Sporting Clube de Goa extend Odafa Okolie's contract

Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa (SGC) has extended the contract of Nigerian talisman Odafa Okolie for another season.

After impressing with eight goals in nine appearances which helped the club stay afloat, Sporting decided to extend Odafa's contract for next season at the club headquarters here on Thursday, a statement issued by the club said.

The 29-year-old had initially joined Flaming Oranje midway through the season from Churchill Brothers.

"I would like to thank God, my wife and family, the SCG President, coaching staff, players and Flaming Oranje fans for supporting me," Odafa was quoted as saying.

"We have begun a partnership with one of the all-time leading goal-scorers in Indian Football. The dynamics of this synergy will play out on the field next season," SCG President Peter Vaz said.

"As Odafa motivates his team mates to challenge for honours, we are sure they will also assist him in reaching his past feats of finishing as the top goal scorer in the I- League. The stage is set for some exciting times ahead," he added.

It is not only the quantity of the goals, but the sheer quality of the finishes which has encapsulated audiences in each venue he has played, it said.

The goals against Mohun Bagan and Pune were particularly classy, but Odafa feels all his strikes were equally important as they were for the benefit of the team.

"We are hoping to carry on the momentum of the performances the team produced in the later stages of the I-League which was spear headed by Odafa in the attack," SCG CEO Victor Fernandes said.