| Footballer is finally given Irish
citizenship A PROMISING young Irish footballer sidelined from
key international games because of a passport difficulty has finally been
granted Irish citizenship.
Nigerian-born star Emeka Onwubiko was unable to play competitive games
abroad despite being one of the country’s top young players.
But after a three-year wait the 17-year-old has finally learnt of the
success of his citizenship application.
The rush is now on to secure his passport in time for when the U-18 squad
flies out later this week for key away games in Portugal. He missed 14
fixtures last season without a passport.
Manager Sean McCaffrey was delighted his star player could tog out in
green for the big games.
“It opens everything for him now that he has Irish citizenship,”
he said.
But he also suggested in future the process of citizenship applications
could be speeded up.
“I don’t think that they should get Irish citizenship on the
basis that they want to play sport but the process needs to be speeded
up so as not to affect their development,” he said.
Emeka arrived in Ireland in 2002 and was granted residency with his family.
Two of his sisters are Irish-born and his family run a grocery store.
He applied for citizenship in 2004.
The Department of Justice confirmed Emeka was sent a letter recently with
his citizenship approval.
Having watched the progress of fellow young players like
18-year-old Anthony Stokes who made his senior debut against San Marino
this month the striker is itching to score some winning goals.
He said: “I’m relieved. I am trying to see if they will give
me the passport for next Monday as it would be good for me to go away
with the Irish team for the first time.”
The door is now open for him, as an EU citizen, to sign up with a Premiership
club.
“West Brom is the first option and then I’m going to look
around,” he said.
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