Odafa Onyeka Okolie (born 6 June 1985) is a Nigerian professional footballer[1] who spent most of his career for clubs in India.[2] He last played for Gokulam Kerala in the I-League.[3] He was the highest paid footballer in I-league history, earning INR 1.4 crore per year in 2011.[4] Odafa is second in the list of all-time leading goalscorer in the I-League and National Football League history with 179 goals,[5] and has been the top goal scorer on three consecutive editions.[6]
![]() Okolie with Churchill Brothers in 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Odafa Onyeka Okolie | ||
Date of birth | (1985-06-06) 6 June 1985 (age 37) | ||
Place of birth | Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2004 | Mohammedan | 40 | (10) |
2004–2005 | Muktijoddha | 28 | (34) |
2005–2011 | Churchill Brothers | 155 | (106) |
2011–2014 | Mohun Bagan | 92 | (91) |
2014–2016 | Churchill Brothers | 22 | (22) |
2015 | → Sporting Goa (Loan) | 12 | (9) |
2017 | Southern Samity | 9 | (9) |
2017 | Gokulam Kerala | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
He also holds the record for scoring the most hat-tricks in I-League and National Football League combined, with 14 hat-tricks across all seasons, including 13 of those in the I-League.[7][8]
After a lackluster start to his career which saw him play for Indian club Mohammedan,[9] and Bangladeshi club Muktijoddha SKC where he only made nil and 28 appearances respectively and scored 34 goals with SKC, Odafe went back to India and signed for Churchill Brothers in the I-League in 2005. It took him till the 2006–07 season to break out though as he scored 12 goals that season with Churchill. Then during the 2007–08 season, Odafa scored 22 goals in 16 games and was top scorer in the new I-League. Odafa was the all-time leading scorer in the I-League after three seasons and is undoubtedly one of the deadliest strikers ever to have played in India. He was also the former captain of Churchill Brothers.[10]
On 1 June 2011, he signed a one-year deal with Mohun Bagan A.C. for approximately $600,000.[4] On 23 October 2011, Odafa scored a hat-trick in his debut for Bagan in a 3–1 victory over Pailan Arrows.[11]
On 13 May 2014, Odafe signed for Churchill Brothers.
In March 2015, he signed for I-League strugglers Sporting Clube de Goa. He helped the club narrowly avoid relegation and was subsequently retained for another season.[12]
In March 2017, odafa signed for I-League 2nd Division side Southern Samity. He scored a goal in his first match for samity against NEROCA FC In the 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division final round.
Churchill Brothers
Muktijoddha SKC
Individual
2011–12 FPAI Team of the Year | |
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NFL and I-League top scorers | |
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Top scorers (2003/04–06/07) | |
Golden Boot winners (2007/08–present) |
Sporting Clube de Goa – current squad | |
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