Canada-based Major League Soccer (MLS) club, Montreal Impact’s coach, Remi Garde has stated delight with the arrival of former Golden Eaglets’ attacker, Orji Okonkwo, as he believes the youngster will add some fresh attacking flair to his squad.
Footballlive.ng gathered that Garde is excited that Okonkwo has sealed a deal with his team, as he believes the youngster will bring to bear the experience he gained from three years with Bologna of Italy.
Garde stated further that he is impressed to see the zeal with which Okonkwo has arrived, and believes his team will gain a lot of from the former Abuja Football College lad, because he is young, fast and strong.
Okonkwo is now expected to be with Montreal Impact until the end of the 2019 season, after passing routine medicals, but is still awaiting his residence permit and his international transfer certificate.
In reaction, Garde said the 21-year-old Okonkwo, who scored three goals in 27 Serie A appearances, four of which were starts, also has great offensive and penetrating skills, which he showed at Bologna.
During his time in Italy, Okonkwo logged 951 minutes of football from 2016 to 2018, but spent the second half of the past season on loan with Brescia in Serie B, where he scored once in 13 games, four as a starter.
Okonkwo, who joined Bologna in 2016, after winning gold with Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup of 2015 in Chile, during which he played five matches and scored once, will now hope to hit the ground running when Impact open the MLS season on March 2 away to San Jose Earthquakes.
Garde stated: “Orji Okwonkwo is a young player scouted by Bologna three years ago who will help reinforce the team offensively.
“He’s a strong and quick forward who has an interesting margin of progression. I would like to welcome him to the team.”
