Finding “the next big thing” in international takes you to some out of the way places. Today we travel to Thailand, a country that is not well known for soccer. The Thai national team is currently ranked #104 in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, not exactly a sign of a footballing powerhouse. We go even deeper to Thailand’s Regional League Divison II to find Jimoh Abiola of Lampang FC.
The young Nigerian striker is a long way from home, but has made the best of an opportunity. Abiola has become a proven scorer, averaging almost a goal every two games. He has a nice touch on the ball, possesses good speed, and is capable of consistently delivering an assist or a goal. Abiola has tallied 8 goals and 6 assists in 19 appearances (7 starts), but he can’t do it alone as Lampang finds itself 11th in the table.
Abiola spent time with several clubs in Nigeria including the prestigious Pepsi Football Academy, Olukoya FC, and Polytechnic Ibadan. He also possesses a good understanding of soccer in Nigeria and on the international level.
Like many Nigerians, Abiola was disappointed with his country’s performance at the World Cup. Kanu, Mikel John Obi, and Obafemi Martins are players that fans adore, but no one was expecting just one point in the 2010 World Cup. It was their poorest outing ever at the WC, but Abiola remains hopeful of the country’s future in international football.
ISN Next Gen players are the “best of the best” when it comes to the next generation of soccer stars. These players may come from the high school or club ranks or could be the next big thing at the collegiate level. We even select young professionals that are worthy of such an honor. Feature articles, based on a specific player, will be released each month on our blog.
1 thought on “ISN Next Gen for 2010 (August) – FWD Jimoh Abiola, Lampang FC (Thailand)”
Comments are closed.