-Ahly Benghazi, from Sudanese giants, Al-Merreikh, for a period of eight months. The deal for Worgu's move was concluded when Al-Merreikh undersecretary, Mutwakil Ahmed Ali and a representative of Al-Ahly Benghazi of Libya met and agreed on a fee for the short-term deal. Worgu, 20, confirmed this after his last game for the Sudanese side when they secured a 3–1 win over Hay Al-Arab in which he scored a hat-trick. He is expected to earn as much as $500,000 from the deal, while Al-Merreikh will be paid the sum of $200,000.[8]

Return to Sudan

When the conflict in Libya started, it completely disrupted the Libyan Football league and he was forced to return to his hometown. His Sudanese club El-Merriekh, took him back following the expiration of loan term.

He was a key player in helping El-Merriekh win the Sudanese League, scoring several important goals during the last part of the season. During this time he was invited to the Nigerian U-23 team for the U-23 Olympic qualifying tournament in Morocco.[9]

Position

Worgu plays in variable positions, but mainly as attacking midfielder or striker.

Honours
gollark: Why do I keep *doing* this?
gollark: Do WHAT?
gollark: Is that like horizontal gene transfer?
gollark: My favourite part is where I accursedly patch an extra method into the aiosqlite objects.
gollark: I assume it's optimal.

References
  2. Stephen Worgu: The Next African-European Star?
  3. Worgu joins Sudan's Al Merreikh
  5. "Worgu struggles to adapt in Sudan". BBC. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  6. "goalzz.com: Live sports scores and more:". Goalzz.com. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  7. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/11/worgu-sentenced-to-flogging-in-sudan/
  8. "Worgu rejoins Sudanese club". Soccer Room Today]. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  9. "Worgu rejoins Sudanese club". National Mirror. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
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