Oboabona’s too Big for Arsenal Trial!

Nigerian club Sunshine Stars of Akure have ruled out any likelihood of defender Godfery Oboabona undergoing trials at English Premier League side, Arsenal.

The media was awash yesterday with the news that Arsenal have offered to take the Eagles centre-back on trial.

Oboabona, 22, has been the subject of heavy interest from a bevy of European clubs following a series of fine performances at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

The 22-year-old is expected to leave Akure Township Stadium in the summer, and already has concrete offers from the top five leagues in the world.

However, Arsenal — his favorite club since childhood — would be his first-choice option, and understandably so.

“Arsenal are my favourite club from childhood. It is the club I want to play for,” said the Nigeria international.campaign.

But officials of Sunshie Stars who had earlier slammed a one million Euro transfer fee on their starlet, strongly opposed the idea of trials for Oboabona, saying he is too big to undergo trials at Arsenal or any other club.

“We’ve not been informed by anybody about any plans for Oboabona to undergo trials at Arsenal”, reacts Mike Idoko, Executive Director of Ondo State Football Agency, OSFA, the controlling organ of Sunshine Stars Football Club.

“However, it is unthinkable for anyone to assume Oboabona can go on trials at Arsenal. This is a player who has featured in more than 75% of the senior national team’s matches in the last one year.

“He won the African Cup of Nations just last month and played in all the games, starting from the qualifiers.

“So far he has been a key member of the Super Eagles fighting for the 2014 FIFA world Cup qualification ticket. So its either a straight contract or nothing because we cannot accept any trial arrangement”, Idoko sounded.