Joseph Enakarhire

Joseph Enakarhire
Personal information
Full name Joseph Enakarhire
Date of birth (1982-11-06) 6 November 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Warri, Nigeria
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1998–1999 Rangers International
1999–2001 Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Standard Liège 75 (1)
2004–2005 Sporting CP 19 (0)
2005–2008 Dynamo Moscow 9 (1)
2006–2007 → Bordeaux (loan) 16 (0)
2007–2008 → Panathinaikos (loan) 2 (0)
2012 La Fiorita 0 (0)
2013 Daugava 2 (0)
Total 123 (1)
International career
2002–2006 Nigeria 22 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph Enakarhire (born 6 November 1982) is a Nigerian former professional footballer. He could play as either a right back or a central defender.

Club career

Born in Warri, Enakarhire impressed at a young age at Standard Liège before moving to Sporting Clube de Portugal in 2004–05, signing a four-year contract[1] and eventually becoming first-choice. However, after just one season, he was sold to Russia's big spenders FC Dynamo Moscow.[2]

Unsettled, Enakarhire was loaned, in August 2006, to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, as another former Sporting defender, Beto, left for Recreativo de Huelva also on loan.[3] He was relatively used during the campaign[4] and after the French decided against signing him permanently, he joined Greece's Panathinaikos FC on a season-long loan.[5]

In July 2009, Enakarhire had an unsuccessful trial with FC Metz.[6] In the following year, he met the same fate at Odense Boldklub and FC Energie Cottbus.[7]

In late June 2012, after four years out of football, Enakarhire was signed by S.P. La Fiorita to boost the Sammarinese club's first campaign in the UEFA Europa League.[8] In March of the following year he changed teams and countries again, joining Latvian Higher League champions FC Daugava[9] but being released after only four months.

International career

A Nigeria international since 2003, Enakarhire appeared with the Super Eagles at the 2004 and 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. He was an undisputed starter in the latter tournament as the country finished third, only conceding three goals.

References

  1. ^ Enakarhire bolsters Sporting; UEFA.com, 3 August 2004
  2. ^ Enakarhire hired by Dynamo; UEFA.com, 18 July 2005
  3. ^ Enakarhire makes way to Bordeaux; UEFA.com, 31 August 2006
  4. ^ "Balakov, Barbosa, err... Hanuch e Ghilas: as melhores contratações da história, enfim, recente do Sporting (por Rogério Casanova)" [Balakov, Barbosa, ehem... Hanuch and Ghilas: the best signings in Sporting's, let's say, recent history (by Rogério Casanova)]. Expresso (in Portuguese). 18 July 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  5. ^ Энакархире стал игроком "Панатинаикоса" [Enakarhire became a Panathinaikos player] (in Russian). Sport Express. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Bong proche du VAFC" [Bong near VAFC] (in French). FC Metz. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Joseph Enakarhire lost Energie Cottbus deal to politics". All Nigeria Soccer. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Mancano solo i dettagli burocratici, Joseph Enakarhire sarà il rinforzo per l'Europa League" [Bureaucratic details notwithstanding, Joseph Enakarhire will be reinforcement for the Europa League] (in Italian). S.P. La Fiorita. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Apskats: Sešus miljonus vērts aizsargs un patriotiskā Liepāja (2.daļa)" [Review: Six million defender and patriotic Liepāja (part 2)] (in Latvian). Sporta Centrs. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2013.