Nigerian international Orkuma becomes US Monastir captain

A former Flying Eagles star, Moses Orkuma, has been named as the substantive captain of Tunisian giants, Union Sportive Monastirienne (US Monastir).

This development is said to be a testament to his meritorious services since he rejoined the ‘sons of the capital of Ribat’ in 2023 after a spell with Qatari club UMM Salal SC in 2020 to 2022.

It will be recalled that Orkuma who made his professional debut in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with home-club Lobi Stars in 2012 first joined US Monastir in 2019 on a two-year deal.

He along with compatriot and former Lobi Stars teammate, Anthony OKpotu, helped Monastir qualify to the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time, by winning the Tunisian Cup.

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Although US Monastir finished third in the league in the same year, the combative defensive midfielder made the team of the season.

Since Orkuma returned to US Monastir where he is adored by the fans of the club, former Etoile Sportive du Sahel and Stade Gabésien player who represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, has been instrumental to the recent successes recorded by the club.

He is currently leading the Tunisian side in the ongoing CAF Champions League competition where they have progressed to the next round after victories over Chadian side, AS PSI.

Orkuma has promised to justify the confidence reposed in him by US Monastir.

“I am grateful to God for this responsibility assigned to me by my club. Since players from different countries are in the club, I feel as if I am a national team captain.

“It is not easy but I am coping because my teammates believe in my capacity to lead them. I lead by example. So far, we are moving in the right direction,” he said.