“I can’t help Watford now” – Super Eagles 1st Choice GK confesses helplessness in Hornets’ relegation battle
The Golden Boys are fighting for their lives in the English top-flight and would need all the help they can get to avoid a return to the second-tier.
Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has revealed his concerns about the relegation troubles facing Watford in the English Premier League.
Okoye became the most expensive Nigerian goalkeeper signing in history when he inked a five-and-a-half-year deal with Watford in November for a reported €7 million.
His Watford contract, however, started running on January 1st, but the Hornets allowed him to spend the rest of the campaign at Sparta Rotterdam, the club that brought him to the limelight.
It has been a rough campaign for Watford and Sparta Rotterdam in their respective leagues, with both teams facing the possibility of getting relegated.
Watford have changed managers three times already, but the Hornets remain second from bottom on the log. There are three points between them and Everton in 17th, but the Toffees have played two fewer games.
Sparta have not fared better, with Henk Fraser’s men sitting in 17th on the 18-team table, a significant four points away from safety.
In the case of Watford suffering relegation, Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper could be playing in the Championship next season.
Okoye confesses that he is concerned about the troubles of his parent club, even if there is little he can do from the Netherlands to change their fortunes.
But the 22-year-old has vowed to pull all the stops to ensure that Sparta do not get dumped out of the Eredivisie.
“It is concerning for me that Watford is also facing relegation, but I can only help Sparta now,” Okoye told Rijnmond.
“I will do everything I can to keep Sparta in the Eredivisie. I can’t help Watford now.”
Okoye missed a few games for Sparta in January when he was away with the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
Still, the young shot-stopper has made 19 league appearances for the Dutch side, conceding 29 goals while keeping three clean sheets. Okoye has also been shown the yellow card thrice.
