Nigerian club, FC IfeanyiUbah, made a huge statement earlier in the year when they opted to invest in foreign players.
With a roll call already consisting of two African imports, the addition of six Brazilians further highlights the club’s resolve in promoting and competing for the league title.
But just two – Alberico Barbosa da Silva and Williams da Silva – among the sextet of players are having a look in the first team by Bulgarian tactician, Mitko Debrov.
Barbosa however seem to be the one making a swift transition to life in the Nigeria Professional Football League thus far.
He needed just eight minutes to announce himself to the Nigerian audience – producing an excellent free kick to score the first for IfeanyiUbah against Shooting Stars Sport Club (3SC) on Wednesday.
The goal was the Nnewi-based side first at home – which set the tone for a 3-1 victory over 3SC.
He thus becomes the first Brazilian to score in the Nigerian league and the first non-African to score in any West African league.
Ghanaian striker, Kofi Boakiye, scored the second 20 minutes before Barbosa produced another masterpiece in form of an assist for the host.
The South American proved his set piece qualities yet again – providing a corner-kick which found the head of another expatriate in Cote d’Ivoire striker, Seka Pascal, for the third.
Born in Recife, the fifth largest metropolitan area in Brazil, Barbosa moved to Nigeria because his hometown has “lots of African descendants”.
“We in Recife, Brazil, where I am from have lots of African descendants,” he said on arrival in Nigeria.
“So when we received the proposal to come to Nigeria, we were excited because we have always had the dream of coming to Africa.
“We check in the internet to know about Nigerian football,” the IfeanyiUbah no 27 revealed.
“We know the football is strong and fast and we are looking forward to adapting to the league.”
Club chairman, Chukwuma Ubah, says the signing of the Brazilians is a massive statement of intent from club owner, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, whose aim is to develop and bring quality football to Nigerian spectators.
“If you agree with me, Ifeanyi Ubah is someone that goes for near perfection, we know only God is perfect, we try to put finesse in anything we do. We don’t go for little measures, we aim so high.
“As it is, our target is to bring good football into Nigeria and it is an opportunity for anyone who will be playing with them to learn from them.”
IfeanyiUbah are currently eight on the log after picking up six points from three games.
Next up for Barbosa and the Nnewi Billionaires is a trip to Akure to face Sunshine Stars.
