Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha (Bengali: এলিটা কিংসলে; born 29 October 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bangladesh Premier League club Brothers Union. Born in Nigeria, he represented Bangladesh at international level.[1][2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eleta Kingsley Oshiokha | ||
| Date of birth | 29 October 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Ogbona, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brothers Union | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Nigerian Ports Authority FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2005 | Gabros International FC | ||
| 2005–2006 | Dolphin | ||
| 2006–2007 | Kwara United | ||
| 2007–2008 | Gateway United | ||
| 2008–2009 | Gabros International FC | ||
| 2009–2011 | Akwa United | 10 | (9) |
| 2011–2012 | Arambagh KS | 11 | (8) |
| 2012–2013 | Team BJMC | 8 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | Muktijoddha Sangsad | 6 | (5) |
| 2015 | Chittagong Abahani | 0 | (0) |
| 2015–2019 | Team BJMC | 29 | (23) |
| 2019 | → Bashundhara Kings (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Arambagh KS | 5 | (6) |
| 2020–2022 | Bashundhara Kings | 21 | (9) |
| 2022–2023 | Dhaka Abahani | 14 | (8) |
| 2023 | Chittagong Muktijoddha Sangsad | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | Brothers Union | 8 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | Bangladesh | 2 | (7) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 28, 2023 | |||
Early life
editEleta started his football career at an early age, enrolling in Nigerian academies.[3] He played youth football with Nigerian Ports Authority FC.[4]
Club career
editHe began his senior career with Nigeria club Gabros International FC.[5][6] Afterwards, he played for Dolphin FC.[7] From 2009 to 2011, he played for Nigerian club Akwa United F.C.[8]
Afterwards, he left Nigeria and went to Uzbekistan, but due to work permit issues and other complications, he had to leave that country, ultimately heading to Bangladesh on the advice of a friend.[3] He played in a match between foreigners and national team players, impressing and receiving offers from many top Bangladeshi clubs such as Abahani Limited Dhaka and Sheikh Jamal DC, but instead signed for Arambagh KS as he had made a prior commitment to them.[3] He scored a hat trick in his first Bangladesh Premier League match in 2012 against Sheikh Jamal DC.[9]
In 2012, Eleta signed for Team BJMC.[10]
In 2013, he joined Muktijoddha Sangsad KC.[10]
In 2015, he played with Chittagong Abahani in the 2015 Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, winning the tournament and finishing as top scorer with 5 goals, and earning the man of the match award in the final, as well as Tournament Most Valuable Player.[11][12]
Afterwards, he returned to Team BJMC, staying with the club through 2019.[10] In a 2016 Independence Cup match, he scored 5 goals in a 6-0 victory over Feni Soccer Club.[13] He went on a brief loan for a few days in 2019 to Bashundhara Kings.[14]
In 2019, he returned to Arambagh KS.[10]
In 2021, he signed for the Bashundhara Kings.[15] On 18 May 2022, he made his AFC Cup debut against Maziya as a naturalized.[16]
In 2022, he signed for Dhaka Abahani.[17]
In 2023, he played with Chittagong based Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the Chittagong Football League, but was released after playing two matches.[18]
In March 2024, Kingsley signed with Brothers Union.[19] On 30 March, he scored in his debut for Brothers Union, in a loss to the Bashundhara Kings.[20]
International career
editEligible for the Nigeria national team by birth, Kingsley obtained Bangladeshi citizenship in 2021, through naturalization,[21][22] becoming the first foreign footballer to obtain a Bangladeshi passport.[23] He was named to the preliminary squad for the Bangladesh national team for the 2021 SAFF Championship, but was unable to represent the team due to not obtaining the clearance from FIFA in time to be eligible.[24] In March 2023, he was named to the provisional squad ahead of a set of friendlies.[25][26] He appeared in an unofficial friendly for Bangladesh on 15 March 2023 against Malawi.[27] He made his official debut in a substitute appearance on 25 March against Seychelles.[28]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 22 August 2023[29]
| Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | Other Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Team BJMC | 2017–18 | Bangladesh Premier League | 18 | 8 | — | — | — | 18 | 8 | |||
| 2018–19 | Bangladesh Premier League | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | ||||
| Arambagh KS | 2020 | Bangladesh Premier League | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | |||
| Bashundhara Kings | 2021 | Bangladesh Premier League | 9 | 3 | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | |||
| 2022 | Bangladesh Premier League | 9 | 6 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |||
| Dhaka Abahani | 2022–23 | Bangladesh Premier League | 14 | 8 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | ||
| Career total | 66 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 34 | ||
Personal life
editBorn in Nigeria, Eleta lives in Bashundhara Residential Area with Bangladeshi wife Liza, whom he married in May 2012. The couple has a daughter named Safira.[30] He applied for Bangladeshi citizenship in 2014, with it being granted in 2021.[31]
Honours
editChittagong Abahani
Individual
References
edit- ^ "Nigerian Eleta Kingsley makes debut in Bangladesh jersey". Dhaka Tribune. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Tariq scores winner against Seychelles on Kingsley's debut". The Business Standard. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Ahmed, Syed Faiz (20 September 2021). "Eleta Kingsley: The saga of confidence, harmony and love of a Bangladeshi family man". Dhaka Tribune.
