Emem Eduok The double hat-trick hero

Although the history of world football is replete with records of players who scored more than six goals in a single match, no player in the Nigerian Premier League had netted as much as six goals in one match.Consequently, Eduok who has since been invited to the Super Eagles became a cynosure of all eyes […]

Although the history of world football is replete with records of players who scored more than six goals in a single match, no player in the Nigerian Premier League had netted as much as six goals in one match.
Consequently, Eduok who has since been invited to the Super Eagles became a cynosure of all eyes at the Liberation stadium when he hit one, two, three, four, five, six goals past hapless Nembe City. Before the match, he was on 13 goals and the six goals took his tally to 19 before he scored additional one goal to take his goals to 20.
With a game left to play against Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Eduok stands a chance of going past his compatriot, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba who is the current highest goal scorer with 21 goals.
When SHOT! spoke to the Akwa Ibom state born football player on how he managed to score the six goals against Nembe City, he said it was due to hard work and support from his team mates who supplied him with the passes.
He said before the match, he set a target of five goals for himself but when the chance for the sixth fell to him, he took it gladly. “Well I am so happy that I was able to score six goals against Nembe City. I attribute my performance on the day to God almighty, hard work and the support I got from my team mates. I did not do it alone.
“Before the match, I prayed for five goals but when the match started, I kept scoring until I ended with six goals which everybody is telling me it is history that I have made in the Nigeria Premier League”.
Eduok said the goals he scored have made him very popular and the result of that performance is the invitations to the Super Eagles.
“The goals have made me very popular. I am sure the goals are responsible for the national call ups that I have received in recent times. Moreover, after the match, I was given two match balls to take home.
The bullish forward said right now, the balls are among his most precious possessions. “I kept the balls in my car but when I travelled to Uyo recently, I left them in my house for safe keeping. I will keep the balls safe for my children. I will live to tell them how I came about the two ‘Golden balls’.
Even as he is still playing for Dolphins Eduok said he has attracted the attention of so many football agents who have been discussing with him concerning clubs in Europe.
He said at the right time, he would make a move. He, however, said from the look of things, this would be his last season in Dolphins where he is spending his fourth year.
“So far, my performance this season is not bad. So far, I have scored 20 goals which is no small achievement and so I am not surprised that I have agents who are discussing with me concerning clubs in Europe. From the look of things, this would be my last season in Nigerian league”.
Eduok further assured that his performance is not going to be a flash in the pan because like the two players he admires so much, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he will keep scoring anywhere he goes.
“I am a born striker so I don’t think my performance this season is going to be a flash in the pan. My ambition is to be like my idols, C. Ronaldo and Messi who have been very consistent for so many years now.
“They are the best players in the world right now because every year, they maintain their goal scoring form. They are not like some strikers who shine in one season and nothing is hear about them again. Oh my God, these two players are simply unstoppable”.
Surprisingly, Eduok’s best goal of the season is not among the six goals he scored against Nembe City. Instead he said his goal against Warri Wolves in Warri remains his best.
“I can say I scored two beautiful goals, one against Gombe United and the other against Warri Wolves. But the one against Wolves in Warri stands out as the best. I was dashing in from the wing and a cross came in from the right wing and from far off, I headed it in”.
A striker who has scored 20 goals in a season cannot remain anonymous so Eduok is well known by some of the hard tackling defenders in the league.
He said Warri Wolves Azubuike Egwuekwe and Enyimba captain, Chinedu Udoji are the strongest defenders he faced in the league. “I have two defenders in the league who always give me tough time. There is Chinedu Udoji and Azubuike Egwuekwe of Warri Wolves. Azubuike is like a trailer. If he hits you, you definitely feel the impact. But he does not scare me. Whenever we meet, he kicks and hits but I keep coming at him. I am always out to score so I don’t allow anybody to frustrate me.
Unlike some players who are superstitious, the Dolphins marksman said he does not harbour any superstitious belief as all he does before a match is to pray to God for protection and gift of goals.
“I am not superstitious but what I do before entering the pitch is to raise my two hands towards heaven to seek God’s favour. I don’t just imitate others like some players do. For instance, Drogba bounces with his left leg and turns his back before entering the pitch. Some players imitate him without knowing why he does that. I don’t just follow people in doing what I don’t understand”.
Eduok said he will forever be grateful to his father who sold his only piece of land to support his football career. “I owe everything to my father who sold his only piece of land to sponsor my trip to Lagos in search of a club. It is that sacrifice that I am enjoying today”.
Due to his dashing runs and ability to take on defenders, his team mates call him Gareth Bale and he has no qualms answering that nick-name but he wants to remain Eduok.
“Yeah my team mates call me Gareth Bale because they say I play like the Real Madrid man and I have no problem with that. He is one of the world’s best players but I want to remain Emem Eduok. If another player wants to be called Emem Eduok, I would have no problem with that.
Like every other player, after playing for Flying Eagles, Eduok wants to make a name in the colours of the Super Eagles. He knows it is not going to be easy but he is determined to actualise his dream. “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step so I have started my journey as far as playing for Nigeria is concerned. I am a fringe player now but in future, I will become an integral member of the Super Eagles,” he said.
Emem Eduok began his football career in Akwa Starlets from where he moved to the senior side, Akwa United before joining his present club, Dolphins of Port-Harcourt.