MFON PATRICK
Nigeria Professional Football League record scorer in a single season and Akwa United striker, Mfon Udoh has opened up about his strength in scoring breathtaking goals from audacious attempts in his illustrious and blistering career.
Udoh’s spectacular goal from a direct corner kick was enough for Akwa United to seal 0-1 victory over Adamawa United on Matchday 8 at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe.
The striker, in an exclusive interview with www.Akwaunitedfc.com, hinted that he has been scoring from tight and impossible positions.
“The goal I scored against Adamawa United was not my first of such audacious goals since I became a professional footballer.
“Two seasons ago, I scored such goal against Plateau United in a league match in Uyo. The only difference is that, on that occasion, it was a free-kick very close to the corner spot. I curled it into the box with lots of spin on the ball and it went in without anyone touching it. I still remember that game because it was Dele Ajiboye that was in goal for Plateau United that day.
“The way I played that corner kick against Adamawa United was such that, I wrapped my leg around the ball and applied lot of spin on the ball in such a way that it needed the slightest of touches to get into the net, and if nobody touches the ball, it would still get into the net or the goalkeeper would save it.
“Early in my career when I first played for Akwa United, I also scored direct from a corner kick against an amateur team in the state FA Cup in Uyo”.
The prolific striker revealed that he has been practicing tricky skills in training sessions and in match situations and observes that he doesn’t get it right always.
“As a striker, I always try to play the ball into the back of the net from different positions in the field of play. I do alot of those tricky skills in training and in match situations but I don’t always get it right, and that does not mean that I will stop trying out new skills.
“The truth is, when I get it right either in training or in a match situation like I did against Adamawa United, everyone will talk about it, and I will be encouraged to keep doing it. But when I don’t get it right, I will feel disappointed.
“I try it alot in training especially the set pieces but I also have colleagues that can take good set pieces and most times I need to let them express it in games by letting them take the kicks because they’ve been delivering good kicks in training,” Mfon explained.
Mfon Udoh, who holds the record as the only player in the history of NPFL to have scored 23 goals in a single season has scored two goals for Akwa United this season since rejoining the club from American club, FC Tulsa.