13 Nigerian footballers face deportation in Ukraine

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Thirteen Nigerian footballers who have spent more than a month without work permits in Ukraine may soon be deported, reports in the eastern European country say.


The players have not given up their hopes of playing for Ukrainian clubs but authorities say they are currently regarded as irregular migrants after they were found in an abandoned tourist camp in central Ukraine near Dnepropetrovsk.

The camp’s personnel consisted of an old lady playing the roles of both administrator and guard, Ukrainian media report.

The players say they arrived in Ukraine on August 1. The team’s captain says the players, all from top Nigeria Premier League clubs, came to Ukraine at the invitation of their manager, who promised to fix them up with local clubs, as such players are in great demand there.

“One of us went with our manager to Donetsk and signed a contract with Olympia. Three other players left to try their luck, but I do not know where. We have played two games – with Obolon and Arsenal Kiev. I wonder why no one is taking us and why are we still here?” says Onome Simiyo.

The players, the oldest of which is 24 years old, live in austere conditions. Their rooms are empty, and in some even the doors are missing. They take water from the nearest river.

The Nigerians have some pocket money, around $25 each, which their manager gave them before leaving. They occasionally buy food in a nearby village. The players are holding on to their hopes, however. All of them are willing to stay in Ukraine and play football. In order to stay fit, they practice on a rural field every day.

Meanwhile, local police and immigration control officials paid a visit to the camp and found out that their visas had expired, and that chances are the players crossed into Ukraine illegally.

“They have to leave the country by September 15 or they will be deported,” explains immigration officer Sergey Chicher.