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EARLY LEARNING INTENSIFIES SKILLS
NSL 2021 sole overseas recruit
By Frankly KAPIN SportsTok MAgazine | Issue #96, AUGUST 2021
From the dreams of an African boy growing into the world of soccer reaching the soccer academy at age 9 years and he just wouldn’t be too sure where the future takes him.
Indeed would have been a roller coaster ride carried away by the youthful exhilarations of football and not long you find yourself settling into the unknowns pursuing a football career.
Well this is how the football story of 29 year old turned out to be after almost 30 years now settling into a new soccer club and another new season in 2021.
And the boy from little known Osogbo in Nigeria, makes it special in 2021 as the only overseas signing in the 14 teams 2021 semi-professional National Soccer League in Papua New Guinea.
Compared to the fanfare of last year’s both Hekari FC and Lae City FC dual overseas signings, yet not one making it back this year.
Contracted to six time defending premiers, Lae City FC, Jibola’s first experience of pacific football branched out from Samoa reaching Fiji and now to Papua New Guinea.
It’s been the most enjoyable journey from amateur to semi-professional soccer career for the 5 feet 8 inch West African national, a committed build up in the early years set him traversing Africa to Europe, Asia and the Pacific and in 2021 makes PNG home away from home.
Jibola has an impressive soccer resume initially scouted for his first taste of elite soccer development program in the Pepsi Academy back home in Nigeria in 2001 for the next 6 years to 2007.
Jibola entered the Redbull Soccer Academy in Ghana from 2007-2008 paving his entry to the Amateur Nigerian League enlisted to Afijo United FC for the next three years.
He moved onto Nigeria’s Prime FC for a 4 year stint into season 2015 and that was the start of a leaping profession in soccer.The 2015-2016 season saw Jibola secured his first overseas contract with Sri Lanka’s Blue Star FC and the following season shifted to Myanmar teaming up with Rakhine United FC.From 2017 to 2018 Jibola entered the Maldives Soccer recruited to Hithadhoo FC and Kudahuvadhoo FC respectively before returning to Sri Lanka the following year this time enlisted to Red Star FC.2019 was a hectic season for Jibola juggling the choice to shift camps without hesitation moving on from Red Star FC to Druk Stars FC in Bhutan Super League.Throughout the starting years of building an elite soccer career Jibola represented both the Nigeria Under 17 and National team aback recognitions as the Best Player of the Amateur Nigerian League and a member of the Maldives Minivan Championship in 2018 and 2019.In 2018 Jibola was the highest goal scorer Bhutan Super League and Most Valuable Player of the Druk Star FC in 2019 Bhutan Super League.But then the tingling of the bell came racing down without holding back as Jibola headed for Kiwi FC in Samoa’s national competition the same year.An attacking striker he prefers, Jibola lasted only a season in Samoa and his stint earning him a higher calling, joining Fiji’s top football club, Suva FC.Jibola was a member of Suva FC 2019/20 Premiership winning champions heading out to Nadroga FC still in Fiji the following season until his recruitment to Lae City FC in PNG in early 2021.Over the last 12 years of semi-professional soccer until just last year (2020), Jibola has scored a running total of 106 goals and 68 goal assists.Jibola has been assessed as a very strong player, hardly does he lose the ball, a fearless, explosive attacker (striker) who can change the game with a turn of pace or dribble.He can be a defender’s nightmare always having an eye for the spectacular which has inevitably earned him vital and memorable solo effort goals in the club quest to remain at the top table and in the Premier Leagues matches.And Jibola can be congratulated to have helped three clubs elevated to the premier league in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan.Until the end of 2021 season, all the best to Jibola making his mark in Papua New Guinea’s national soccer league.
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