Chima Okorie

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chima Okorie

| image =

| fullname = Chima Ephraim Okorie

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|10|8}}

| birth_place = Izomber, Imo State, Nigeria

| height =

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1984–1985

| years2 = 1985–1987

| years3 = 1986

| years4 = 1987–1990

| years5 = 1988

| years6 = 1991–1993

| years7 = 1993

| years8 = 1993–1994

| years9 = 1994–1995

| years10 = 1995

| years11 = 1995–1996

| years12 = 1996–1997

| years13 = 1997–1999

| years14 = 2001–2002

| clubs1 = Chandigarh Football Club

| clubs2 = Kolkata Mohammedan

| clubs3 = Abahani Krira Chakra

| clubs4 = East Bengal

| clubs5 = Dhaka Mohammedan

| clubs6 = Mohun Bagan

| clubs7 = Peterborough United

| clubs8 = Grimsby Town

| clubs9 = Torquay United

| clubs10 = Sogndal

| clubs11 = Ikast FS

| clubs12 = Viborg FF

| clubs13 = Mohun Bagan

| clubs14 = Bengal-Mumbai FC

| caps1 =

| caps2 =

| caps3 = 1

| caps4 =

| caps7 = 5

| caps8 = 5

| caps9 = 14

| caps10 = 9

| caps11 = 3

| goals1 =

| goals2 = 54

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 122

| goals6 = 114

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 1

| goals9 = 5

| goals10 = 1

| goals11 = 0

| goals12 =

| goals13 =

| goals14 =

}}

Chima Ephraim Okorie ({{IPAc-en||audio=Ig-Chima Ephraim Okorie.ogg}}; born 8 October 1968 in Izomber, Abia State) is a Nigerian former professional football striker{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19980202-with-over-rs-1-cr-as-prize-money-for-philips-league-local-clubs-sign-up-foreign-players-825596-1998-02-02|title=With over Rs 1 cr as prize money for Philips League, local clubs sign up foreign players|date=2 February 1998|access-date=1 February 2022|first=Binoo|last=K. John|website=www.indiatoday.in|publisher=India Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201101437/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19980202-with-over-rs-1-cr-as-prize-money-for-philips-league-local-clubs-sign-up-foreign-players-825596-1998-02-02|archive-date=1 February 2022}} who was renowned for his goalscoring prowess in the Indian leagues.{{Cite web|first=Joydeep|last=Basu|date=25 January 2021|url=https://scroll.in/field/985042/indian-football-fred-pugsley-chima-okorie-ranti-martins-the-foreign-strikers-who-shone-in-india|website=Scroll.in|access-date=26 June 2021|title=Indian football: Fred Pugsley, Chima Okorie, Ranti Martins – the foreign strikers who shone in India|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514105606/https://scroll.in/field/985042/indian-football-fred-pugsley-chima-okorie-ranti-martins-the-foreign-strikers-who-shone-in-india|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Rahim|url=https://theawayend.co/2020/05/10/chima-okorie-indian-footballs-greatest-imports/|title=Chima Okorie: Indian football's greatest imports|website=theawayend.com|publisher=The Away End|date=10 May 2020|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222180748/https://theawayend.co/2020/05/10/chima-okorie-indian-footballs-greatest-imports/|archive-date=22 December 2021}}{{cite web|first=Nandakumar|last=Marar|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/indian-football-gave-me-everything/article29634671.ece/amp/|title='Indian football gave me everything'|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|publisher=Sportstar|date=15 September 2001|access-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222181103/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/indian-football-gave-me-everything/article29634671.ece/amp/|archive-date=22 December 2021}}[http://www.indianfootballnetwork.com/blog/2013/06/12/foreign-recruits-in-indian-football-a-short-recap/ Foreign recruits in Indian football – A short recap] Indianfooty.net. Retrieved 23 September 2021{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=6148|title=From the history book, roll of honour|date=10 January 2015|access-date=12 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234522/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=6148|archive-date=9 January 2015|website=the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|url-status=dead}} He went on to score 131 goals for East Bengal in three seasons, becoming the top scorer in the history of East Bengal crossing K. P. Dhanaraj who had 127 goals, until it was crossed by Bhaichung Bhutia.{{cite book |last=Saha |first=Rupak |title=East Bengal - Prothom Eksho Bochor |publisher=The Cafe Table |date=1 January 2020 |page=392 |chapter=Top 10 Scorers |isbn=978-93-89873-21-4}}{{cite web|author=Sabyasachi Chakraborty|date=20 April 2020|url=http://www.badgeb.com/100-years-of-glory-all-time-top-scorers-for-east-bengal-fc/|title=100 Years of Glory: All time top scorers for East Bengal FC!|work=BADGEB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023211824/http://www.badgeb.com/100-years-of-glory-all-time-top-scorers-for-east-bengal-fc/|archive-date=23 October 2020|access-date=24 June 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=Debayan|date=1 August 2020|url=https://www.espn.in/football/east-bengal/story/4139529/a-century-of-excellence-east-bengals-greatest-hits|title=A century of excellence: East Bengal's greatest hits|website=ESPN|access-date=24 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624211824/https://www.espn.in/football/east-bengal/story/4139529/a-century-of-excellence-east-bengals-greatest-hits|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Sayan|last=Chatterjee|date=6 April 2021|url=https://thebridge.in/football/top-5-foreign-footballers-india-20628|title=Top 5 foreign footballers to have played in India|access-date=26 June 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627161354/https://thebridge.in/football/top-5-foreign-footballers-india-20628|url-status=live}}

