Precious Emuejeraye

Precious Emuejeraye (born 21 March 1983) is a professional footballer who last played for Churchill Brothers in the I-League.[1] Born in Nigeria, he represents the Singapore national team.[2] Now, he coaches in the Liverpool International Academy in Singapore.

Precious Emuejeraye
Personal information
Full name Precious Emuejeraye
Date of birth (1983-03-21) 21 March 1983
Place of birth Abeokuta, Nigeria
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Jurong FC 64 (1)
2003–2006 Young Lions 50 (1)
2006–2008 Gombak United 73 (4)
2008–2009 Woodlands Wellington 29 (3)
2009–2010 Sriwijaya 28 (0)
2010–2012 Persija Jakarta 52 (2)
2012–2013 Persiba Balikpapan 16 (0)
2013 Persidafon Dafonsoro 14 (0)
2014–2015 Home United 18 (0)
2015–2016 Putrajaya SPA F.C. 1 (0)
2016 Eunos Crescent
2017–2018 Churchill Brothers S.C. 6 (0)
International career
2006–2009 Singapore 61 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Jurong FC

Emuejeraye came to Singapore in 2002 from Nigeria after being signed by the now-defunct S-League side Jurong FC. He made his debut for Jurong on February 21, 2002, against Sembawang Rangers and scored his first goal for the club in the Singapore Cup semi-final against Geylang United in the same year.[3]

Young Lions

Even though Jurong FC folded a year later, his impressive performances in league did not go unnoticed, as the Young Lions signed him next.

Gombak United

In 2006, Gombak United snapped up the burly defender after doing well in his 3 years with the Young Lions. He won the 2008 Singapore League Cup with the bulls.[4]

Woodlands Wellington

He was snapped up by new Woodlands Wellington FC's coach, Nenad Bacina, who signed him for the 2009 season.

Move to Indonesia

Following the disbandment of the national team due to poor showings in the AFF Suzuki cup, he moved to Indonesia to start afresh.[3] He signed for Indonesia Super League club, Sriwijaya and helped the club to the 2010 Piala Indonesia.[5]

He next move to Persija Jakarta before moving to Persiba Balikpapan.[3] He was, however, sacked by the club following poor performances.[6] He trained with Woodlands Wellington before being snapped up by Persidafon Dafonsoro and made his debut for the club in a 3–1 loss against his former club Sriwijaya FC on 16 May 2013.[7]

Persidafon Dafonsoro proved to be his last club in Indonesia as a decrease in the slots for Asian players from two to one saw him return home in 2014.[8]

Home United

Before signing for S. League club Home United in 2014, Emuejeraye went on trials in Thailand but found that many clubs have filled their foreign signing slots. His chance at Home came as a coincidence as he was merely looking for somewhere to train to keep himself match fit and stumbled upon Home's training who coincidentally had a free slot left for registration.[8] He was released at the end of the season.

Putrajaya SPA

Following his release by Home United, Emuejeraya was left without a club before being snapped up by Malaysia Premier League bottom-dwellers Putrajaya SPA FC. He had a debut to forget as he scored an own goal in a 3–1 loss to UiTM.[9]

Eunos Crescent FC

Emuejeraye has failed to earn a professional contract in Singapore and played for amateur side Eunos Crescent in the National Football League, winning the title in 2016.[10][11]

Churchill Brothers

It was announced in late-November 2017 that Emuejeraye has signed for I-League side Churchill Brothers SC, becoming the first foreign signing for the team in the upcoming season.[11]

International career

In December 2005, he was awarded the citizenship of Singapore and the head coach of the national football team, Radojko Avramovic duly gave him his international debut in a friendly against Denmark on the 26 January 2006. He then became the third Nigerian to play for the national team, after Itimi Dickson and Agu Casmir.

His performances in the national team colours at first were met with criticisms from the supporters, citing that his speed was making the whole defence a liability. But soon, people realised that he was able to use his sheer build and strength to make up for the lack of speed and soon became a firm fixture in the first team of the national squad.

As of November 2017, Emuejeraye has earned 61 caps for the Singapore national team.[11]

Personal life

His wife is Nigerian. He is the elder brother of Alfred Emuejeraye and Emmanuel Emuejeraye. He is currently residing in Singapore with his wife and children (2 sons, 1 daughter).

Honours

Club
Gombak United
Sriwijaya
Eunos Crescent
  • National Football League: 2016

International
Singapore

References
  1. "Football: Sundram to closely monitor Singapore footballers playing overseas". Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Precious, Emuejeraye". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  3. "One-on-One: 'I hope to play for Singapore again' - Precious Emuejeraye | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  4. "FFT's Forgotten Clubs: Gombak United, the Bulls who want back to the big-time". FourFourTwo. 2017-12-05. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  5. "2007 Alam Shah-Inspired Singapore: Where are they now?". FourFourTwo. 2016-09-23. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  6. "Precious Emuejeraye sacked from Persiba Balikpapan for 'poor performance' | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  7. "PSS Sleman considering sacking Noh Alam Shah | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  8. "Precious grateful to be back Home | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  9. "Transfer News: Malaysia Premier League Edition | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  10. "Amateur champs Eunos Crescent eye place among S.League big boys". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  11. Now, Khel. "Churchill Brothers announce first foreign signing, bolster defensive ranks". Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
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