Paul Obiefule

Paul Obiefule

Personal information
Full name	Paul Ikechukwu Obiefule
Date of birth	15 May 1986
Place of birth	Owerri, Nigeria
Height	1.84 m (6 ft ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Holstebro
Youth career
	Planners FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2000–2004	Heartland	?	(?)
2004–2007	Viborg FF	40	(0)
2007–2009	Lyn[1]	52	(3)
2010–2011	Hønefoss[1]	35	(4)
2011	→ Lillestrøm (loan)[1]	12	(0)
2012–2013	KuPS	27	(2)
2013–2014	Assyriska FF	26	(2)
2015–	Holstebro	0	(0)
National team^‡
2004–2007	Nigeria	14	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 August 2015. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 December 2008

Paul Ikechukwu Obiefule (born 15 May 1986 in Owerri) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Denmark Series side Holstebro.

Club career

Obiefule began his career in his home country of Nigeria playing for Planners FC and then Heartland, where he spent two months before being spotted by Danish side Viborg FF, who signed him in 2004. During his time at Viborg he attracted lots of interest from many overseas clubs but in 2007 it was announced that he had signed a one-year deal for the Norwegian club Lyn, in September 2008 signed a new contract, lasting until the end of 2011 and Was Handed Over The Captain Band Making him the First Black To Captain a Norwegian Premiership Club Obiefule was a transfer target for English Championship side Watford, Scottish Aberdeen and Norwegian Hønefoss.^[2] Obiefule verbally agreed on 14 December 2009 for a 3-year long contract for Hønefoss because of a knee injury that jeopardised his moves to either Scotland or England. Obiefule agreed on 6 months loan for Lillestrøm on 2 August 2011 and was drafted into the game against Tromsø the next day, 3 August, without training with his new teammate.^[3] In February 2012 Obiefule signed a contract for the 2012 season with Finnish Veikkausliiga team KuPS. ^[4]

In November 2012, Obiefule was back training with Viborg FF ahead of a proposed move to an unknown Chinese team.^[5]

In August 2015, Obiefule agreed for a contract with Danish club Holstebro.^[6]

Position

His position is that of Defensive Midfielder.

Career statistics

Season	Club	Division	League		Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2004–05	Viborg	Superliga	8	0	0	0	8	0
2005–06		Superliga	18	0	0	0	18	0
2006–07		Superliga	14	0	0	0	14	0
2007	Lyn	Tippeligaen	6	0	1	0	7	0
2008		Tippeligaen	24	0	5	1	29	1
2009		Tippeligaen	22	3	3	2	25	5
2010	Hønefoss	Tippeligaen	21	2	2	0	23	2
2011		Adeccoligaen	14	2	3	2	17	4
2011	Lillestrøm	Tippeligaen	12	0	0	0	12	0
2012	KuPS	Veikkausliiga	27	2	8	0	35	2
Career Total			166	9	22	5	188	14

International career

Obiefule is a full Nigerian international and made his debut for the Super Eagles in the LG tournament in 2004. He was a member of Super Eagles squad that won bronze in Egypt in 2006. He has been capped 10 times for his country.

Personal life

Obiefule was studying agricultural economics at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria but gave it up to pursue a professional football career.

His younger brother Polycarp Obinna Obiefule, plays currently for Mosta F.C. in Malta. His brother Pol broke a record as the highest goal ever scored in Maltese Premier League in the 2011/2012 Season with 34 Goals. Formerly member of Planners F.C. Owerri Imo State Nigeria.

References

1. NIFS profile
2. "Hønefoss vil ha Lyns Paul Obiefule". Aftenposten. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
3. Lynspiller til Hønefoss
4. KuPS ja Paul Obiefule pelaajasopimukseen
5. http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=8208
6. http://www.holstebroboldklub.dk/#!HB-henter-tidligere-superliga-og-landsholdsspiller/cd7/55dda21e0cf2174523e7439b

External links

• Stats at LynFotball.net