Playing career

Okorie moved to India as a student, his big break came when he played first time in the Durand Cup, when he represented Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad XI.{{cite web|first=Ritabrata|last=Banerjee|date=16 May 2020|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/indian-football-east-bengal-10-best-foreigners/10npgrhj9eyrc1969hv0yp2uqf|title=Indian Football - The 10 best foreigners to have played for East Bengal|work=Goal|access-date=27 June 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214231557/https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/indian-football-east-bengal-10-best-foreigners/10npgrhj9eyrc1969hv0yp2uqf|url-status=live}} There was no such thing as Chandigarh team was an all volunteer team and could not afford to pay their players. He then signed a major deal with Kolkata Mohammedan, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.{{cite web |author=soumen78 |url=https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ |title=List of Foreign Players to Play for East Bengal Club from 1942 – East Bengal Club, India – Records, Funs and Facts |publisher=Eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com |date=2016-03-31 |access-date=2018-12-18 |archive-date=19 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001914/https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/team-archives.php |title=TEAM ARCHIVES - East Bengal FC |access-date=13 May 2020 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609144422/https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/team-archives.php |archive-date=9 June 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html |title=TEAM ARCHIVES - East Bengal FC |access-date=13 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108213722/http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html |archive-date=8 November 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Somnath|title=Tactical Evolution Of Indian Football: Part Four – Modern Era (1999—2011)|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-four-modern-era/|location=Kolkata|date=13 July 2011|access-date=11 October 2022|website=thehardtackle.com|publisher=The Hard Tackle|language=en-US|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918041621/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-four-modern-era/}} With Mohammedan, he scored sixteen goals in 1985 CFL season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india85.html#calc|title=India 1985 – Regional Leagues: Calcutta League|website=RSSSF|date=30 May 2013|first1=Ian|last1=King|first2=Neil|last2=Morrison|first3=Piet|last3=Veroeveren|first4=Mark|last4=Cruickshank|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007120420/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india85.html}}

In 1986, he signed for Bangladeshi club Abahani Krira Chakra for a crucial Dhaka Derby match to decide the Dhaka First Division League champions. However, after suffering a 2–0 defeat, he returned to India.{{cite web|url=https://www.eyenews.news/feature/news/51954|title=ঢাকার মাঠ মাতানো বিদেশি ফুটবলাররা|trans-title=Those iconic foreign players during the golden days in Dhaka football|language=bn|date=16 February 2023|access-date=7 June 2023|first=Saifur Rahaman|last=Tuhin|work=Eye News Bangladesh|location=Dhaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607152838/https://www.eyenews.news/feature/news/51954|archive-date=7 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/weekend-read/news/trip-down-dhaka-derby-lane-3330531|title=A trip down Dhaka Derby lane|language=en|date=27 May 2023|access-date=14 February 2025|location=Dhaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214081430/https://www.thedailystar.net/weekend-read/news/trip-down-dhaka-derby-lane-3330531|archive-date=14 February 2025|url-status=live}}

