Uche Okechukwu

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Uche Alozie Okechukwu (born September 27, 1967), known as Uche for short, is a Nigerian former football player, who played 44 matches as a defender for the Nigeria national football team, with whom he won the 1994 African Nations Cup and 1996 Summer Olympics. "Uche" is a nickname for the Igbo name "Uchechukwu" (meaning "God´s will").^[1] He also represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups. On club level, he most notably played with Danish club Brøndby IF and Fenerbahçe SK in Turkey, winning the national championship twice with both clubs.

He is honored as the foreign player who has played in Turkey for the longest period of time. Uche has obtained Turkish citizenship, under the name Deniz Uygar.

[edit] Biography

Born in Lagos, Uche started his career playing for Flash Flamingoes and Iwuanyanwu Nationale, winning the 1988 and 1989 Nigerian Premier League with Nationale. He made his debut for the Nigerian national team at the 1990 African Cup of Nations tournament, when Nigeria lost 1-5 to Algeria in their opening game. For the remainder of the competition, the Nigerian defense did not concede another goal, until they were beaten 0-1 by Algeria in the tournament final.

In July 1990, he moved abroad to join Danish club Brøndby IF. Newly assigned Brøndby coach Morten Olsen signed both Uche and fellow Nigerian teammate Friday Elahor for his squad. Uche was soon a part of the Brøndby first team setup. He helped the club win the 1990 and 1991 Danish championship, and was one of the mainstays of the Brøndby team that reached the semi-finals of the international 1991 UEFA Cup tournament. While Friday was touted as the next Brian Laudrup, it would turn out that Uche was the real bargain in the deal. After Friday went to Africa Sports on the Ivory Coast in 1992, Uche would play another year and a half for Brøndby, and he was named 1992 Brøndby IF Player of the Year.

He was a part of the Nigeria national team squad for the 1992 African Cup of Nations, where Nigeria reached the semi-finals. He was chased by Turkish club Fenerbahçe SK for half a year, until he was bought in a DKK 8 million transfer deal in November 1993. He represented Nigeria at the 1994 African Cup of Nations, which they went on to win, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. He was a great part of Nigeria's first FIFA World Cup participation, when he was called up for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and played full time in Nigeria's four games before elimination.

At Fenerbahçe, Uche formed a defensive duo with former Brøndby defender Jes Høgh, when the club won its first Turkcell Super League championship in seven years in the 1995-96 season. He was named Nigeria's national team captain on several occasions between 1996 and 1998, and was a part of the Nigerian team which won gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also took part in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and ended his national team career when Nigeria were eliminated from the tournament.

He played a further four seasons with Fenerbahçe, and won the 2001 Turkcell Super League. In 2002, he left Fenerbahçe after nine seasons and 191 league games for the club. He moved to league rivals İstanbulspor A.Ş., where he ended his career.

[edit] Honours

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold	1996 Atlanta	Team Competition

• Nigerian Premier League: 1988 and 1989
• Danish championship: 1990 and 1991
• 1992 Brøndby IF Player of the Year
• 1994 African Nations Cup
• Turkcell Super League: 1996 and 2001

[edit] References

[edit] External reference

• Nigerian Players profile
• National Football Teams statistics

v • d • e Nigeria squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Eguavoen • 3 Iroha • 4 Keshi • 5 Okechukwu • 6 Nwanu • 7 George • 8 Oliha • 9 Yekini • 10 Okocha • 11 Amuneke • 12 Siasia • 13 Ezeugo • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Agu • 17 Ikpeba • 18 Ekoku • 19 Emenalo • 20 Okafor • 21 Adepoju • 22 Agbonavbare • Coach: Westerhof

v • d • e Nigeria squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Rufai • 2 Oparaku • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Uche • 6 West • 7 Finidi • 8 Adepoju • 9 Yekini • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 W. Okpara • 13 Babangida • 14 Amokachi • 15 Oliseh • 16 Okafor • 17 Eguavoen • 18 Oruma • 19 Iroha • 20 Ikpeba • 21 G. Okpara • 22 Baruwa • Coach: Milutinović