Nigerian star Bart Ogbeche, who claimed an ISL double recently, completed his move to Hyderabad FC earlier this week.
Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Hyderabad City FC (HFC) star Bartholomew Ogbeche believes that the league has witnessed tremendous improvement in many areas. Ogbeche further expressed his viewpoint that teams in the ISL have grown stronger not just locally, but also on the international stage. The Nigerian termed recent performances by clubs in the AFC Champions League as a sign of this progress. Ogbeche recently claimed an ISL double with defending champions Mumbai City FC, going on to complete a move to the Hyderabad-based franchise.
“There is still a long way to go but yes, there has been tremendous improvement in many areas. The National Team is more competitive now in international competitions. The teams in the ISL have grown stronger not just locally but also on the international stage as shown by the recent performances by clubs in the AFC Champions League,” said Ogbeche as quoted by the Hyderabad-based franchise’s official website.
“A lot of the credit has to go to the organizers, the Reliance Foundation, AIFF, FSDL, and all other dedicated sponsors. The ISL is also pretty different to other leagues. From the climate in the country to restrictions on the number of foreigners, from competitive balance to unpredictability, the ISL is a real entertainer,” he added.
Ogbeche went on to express his emotions after winning the ISL double in the 2020-21 season, as well as sharing memorable moments in his journey.
“Last season was really memorable and splendid to say the least, for everyone involved. Being able to win everything available, in the way that we did gives a feeling of pride and gratification that cannot be expressed in words. There have been quite a few (memorable moments) in these years but I think helping NorthEast United to the playoffs for the very first time in the club’s history is going to stay with me for a long time.”
“However, the most memorable has to be representing Nigeria, my National Team, at the FIFA World Cup. There is too much to talk about honestly, but the best part is obviously seeing the dream you once thought was far-fetched, become a reality,” he stated.
The Nigerian attacker further elaborated on different aspects like his experiences after playing in different leagues across the world, hunger to achieve success with HFC.
“Adapting to a new environment, new teammates and different lifestyles is never easy. But I believe that along with discipline, hard work, and dedication, pliability is one of my biggest strengths. There is this unquenchable hunger for success that is a part of my being and it is non-negotiable.”
“Regardless of the circumstances and the uncertainties surrounding my future, my preparation for the next ISL season began just a couple of weeks after we were crowned the ISL Champions. So, I can promise that I will give my best in every game and training session at Hyderabad FC. I am thankful to God for blessing me with the talent and instinctiveness to score goals. But let me assure you, I put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes to stay prolific in front of goal,” concluded Ogbeche.