Ventspils of Latvia goalkeeper, Sunday Dele Alampasu has declared that he is seeking a revival of once boisterous career in the East European country, as he wants to make up on lost time and storm back to reckoning in the Super Eagles, megasportsarena.com reports.
However, while admitting his is thinking big once again, with a view towards becoming Nigeria’s number one shot-stopper before this year runs its full course, the Badagry, Lagos-born keeper stressed that he has to first focus on doing well at his new club.
Indeed, the club challenge comes first for Alampasu, who has struggled to tie down a concrete deal since first shining for Nigeria en route to winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup of 2013 in United Arab Emirates, where he was first choice ahead of Eagles’ current number one, Francis Odinaka Uzoho.
Back at UAE 2013, Uzoho was not even rated in the Eaglets, as he did not get to play a single match, while Alampasu went on to emerge as the competition’s best keeper and golden gloves winner, only to see his fortunes deteriorate soon after.
Born December 24, 1996 in Abuja, Alampasu, who stands at a height of 1.99 m (6 ft 6 1⁄2 in), said he is looking forward to a massive resurgence for himself at Ventspils, which he joined after spending a year without a club, following his exit from CD Feirense of Portugal at the expiration of his contract.
The product of Future Stars Academy and Abuja Football College, who once played on loan from Feirense to Cesarense, stressed that he is thinking only of the best efforts and performances that will take him back to when he made his debut with Nigeria’s senior national team on June 1, 2017, as he got off the Eagles’ bench in the 70th minute of a 3-0 victory against Togo.
There is also a huge desire for better trappings with club and country for Alampasu, who earlier had trials with Real Oviedo of Spain, Racing Genk of Belgium and Sporting Braga of Portugal before signing for another Portuguese club, Estoril in February 2015, but the deal was cancelled due to visa problems, and he subsequently signed for Feirense.
The lanky dark-skinned and flashy-haired shot-stopper, who in August 2016 signed on loan for Cesarense and then made his debut for Feirense in a 0–0 draw against Rio Ave on January 20, 2019, enthused that he has all the right trappings at Ventspils to help in his new ambitions.
He declared that, in his desire to become Nigeria’s number one at senior level, he will do all it takes to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper with his club, where he is happy that the technical setting, facilities, atmosphere and human relations among the players, coaches and officials are all conducive to aid his aspirations.
Alampasu told Owngoalnigeria.com: “The aim is to take it one step at a time. I want to be first choice at Ventspils then we can now take it from there. It’s a whole new experience for me and I am glad with all that the team has shown me so far. The set up is very professional.
“About the senior national team of Nigeria, that the long term goal but it starts at Ventspils. I have promised myself that my international career is far from over. I will stage a return in a big way and hopefully claim the number one spot.”
