Abraham Alechenwu

Abraham Alechenwu
Personal information
Full name Abraham Alechenwu
Date of birth (1986-03-26) 26 March 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
–2003 Ambassadors of Christ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Gramozi Ersekë
2005 Apolonia Fier
2005–2006 Elbasani
2007 Tirana 29 (0)
2007–2008 Dinamo Tirana 31 (0)
2008–2010 Tirana 57 (0)
2010 Iraklis 0 (0)
2011 Vllaznia Shkodër 14 (0)
2012 Flamurtari Vlorë 21 (0)
2012 Vardar 0 (0)
2012–2013 Besa Kavajë 20 (0)
2013–2014 Kastrioti Krujë 22 (1)
2014–2015 Adriatiku Mamurrasi 21 (1)
2015–2016 Kamza 17 (0)
2016–2017 Laçi 22 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Abraham Alechenwu (Albanian: Abraham Aleçenu; born 26 March 1986) is a Nigerian former football player and a football agent.[1]

He spent the majority of his career in Albania where he notably had a successful spell with Elbasani and Tirana and was once dubbed as the best left-back in the Albanian Superliga.[2]

Career

Early career

Abraham started his playing career in Nigeria Division 1[3] with Ambassadors of Christ as a teenager. He then moved to Albania in 2004 in search of European football. Abraham had three unsuccessful trials at Besa Kavaje, Teuta Durrës and Elbasani, which then forced him to move to Gramozi Ersekë. After playing well for KS Gramozi Erseke the young Nigerian transferred to Apolonia Fier who were playing in Albanian First Division at the time.[2]

Albanian Superliga

Following a very successful first year in Albanian and European football, Abraham made his move to the Albanian Superliga. His first team in Albania's premiere division was KF Elbasani, he joined them in the summer of 2005. During his first season in the Superliga he was part of a very successful KF Elbasani side that won the league. Abraham was part of the best defence in Albania in that season conceding only 22 goals all season.[4] He was also part of the Dinamo Tirana team that won the 2007–08 Albanian Superliga. KF Tirana signed the Nigerian defender in the summer transfer window of 2008 for a fee believed to be in the region of around $160,000. He has also set a new record in Albania, having won 4 Albanian Superliga titles, the most ever for a foreign player in Albanian football.[2]

AC Milan friendly

Abraham played a big role in KF Tirana's 2–1 victory over Italian giants, AC Milan in the first ever Taçi Oil Cup organised by Albanian oil baron Rezart Taçi. He had a very impressive game at left back, especially going forward. However, despite having a great game he lost the ball just before the end of the game which then lead to Ronaldinho's late goal.[3]

"I felt bad that they were able to score through my mistake. All the same, it was good that we beat Milan, although it was only a friendly match. The bigger joy for me was that I eventually exchanged jerseys with Clarence Seedorf and I was able to get a DVD copy of the match "[3]

Iraklis Thessaloniki

In July 2010 Abraham signed for Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. in the Greek Super League.[1]

Vardar Skopje

In June 2012, Abraham signed a one-and-a-half contract with Vardar in the Macedonian First Football League.[5] He played with the team in their away match against BATE Borisov in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League qualifiers[6] however, he was released before the start of domestic season in Macedonia, and, with the transfer window still open, Abraham ended up returning to Albania where he joined Besa Kavajë.

Adriatiku Mamurrasi

Following Kastrioti Krujë's relegation from the Albanian Superliga, Alechenwu left the club in search of a new team, and he ended up joining Adriatiku Mamurrasi in the Albanian First Division who had serious ambitions regarding achieving promotion to the top flight for the first time in its history.

Laçi

In August 2016, Abraham returned to top flight and signed a one-year contract with Laçi.[7]

Personal life

Abraham has an Albanian passport and can speak Albanian fluently.

Honours

Elbasani
Dinamo Tirana
Tirana

References

  1. ^ a b Abraham Alechenwu at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Dikur "mbret" i krahut të majtë, Abraham prezantohet nga një goleador" [Once the “king” of the left flank, Abraham presented by a goalscorer] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Nigerian Observer News". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  4. ^ KF Tirana 2005–2006 Stats
  5. ^ John Krokodiloff (20 June 2012). "Vardar adds another player in Alechenwu" (in Albanian). Macedonian Football. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. ^ "BATE vs. Vardar 3 – 2". Soccerway. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Abraham kthehet sërish në Superiore, mësohet ekipi i ri" [Abraham returns again in Superliga, the new team is learned] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.