Veteran Nigerian midfielder Felix Orode is being courted by a flurry of clubs in mainstream Europe, with offers from St Pauli FC, Rapid Vienna, and some Dutch clubs seeking his attention on the table.
The 33-year-old has played the last 15 years in South America, especially in Argentina and Peru. He left Sharks for Lleida Esportiu in 2009 and has also played for San Lorenzo, Nueva Chicago, C.A.I., Excursionistas, Luján, Comunicaciones, Walter Ormeño, Excursionistas, Sportivo Barracas, Pronunciamiento, Gimnasia, and Mendoza.
According to his ally, Juan Panadero En Lima, who disclosed this on Saturday, the former Mighty Jets player, who currently resides in Argentina with his wife and two lovely children, could also have a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League on the cards, with Enyimba considering the possibility of having him for their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
He said, “Félix Orode has the desire to return to San Lorenzo de Almagro. However, he has options in European football. An option would be to play in San Lorenzo de Almagro. There are also offers from St Pauli FC in Germany, the Rápid in Vienna, and some Dutch clubs. There are conversations with some clubs in Uruguay. The player will take a few weeks to consider the different options.
“In Nigeria, Enyimba FC, who play in the Premier League of his country and the CAF Confederation Cup, also want him.”
Orode is fondly remembered for scoring for Mighty Jets against Plateau United in 2004 at age 14, making him one of the youngest scorers ever in the Nigerian elite division.
He was discovered by FIFA agent Marcelo Houseman, who took him to Lleida, Spain, in 2009, where he was selected to train with the squad. That same year, he went to San Lorenzo in the first division of Argentina and made his debut on November 21, replacing Diego Rivero against Huracán at Parque Patricios, a match in which he gave Juan Manuel Torres a great assist in his team’s second goal.
Olaitan Ibrahim