With the Nigerian Flying Eagles and Under-23 Olympic Teams still preparing for major international competitions from next year, the exploits of a young Nigerian player in the European league is beckoning on the national football teams’ coaches to give him a chance to play for the country before a foreign country snaps him up.
Chidi Chigozie Armstrong, a young Nigerian footballer plying his trade with the Cyprus Super League giants, ‘Lefke Turk Sport Kulub’ has taken Europe by storm within a short period of landing in Cyprus.
The lanky youngster with immense talent started his career with an amateur club in Nigeria as a trainee but his skills soon attracted the interest of foreign scouts who swooped on him with juicy offers to lure him to Europe two years ago without the notice of local club managers.
Just 20 years of age, Armstrong who landed in Cyprus ahead of 2012/2013 football season joined the North Cyprus club side, ‘Lefke Tsk’ FC Under-19 team where he made 36 appearances and scoring 16 goals in his first year. It is a rare feat for this Defensive Midfielder cum Defender who packs shots in his right legs.
But following his impressive performances in the U-19 team, the Nigeria-born highly talented footballer was quickly promoted to the first team of the club after one and a half seasons in the youth team of the football outfit.
Armstrong’s strong start for his club in the elite division of the Cyprus league this season has ensured that “Lefke Tsk” FC is currently occupying the first position on the log even as he has shown the same great qualities when he made his debut against another North Cyprus oppositions, ‘Cihangir’ FC recently.
However, his exploits have earned him praises from his team mates, management and the head coach who has commended him for his speed, ability to go into tackles and win the ball, his strength, and his shooting technique.
Armstrong has the rare honor of becoming the first African player in Cyprus to play in the Kktf Superlig U19 when he joined Lefke Tsk FC just as his qualities will soon attract bigger European clubs.
Meanwhile, the highly gifted player has also given a hint on the subtle moves by the Cyprus authorities to convince him to change his nationality and take the offer of citizenship of the European nation hence It is now left for the national team coaches to avert the danger by handing him an invitation to play for both the U-21 and yet to be assembled Olympic Team headed by Coaches Manu Garba and Samson Siasia.
