One of the success stories of last season in Europe was 21 year old Nigerian forward Gift Orban at Belgium top division side Gent, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Last season he scored 20 goals in 22 games following his January transfer deadline day move from second division Norwegian side Stabæk. He has failed to match that same height this season.
Yesterday he scored his first league goal since since August 20. A run that has seen him dropped to the bench in recent games and after the game he voiced out his frustrations and lashed out at the decision to drop him to the bench.
‘I’ve had difficult times,’ Orban said. “If you score a lot, everyone is happy. If you don’t score it’s more difficult, you swallow criticism, you hardly get playing minutes and you can hardly start a match. That’s difficult.”
‘I don’t feel like myself anymore,’ Orban continued. “Siting on the couch, playing for ten minutes… What can I help the club or team then? I haven’t spoken to the coach yet. That is not necessary either. I can only say that I remain a pro and will always be committed, whether I can play five or ten minutes, that doesn’t matter. I just need trust. The coach decided that I could come to Ghent, he gave me confidence.”
He went ahead to say if the situation doesn’t change, then he will seek a way out to where he is sure of getting regular game time.
“I’m not a player who gets confidence when he steps in. I am a player who starts and needs to be able to grow in a match. A club can’t destroy my career. I keep working. If it doesn’t work here, elsewhere then,” he said.
“The coach decides who plays. I certainly respect our coach, he is a top coach. He knows what he’s doing. I still trust him. The club remains the most important, the team is above everything. Even if I don’t play but if the team wins, that’s what counts.” Anyway, not an easy situation for Hein Vanhaezebrouck and AA Gent.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
