I’m ready for Super Eagles challenge, Luqman Gilmore tells Rohr

Luqman Gilmore has waited enough to secure another opportunity to showcase his potentials for the national team, Super Eagles since his romance with the age-group teams since 2012.

A workaholic and dependable player has paid his dues as far as football is concerned in the country but unfortunately, he is not playing in the Premier League, La Liga, French Ligue 1 or Bundesliga where football is generating much attention on a daily basis in the world in spite of his aggressiveness and never-say-die attitude.

 

But the 25-year-old  former junior international is making waves in Georgia with FC Samgurali Tsaltubo, a first division outfit he joined recently after ending his sojourn with FC Zugdidi.

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In spite of the numerous challenges that have become a dreaded stigma to his beautiful career, Gilmore has never looked back. He is focused and determined to make hay before the sunshine.

“My desire is to play at the highest level, come rain, sunshine, and I will pursue it to the last. I would like to play in Nigeria’s team to the Africa Cup of Nations and win the trophy. It has been my greatest dream may Allah help me.’ he told Sportinglife. ng.

Only the scouting crew of the senior national team could make his dream come true by visiting his base and watch him. There are abundant talents across the world for Nigeria. There should be a system in place to fish them out.

The defensive midfielder is working very hard under coach Samson Pruidze and he has been inspirational to the overall formation of the team.

‘I left Zugdidi last year December and it has been a worthwhile experience. I have learned a lot and it makes me more strong and determined to pursue my goals in life. I have not arrived yet. I am working to be the best and also to be among the greatest footballers across the globe.

FC Samgurali Tskaltubo, a Georgian club from Tskhaltubo, have just been promoted to the top division following the 2020 season.

The 1980s were the most prolific years for the football club from Tskhaltubo. Between 1983 and 1990 under the name “Shadrevani” they became champions of the Georgian Soviet league three times, once finished as runners-up and once won bronze medals.

Since 1990, when Georgian Football Federation formed an independent championship, 4th place taken in 1993-94 has been the best result shown by Samgurali in Umaglesi Liga. After 2001/02 they were relegated to Liga 2, where the team spent most of the seasons until 2019, although Samgurali also played in Liga 3 for several years.

It is also the desire of Gilmore to see the club in the top flight of the Erovnuli Liga (Georgian National League) this season.

Recalling his first baptism of fire when he first came to Georgia on greener pastures: “ I moved to Georgia in 2017 and this is my third club. When I first came to Georgia, I started with a third division team FC Imereti Khoni where I was impressed so much.

“It took me only four months before one of the biggest clubs in the country came looking for me and I’m talking about FC Dinamo Tbilisi where I eventually signed until the end of the 2017/2018 season.

“I didn’t get enough playing time in Dinamo and had to leave to join my current team FC Zugdidi so as to get regular playing time.”

Like Shirazi suggested, Gilmore admitted that ‘one must not expect that everything would be done in the same manner and that everything will end in successes but he’s more than ever determined to succeed as a professional footballer.

He said: “Football and my family are the source of joy to me.

Stoke City as Gilmore is called far and wide can play as an offensive or defensive midfielder and he hinted on his innate qualities: “I look up to our former national team captain John Obi Mikel and Ivorian Yaya Toure as my role models in Africa while Busquets and Xavi are players that I like from global level.

“I can play in any position in the midfield and it is interesting that it was Coach Manu Garba that actually called me from Stoke City because I came from Stoke City to the national U-17 team camp in 2012/13 Golden Eaglets camp before moving to Samson Siasia’s Under-23 team.

“While in the Golden Eaglets, coach Emmanuel Amuneke used to call me ‘Stoke City’ as nickname because I was called from the training camp of the English side to the national team.

“The name has stuck since then but it’s my prayers that Nigerians would hear more about me in the coming years,” noted Gilmore who marked his 23rd anniversary on 10th May.