SV Mainz of Germany striker, Taiwo Awoniyi is looking forward to a massive revival on the first day of the resumption of the German Bundesliga this weekend, as his modest side take on fellow-Nigerian star Kingsley Ehizibue’s FC Cologne, megasportsarena.com reports.
Awoniyi and Ehizibue will join their respective teammates in observing physical distancing rules during the match and all others this Saturday and Sunday, as all players and coaches are set to brave very tight restrictions at all the fixtures, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Awoniyi is one of four Nigerian players that will aim to make top headlines when Der Bundesliga resumes on Saturday, after 55 days in abeyance because of COVID-19, as he and Ehizibue will be joined by Anthony Ujah of Union Berlin and Jamilu Collins of FC Paderborn as part of the historic weekend that will serve as a respite to football fans that have been starved of action.
Indeed, the Bundesliga becomes the first of the big-five European football leagues to restart full fledged matches, with millions of football fans keen to see how the league will adhere to safety protocols, and Awoniyi, who is on from Liverpool of England, is already talking about how he will help his team dent the pride of Ehizibue’s Cologne at home.
Awoniyi told BBC Sport Africa: “The players are already switched their mentality 100% to the game. This is what we do. Whenever we are called upon, we just have to be prepared for it. I think I am ready as well as all the other players.”
With the Bundesliga restart now talk of all soccer lips worldwide, part of an analytical report by pulseng adds: “Awoniyi endured a nightmare debut in August 2019 when he came off the bench with just minutes to go and still had time to concede a penalty in a 3-0 home loss to Freiburg. It has not gotten better since then as he managed just six appearances in the league.
“He has barely played since he missed a fine chance in a 1-0 loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf in October. In that game, which has been his only start this season, he was hooked at half-time and barely played since then. As the Bundesliga season restarts, Awoniyi now has his future to play for to get back to reckoning.
“Anthony Ujah’s return to German football from China has not gone according to plan. After a short stay with his former side Mainz, the Nigerian striker joined newly-promoted FC Union Berlin at the start of the 2019/2020 season. The 29-year-old, however, has not played a huge part in FC Union Berlin’s productive debut season in the top flight.
“Collins has been one the best players for FC Paderborn this season. The Nigerian left-back has started 21 of FC Paderborn’s 25 league games although he hasn’t been able to stop the rot in his side. Paderborn currently sit 10 points adrift of safety at the bottom and their bottom-of-the-table clash against Fortuna Düsseldorf could be the nail in the coffin for them.
“The change of fortune also applies for Kingsley Ehizibue who had a tough start in German after his move from Dutch club PEC Zwolle. Ehizibue has played in 23 of Köln’s 25 league games so far this season, missing two games due to a suspension following a red card for a foul on Bayern Munich’s Philippe Coutinho.
“Since then, the right-back has impressed especially during a run of eight wins in 11 games under new manager Gisdol. A solid defender, Ehizibue currently has won more tackles (47) more than any other player in the Bundesliga.”
