A Lagos based non-league side, 36 Lion Football Club have announced the transfer of its talented young goalkeeper Samuel Femi Oriola to Top Albanian league side, FC Kukesi.
Oriola who was one of the brightest stars discovered during the recent Lagos Supremacy cup held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena popularly known as Onikan Stadium.
Oriola is a gifted and skilful ball playing goalkeeper, who is also renowned for his sharp reflexes and penalty saving ability.
In a statement from the management of 36 Lion FC, Samuel Oriola has been the club’s most reliable goalkeeper for the past five years, with several clean sheets and astounding statistics as a young goaltender.
“Kukesi FC presents a new challenge, but your skills and abilities, gives us implicit confidence that you will excel in your new club.
“You have contributed to our legacy as the only club in Nigeria to have developed over 20 goalkeepers in the last decade with the unique teaching style of Coach Akinshola Akinrele fondly known as ‘Baba Arigo’ and the midas touch of FIFA Agent Cem Sagar.”the statement reads.
It is a renowned fact that transfers of goalkeepers have often gone unnoticed, however, Oriola’s transfer to Albania has reaffirmed 36 Lion FC as a foremost talents development factory for the Nigerian and African football market.
Some of the goalkeepers discovered and exposed by 36 Lion includes, Adebayo Adeleye(Cyprus); Christian Nwoke(Denmark); Emmanuel Oijiangbe (Germany); Chukwudi Ugwuanya (USA);
Justin Odozo(USA); Baby Esebre (Denmark); Gafar Adeleye (USA); Yemi Olagunju (Equatorial Guinea);Wale Oremade (Tanzania);Lukman Afolabi (The Emirates); Aliu Olatunji (Benin Republic); Tunji Raji (Congo).
Others are Lucky Jimoh(Enugu Rangers); Kayode Bankole(Remo Stars);
Niyi Bamidele (Rivers United);
Joshua Enaholo (Niger Tornadoes);Osayi Kingdom (Doma United);Ogundele Kehinde( First Bank);Labi Akinola (First Bank) and Abayomi Folarin, of the defunct MFM.
