Onazi Aiming to Get His Career Back on Track in Denmark

Onazi Aiming to Get His Career Back on Track in Denmark

Danish Superliga club SønderjyskE has offered Nigeria international midfielder Ogenyi Onazi a new way forward after a four year spell in Turkey blighted by injury.

Injuries have seen Onazi’s career look like it has been thrown into reverse – moving from Lazio in Italy’s Serie A to Turkish sides Trabzonspor and then Denizlispor and now onto Denmark..

Despite the issues the 27-year-old remains philosophical about things and believes the Danish club are the ideal platform to revive his career.

“Injuries are inevitable because it’s something that happens a lot in football, but it’s not been fair to me,” Onazi, who has just signed a one year deal, told BBC Sport Africa.

“At the most important time in my career is when it happens to me and I have no proper explanation for this.”

Onazi was tipped as next big thing when he first shot to limelight at Italian side Lazio before breaking into his country’s senior side by winning the African Cup of Nations in 2013 and playing at the 2014 World Cup.

But his brilliant run in Brazil was ended by a late tackle from Blaise Matuidi during France’s win over the Super Eagles in the round of 16.

It started a litany of injuries in his career and came to the fore when he ruptured his achilles at Turkish side Trabzonspor in December 2016.

What followed were four fraught years as he attempted to find a way back from the Achilles injury that became the bane of his existence.

His career has never been the same and revealed the nightmare including muscle and calf problems has made him “more hungry and determined to do well”.

“Coming from where it all started I believe I’ve seen the worst that life has to offer on and off the pitch,” he said.

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