Ambitious Nigerian Ambrose desires a Champions League adventure with Celtic

Sports Writer

Thursday 27 September 2012

EFE AMBROSE'S birthplace in Kaduna, Nigeria, is situated approximately 3300 miles away from Glasgow as the crow flies but it hasn't taken long for Celtic Park to feel like home.

Efe Ambrose looked comfortable in a midfield holding role against Raith Rovers

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Stewart Fisher

A week after he took a place on the bench for his club's Champions League opener against Benfica, with the ink still drying on his work permit, the Nigeria internationalist looked fully adjusted to his new surroundings during an accomplished first start of his Celtic career in the 4-1 Scottish Communities League Cup win against Raith Rovers on Tuesday night.

The next milestone the 6ft 3in former FC Ashdod player hopes to achieve is following in the footsteps of illustrious Nigerians such as Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George and Sunday Oliseh and becoming a star in Europe's premier club competition. For all the player's wide-eyed desire to share a pitch with the superstars of Barcelona, it is worth pointing out that Ambrose's talent has already led to him being part of the Nigerian Olympic squad which went down by a single goal to Lionel Messi's Argentina in the Beijing Olympics final. "I landed in the morning [of the Benfica match] and I didn't believe I would be on the bench, but the coach gave me the opportunity," Ambrose said. "It was unbelievable – the first time I had been involved in the Champions League. I saw the crowd and the way they cheered the team, but it wasn't the noise that I cared about. What I cared about was that I felt like I'd come home. I felt I was with people who really admire the game of football and it felt lovely. One of the biggest objectives for me is to play in the Champions League. A couple of Nigerian players have won the Champions League and it brought good things for the country. I believe I can step into their shoes. That's why I am here."Having arrived at the club carrying the billing of a no-nonsense central defender, it might have been a surprise to some of the 14,000-odd visitors to Parkhead on Tuesday night to see the 23-year-old featuring against Raith as a holding midfielder, and even more surprising still to find him breaking the shackles every now and then to take players on and fire shots at goal. Thomas Rogne, his team-mate, was impressed enough to compare the player's abilities to those of Yaya Toure but, regardless of the merits of that comparison, Ambrose is more than happy to sacrifice himself for the good of the team, whether that means playing in an unfamiliar role or taking his turn on the bench. He paid tribute to the efforts of the club's administrators for helping rush through his work permit issues, and to his team-mates for helping him settle in. "It hasn't been easy because I've only had a short while to adapt and get into the team and there has not been the time to train with them properly," Ambrose said. "But the feeling I had with my team-mates against Raith was amazing because they helped me to settle down very quickly. I also thank the management of Celtic because they put in everything for me to be here. If it was not for them, maybe I would still be in Israel trying to pursue everything, but they made it happen quicker than expected."Ambrose speaks excellent English and has been doing his own video analysis in an attempt to ensure he can also translate his on-field abilities to the Scottish game. But in the short term, all Ambrose has done is give Neil Lennon a headache. There has been a yearning at the club to upgrade the central defensive position for some time now, and a feeling Victor Wanyama is too effective in midfield to be utilised back there, and, domestically at least, there is rarely any need for a second holding player in midfield, while Biram Kayal and Joe Ledley are fit again in any case. "I am comfortable to play any position the coach wants to help the team," Ambrose said. "If I play centre-back, I can play it perfectly, if it is midfield, I can play there, too. I like to get forward and I have some quick speed with the ball. It's one step at a time for me. It's not going to easy for me to play because we have good players. But for me, what really matters is team work and spirit because we are one. We are like family. It doesn't matter who is on the pitch and who is on the bench as the most important thing is that we have the same goals and objectives. Those are to win every match we play. Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the history behind it is great. I am coming here to be part of that history."Others took their chance to impress ahead of the big matches with Motherwell and Spartak Moscow. Dylan McGeouch and James Forrest were a threat all night on the wings, but the headlines were hogged by Gary Hooper's four goals. "He was superb," said Ambrose. "He scored marvellous goals and looked one hell of a striker. He is one of the best I've seen."

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Ambitious Nigerian Ambrose desires a Champions League adventure with Celtic

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