- ^ Kingsley, Eleta (30 November 2022). "A stroke of good fortune". Dhaka Tribune.
- ^ "African leagues round-up: 12-13 Feb". BBC Sport. 14 February 2005.
- ^ Batalha, José; Schöggl, Hans (27 September 2018). "Nigeria 2004". RSSSF.
- ^ "Nigeria: Glo League: Ocean Boys Cry Foul". All Africa. 2 May 2006.
- ^ Banerjee, Ritabrata (14 September 2021). "Bangladesh set to feature Nigeria-born forward Eleta Kingsley in SAFF Championship 2021". Goal.
- ^ Bakul, Wahid Ullah (27 August 2020). "Kingsley in love with Bangladesh". New Age.
- ^ a b c d "Profil Eleta Kingsley, Striker Naturalisasi Bangladesh Calon Lawan Indonesia" [Profile of Eleta Kingsley, Bangladesh Naturalization Striker Candidate Against Indonesia]. kumparanBOLA (in Indonesian). 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Ctg Abahani clinch Sheikh Kamal Int'l Club Cup title". The Daily Star. 30 October 2015.
- ^ Islam, Rakibul (26 June 2021). "মাঠে নেমেই বাংলাদেশি কিংসলের গোল" [Bangladeshi Kingsley's goal on the field]. Offside Bangladesh (in Bengali).
- ^ "BJMC ride on Kingsley treble". The Independent (Bangladesh). 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Eleta Kingsley awarded Bangladesh citizenship". The Daily Observer. 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Kingsley's BPL fate hangs in balance". The Daily Star. 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Kings make winning start AFC Cup 2022". Daily Sun. 19 May 2022.
- ^ "Eleta Kingsley to play for Dhaka Abahani". The New Nation. 26 October 2022.
- ^ "The end of the road for Kingsley in Bangladesh football?". The Daily Star. 23 October 2023.
- ^ "এবার ব্রাদার্স ইউনিয়নে এলিটা কিংসলে" [This time it's Elita Kingsley in Brothers Union]. Protidiner Bangladesh (in Bengali). 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Kingsley scores on 'debut' but Kings celebrate 100 in style". The Daily Star. 30 March 2024.
- ^ Pranto, Tanvir Ahmed (20 March 2021). "Eleta Kingsley: The journey towards becoming Bangladeshi against all odds". The Business Standard.
- ^ "Eleta Kingsley awarded Bangladesh citizenship". The Daily Observer. 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Kingsley shines in Kings' win". New Age. 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Eleta to miss Saff Championship, wait grows for Bangladesh debut". Dhaka Tribune. 27 September 2021.
- ^ "জাতীয় দল ঘোষণা; নতুন মুখ তিন" [National team announcement; New face three]. Offside Bangladesh (in Bengali). 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Kingsley included in preliminary squad for tri-nation tournament". The Daily Star. 2 March 2023.
- ^ "No one like Kingsley: Jamal Bhuiyan". The Daily Star. 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Nigerian Eleta Kingsley makes debut in Bangladesh jersey". Dhaka Tribune. 25 March 2023.
- ^ Eleta Kingsley at Soccerway
- ^ Bakul, Wahid Ullah (27 August 2020). "Kingsley in love with Bangladesh". New Age.
- ^ "Nigerian Striker Eleta Kingsley gets Bangladeshi citizenship". Sport News Bangladesh. 15 March 2021.
External links
edit- Eleta Kingsley at Soccerway
- Eleta Kingsley at Global Sports Archive