Mohun Bagan sign prize catch Odafe Okolie

The transfer of the summer in Indian football is through on day one itself! Asia's oldest football club Mohun Bagan AC have signed Nigerian striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie from Churchill Brothers SC on a one year contract with the biggest ever paid salary in Indian football.

For years Mohun Bagan and city rivals East Bengal Club, but especially the green-and-maroon have been trying to lure Odafe back to Kolkata. It was in the City of Joy that Odafe's journey in Indian football had started when he was signed by Mohammedan Sporting Club, but it didn't work out so Odafe had to join smaller Kolkata side Peerless SC. He soon left for Bangladesh only to be brought back to India by Churchill Brothers SC in 2006 in their quest to get back into the old NFL. It worked and Odafe would go on to be top scorer of the NFL/I-League in the coming four years. Only this year he was beaten by fellow Nigerian Ranty Martins Soleye to the top scorers crown with won he had shared the title in his first year.

For Mohun Bagan June 1, 2011 was a big day at the club's Maidan Tent then Odafe was introduced to the media as a Mohun Bagan player by general secretary Anjan Mitra and finance secretary Debasish Dutta only after he had arrived in the city from Goa.

"It's a great day in the club's history," Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said during Wednesday's unveiling.

Odafe said at the press conference, "I had a great time in Churchill Brothers and Alemao is like my father. I am sure Mohun Bagan officials will treat me properly and I will have a great time here. I will make sure that Mohun Bagan win lot of trophies in the coming season."

And speaking about playing alongside Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto, who is an institution at Mohun Bagan, Odafe said "He is great player. I’ll be really happy to play with him!"

Odafe is said to be getting a salary of Rs. 16 Million (1,6 crores) plus a flat at High Land Park and a luxurious BMW. All this will put a lot of pressure on Odafe not only to perform and score goals, but win trophies for Mohun Bagan who did not win anything in the 2010/11 season.