Salim Fargo Lawal: Sensational Nigerian striker makes team of the week in Croatian league

The scintillating performance of Nigerian striker, Salim Fago Lawal in the colours or NK Istra against NK Lomotiva in Croatian top- flight league game on Sunday has earned him a slot in the team of the week in Croatia.

Lawal scored in the 45th minute of the game to put his team in a commanding 2-0 advantage going into the break and he had a commanding presence all through the game that later ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors from Istra.

Lawal was indeed a tormentor against the defenders of NK Lomotiva all through the time he lasted on the pitch before he suffered a knock that made him to be replaced in the 58th min, but his display was good enough to be voted into the team of the week in Croatia.

The former Flying Eagles striker has continued to develop his game after joining the club in August, 2023 and this latest feat in Croatia will definitely propel him to continue to work harder and the reward will come.

Lawal has been on the radar of some clubs in Europe due to the great quality of his game for NK Istra.

Salim Fargo Lawal: Nigerian striker tops wish list of major Belgian clubs

 

Sensational Nigeria and NK Istra striker, Salim Fargo Lawal is a subject of interest from notable clubs in the Belgian Jupiler league following his impressive performance with the Croatian club.

Totori News scooped that K.V Mechelen, an elite Belgian club side are among the clubs interested is signing the Nigerian attacker, who has continued to improve his game to the delight of the management of the club and fans.

Lawal has been a great phenomenon in Croatia after scoring three goals in 12 league games last season and started in seven games, but the hallmark of the striker, is his energetic performance in every match, that is imbibed with speed, strength and skills, with one of the goals in reckoning for the goal of the season in Croatia.

He has shown tremendous ability to learn fast, added with his professional discipline on and off the pitch, which has endeared him to the technical crew and the management of the club.

The 21- year old former Mavlon FC striker signed a three- year deal with NK Istra last year and he has continued to improve his game in the new season where he had made four starts and despite the transfer interests from clubs both within Croatia and across Europe, Lawal prefers to continue to ply his trade with NK Istra, where he has become the delight of the fans.

At the moment, the decision for Lawal to remain with NK Istra lies with the management of the club, as transfer negotiations are still on the table for the sublime striker.

Salim Fago Lawal: Ex Mavlon striker hits brace in Istra humbling of Radnick

 

Former Mavlon Fc striker, Salim Fago Lawal continued with his goal scoring form for Istra in the 9-0 massacre Radnički NB, reports www.totorinews.com. 

The Nigerian junior international was a menace against the defence of Radnički NB and he was rewarded with two goals within 15minutes in the friendly encounter on Wednesday.

Lawal looked very sharp, quick, and precise on goal to score on 13th and 28th minute. He demonstrated strong predactor instinct in the box as a lethal striker.

Prior to him scoring, Advan Kadusic had opened the floodgate of goals in the 8th minute for Istra 1961 FC.

The bullish Nigerian attacker had earlier scored against Gorica where his team triumphed 2-0 and today's game was another improved performance from a striker who scored a goal against Italy at the FIFA U-20 tournament in Argentina last year.

There is no doubt that three goals and an assist in two games is a strong indication of a quality display of a young striker.

Benjamin Ikwulono: A new football gem spring up at Mavlon FC

 

Mavlon FC will continue to be a hub of football talents in Nigeria, as the modest NLO side has discovered another rare football gem in 8 years old wonder- kid, Benjamin Ikwulono.

Watching him dazzling the ball in the midst of other footballers far older than him indicates his rich knowledge and skills in the round leather game.

He was discovered by Mavlon's chief scout, Raymond Hassan in Abuja, but due to the fact he is still very young, the management of Mavlon FC decided to register the kid with Derby Football Academy of Abuja for development of the young prodigy.

He is to be in Abuja where his parents reside and be undergoing his football development with Derby Academy, but whenever schools are on break, he comes to Lagos, to and join  his team Mavlon FC to continue to learn the Mavlon philosophy 

It was part of his developmental process that made him feature for Mavlon Fc against AJ United in a friendly game that ended 10-0  in favour of his side on Saturday.

Now the cruz of the matter is not just the friendly game, but the confidence of an 8 years old playing among U-15 boys, the age gap is quite wide, but his footballing prowess outweighs his age.

It was a beauty to behold this diamond, scoring a goal and creating an assist after coming in as a second half substitute. His style of football  depicts speed, skills, and strength, very similar to  that of Kyalian Mbappe, the French football star, who plies his trade with PSG in the French Ligue 1.

Amazingly, the shouts of 'Mbappe' rings the air whenever the ball was in his possession during the friendly game. His calmness before scoring his goals and his visionary passing skills are all the hallmarks of a future football star.

It is hoped that the potential "Little Mbappe" has demonstrated will be developed and nurtured as his years roll by into teenage and adulthood. 

In less than three years, Mavlon Fc has developed some notable young football talents in Nigeria.

Golden Eaglets duo of Charles Agada and Cletus Simon, Salim Fago, Flying Eagles striker and Israel Ayuma that both plies their trade with Istra 1961 of Croatia and Shedrack Kaye of Debrecen are some of the products of Mavlon Fc.

Others are highly gifted goalkeeper Friday James Samuel, who is billed to join Charlton Athletic when he clocks 18 years old and Caleb Ochedikwu, who is on the verge of finalising a deal with another European top division club.