Taye Taiwo Handed No 33 Jersey

Taye Taiwo passed a medical examination held at the Metropolitan hospital yesterday and signed officially with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday afternoon. He has been handed the number 33 jersey.

It is one of the transfer coups of the summer transfer market involving a Nigerian player.

Dynamo Kiev beat Galatasaray, Marseille and Benfica to the signature of Taye Taiwo, who has joined the capital club on a season-long loan deal until June 30, 2013.

The ex Lobi Star watched Tuesday's UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Dutch giants Feyenoord from the podium.

New York Red Bulls Sign Defender Ogunbiyi

The New York Red Bulls announced today that the club has signed defender Babajide Ogunbiyi. Ogunbiyi is available for selection for tonight's exhibition match against Tottenham Hotspur.

“Babajide is a defender with a lot of potential and we believe he can provide depth to our back line,” said New York Red Bulls General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “We are excited to bring him to New York and track his progress for the remainder of the season.”

Ogunbiyi has been with Danish First Division side, Viborg FF, since 2010. During his time there, Ogunbiyi made 53 appearances while scoring six goals.

The defender joined Viborg after being drafted by the Red Bulls in the 2009 SuperDraft but failing to agree to a contract.

In 2008, Ogunbiyi spent the summer training with the Nigerian National Team and was part of the Olympic Team Pool. Ogunbiyi was called up in Nov. 2007 to the Nigerian Under-23 National Team but did not play. A member of the Nigerian Youth National Team Program, Ogunbiyi was born in Rochester, NY.

Keshi recalls Rangers skipper Okwuosa

Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi has recalled former Enugu Rangers skipper James Okwuosa for a friendly against Niger in August in Niamey.

Nigeria will take on Niger in Niamey on August 15 as part of their build-up for a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in September.

Okwuosa was among the first set of call-ups to be picked by Keshi in December. He would later be dropped for not showing enough commitment to the team because about that time he was on his way to trials in Europe.

Keshi has also tried to resolve his problems in the midfield by calling up Shooting Stars playmaker Philip Asuquo and Solomon Jabason from Akwa United.

Other fresh call-ups are Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes), Taofeek Adepoju (Shooting Stars) and Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars).

Heartland goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has also been preferred to Okiemute Odah of Sharks.

Rangers skipper Okwuosa joins Ajax

Enugu Rangers skipper James Okwuosa on Tuesday signed a three-year contract with top South African club Ajax Cape Town.

The agreement was reached Tuesday evening in Cape Town with club CEO George Comitis and technical director Ja Pruijin in attendance.

“Ajax are excited to have signed the player, whose leadership qualities have never been in doubt as skipper of a top club like Enugu Rangers,” said his agent, Lawal Mohammed

“Personally, I believe in James from the first time I saw him. He has all the qualities to be a big hit in South Africa and beyond.

“It’s a major boost in his club career and I also see him taking his proper place in the Super Eagles.”

Okwuosa is one of several fresh call-ups by coach Stephen Keshi for a friendly against Niger in Niamey on August 15.

The big central defender underwent a brief trial with Ajax and even played against mighty Manchester United in a pre-season game. He would later be suspended by Rangers for going AWOL.

He is good in the air and has scored some vital goals with his head from set pieces this season. He also organises his defence very well and he is calm even under pressure.

  

The tough-tackling Okwuosa began his career with NAF FC of Abuja in the lower league.

  

He then transferred to El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the lower league in the 2006/07 season.

  

He was spotted by Premiership side Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the 2007/2008 season from where he distinguished himself to move to the higher profiled Enugu Rangers, who gave him a contract in the 2008/09 season.

  

This season, he was made captain of ‘The Flying Antelopes’, who are on course to their first major trophy in almost 30 years.

  

The six-footer was part of the Nigerian Beach Soccer team to the last World Cup in Italy, where he shone as the team reached an historic quarterfinal place.

  

He was first called up by the Super Eagles while at Lobi and last year, he was again invited to the national team. He is now set for a recall to the Eagles.

Taye Taiwo regrets Milan snub

Taye Taiwo has revealed he is disappointed he has not been given a chance to prove himself at Italian giants AC Milan.

Dynamo Kiev have completed the signing of the Nigeria defender on loan with a view to a permanent deal, which will cost them two million pounds should he impress.

"It was a dream to move to AC Milan but to be honest I never had the chance to show what I am capable of doing, but that is life," Taiwo said in an interview.

"I know Milan are a big club but I am not a player who is happy to sit down and collect a salary without playing football."

The Super Eagles left back also revealed he moved to Dynamo Kiev on loan so as to save his career after he also played on loan in the EPL with QPR last season.

"I chose to come to Dynamo Kiev because of the opportunity to play in the Champions League and also to experience a new life,” he said.

"It was very important to consider my international career and I took this decision with that in mind."

Taiwo has become the fourth Nigeria player at Dynamo Kiev after joining Brown Ideye, Lukman Haruna and Yusuf Ayila.

He was lately linked with a move to Portuguese club Benfica as well as his former French club Olympique Marseille.