Place of birth Nigeria 2003–2004 Mohammedan Career start 2003 Years Team Height 1.83 m | Number 10 Role Football player Playing position Name Odafa Okolie Salary 400,000 USD (2011) | |
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Date of birth (1985-06-06) 6 June 1985 (age 30) Current teams Mohun Bagan A.C. (#9 / Forward), Sporting Clube de Goa (#10) | ||
Odafa Onyeka Okolie (born 1985 in Nigeria), is a Nigerian football player who plays for Southern Samity in I-League 2nd Division . He was the highest paid footballer in I-league earning INR 3 crore (equivalent to USD 600,000) per year in 2011. Odafa is second in the list of all-time leading goalscorer in the I-League and NFL history with 179 goals, and has been the top goal scorer on three consecutive editions. He also holds the record for scoring the most number of hat-tricks in both I-League and NFL combined, with 14 hat-tricks across all seasons, including 13 of those in the I-League.
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Churchill Brothers
After a lackluster start to his career which saw him play for Indian club Mohammedan S.C. and Bangladesh club Muktijoddha SKC where he only made nil and 28 appearances respectively and scored 34 goals with SKC, Odafe went back to India and signed for Churchill Brothers S.C. in the I-League in 2005. It took him till the 2006–07 season to break out though as he scored 12 goals that season with Churchill. Then during the 2007–08 season, Odafa scored 22 goals in 16 games and was top scorer in the new I-League. Odafa was the all-time leading scorer in the I-League after three seasons and is undoubtedly one of the deadliest strikers ever to have played in India. He was also the former captain of Churchill Brothers.
Mohun Bagan AC
On 1 June 2011, he signed a one-year deal with Mohun Bagan A.C. for approximately $600,000. On October 23, 2011, Odafa scored a hat-trick in his debut for Bagan in a 3–1 victory over Pailan Arrows.
Churchill Brothers
On 13 May 2014, Odafe signed for Churchill Brothers.
Sporting Goa
In March 2015, he signed for I-League strugglers Sporting Clube de Goa.He helped the club narrowly avoid relegation and was subsequently retained for another season.
Southern Samity
In March 2017 odafa signed for I-League 2nd Division side Southern Samity. He scored a goal in his first match for samity against NEROCA FC In the 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division final round .