By Akinwale Kasali
Kwara United Football Club of Illorin, Kwara State, has taken a bold step and made history by signing a foreign player to bolster its team ahead of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League Season.
The Club snapped up sensational Brazilian winger, Lucas Ribeiro Alves, on a one-year loan deal a few days after former Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, joined the Kwara State Club Side from Israeli League Side, Hapoel Afula Football Club.
The new arrival will be unveiled soon, according to the player’s Greece-based Nigerian agent, Peter Denise Alade.
The Afonja Warriors, as Kwara United Football team is called has been on the trail of the former Corinthians winger, with Alade playing a key role in the arrival of the South American to the Ilorin-based club.
Alves, who can also function as a midfielder, had a stint in the US cut-short following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March.
The 25-year-old is hoping to play a big role in Kwara United’s campaign next season, but admits the NPFL is a new challenge.
“I feel good, it’s a challenge and I’m going to learn a lot here. After I left the US due to coronavirus, I returned to Brazil but Peter (Nigerian agent) told me to come here (Kwara United), he said they play good football in Nigeria,” Alves told Newsmen.
“I’ll do my best to help the team; what’s important is the team. So many things like the food and the way they drive here is new to me, but I enjoyed the reception I got. It’s a lovely place to be.”
Nigerian agent, Alade, CEO of Prime Sports Management, said Alves would bring along the Brazillian flair to Kwara United.
“Lucas is a highly disciplined professional footballer. He will bring the Brazillian style; he’s a playmaker with good passes and scores goals too,” Alade said.