An incident involving Chima led to intervention from FIFA in Bangladeshi football. The intense rivalry between Abahani and Dhaka Mohammedan over Chima during the 1988-89 First Division League season saw both clubs vying to include him in their squad for the highly anticipated Dhaka derby. Chima was accused of accepting money from Abahani while signing for Mohammedan. Despite Abahani’s strong objections, he took the field for Mohammedan against them, sparking FIFA’s anger. As a result, Bangladesh faced the risk of an international football ban.{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে 'কালো মানিকেরা'|first=Niar|last=Iqbal|work=Prothom Alo|language=bn|trans-title=African players in Bangladeshi football|location=Dhaka, Bangladesh|agency=|date=3 November 2015|access-date=14 February 2025|archive-date=14 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214082118/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|url-status=live}}

He captained East Bengal in 1990–91.{{cite web|url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/capeb.htm|website=kolkatafootball.com|title=Kolkatafootball.com :East Bengal League History: Indian Football Capital's News|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011211/https://www.kolkatafootball.com/capeb.htm}}{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/east-bengal-fc/20/|title=East Bengal FC » Historical squads|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011647/https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/east-bengal-fc/20/}}{{cite web|url=http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html|title=East Bengal Club - The Official Site of East Bengal Club|website=eastbengalclub.co.in|access-date=2019-02-11|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108213722/http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html}} He was received praise for his playing style as a forward {{cite web|last1=Sengupta|first1=Somnath|title=Mohun Bagan and East Bengal: A Derby to Remember|url=http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/7/22/6phssedqppiaxjndh9sxxm3jph49r7|publisher=inbedwithmaradona.com|access-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204124327/http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/7/22/6phssedqppiaxjndh9sxxm3jph49r7|archive-date=4 February 2017|date=27 July 2013}}{{cite web|title=Kolkata Derby: From the history book|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=2129|publisher=the-aiff.com|work=All India Football Federation|access-date=5 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205112038/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=2129|archive-date=5 February 2017|date=8 December 2012}}{{Cite web|title=Kiyan ready to shoulder Nassiri burden|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/kiyan-ready-to-shoulder-nassiri-burden/articleshow/75261099.cms|date=21 April 2020|access-date=2021-02-11|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=The Times of India|first=Marcus|last=Mergulhao|location=Panaji, Goa|language=en|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814100509/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/kiyan-ready-to-shoulder-nassiri-burden/articleshow/75261099.cms|url-status=live}} He is also the first foreign player in Mohun Bagan.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/mohun-bagan-blaze-of-glory/|title=Mohun Bagan: Blaze of Glory|last=Kapadia|first=Novy|date=7 June 2015|website=indianexpress.com|publisher=The Indian Express|access-date=4 March 2016|archive-date=22 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222151228/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/mohun-bagan-blaze-of-glory/}} He then moved to England, firstly having an unsuccessful trial at Sunderland before joining Peterborough United on non-contract terms before joining Grimsby Town in September 1993.

He made his English league debut as a substitute away to Crystal Palace winning the Sunday Man of the match, and made four further appearances (all as a substitute) as his career at Grimsby was interrupted by a broken leg. He moved to Torquay United in March 1994 and was a regular in the Torquay side for the next twelve months, before losing his place to Duane Darby.

He was released at the end of the 1994–95 season was joined Norwegian second-tier side Sogndal, later playing for Danish premier sides Ikast FS and Viborg FF. He returned to India to play again for Mohun Bagan, but received a two-year suspension after being accused of assaulting a referee in a game on 31 August 1999.

In 2001, he came back to India and signed with Bengal Mumbai FC.{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/transfers2001.html|title=Season ending transfers 2001|access-date=18 February 2021|website=Indianfootball.de}} He appeared in few matches of Mumbai Senior Division with BMFC.

Managerial career

On 3 June 2006, he was made manager of Bengal-Mumbai FC,{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/the-old-boys-club/articleshow/15635857.cms|title=The Old Boys Club: Bengal Mumbai FC|publisher=The Mumbai Mirror|website=mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com|date=2 September 2006|access-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802034212/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/others/the-old-boys-club/articleshow/15635857.cms|archive-date=2 August 2021|url-status=dead}} and also became the club's CEO on 16 August. He was appointed manager of Mohun Bagan on 20 February 2007, but resigned on 7 April following differences with the club's senior players.{{cite news |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=230624 |title=Displeased with seniors, Chima resigns as Mohun Bagan Coach |access-date=2007-04-21 |date=7 April 2007 |publisher=ExpressIndia.com: Kolkatta Newsline }}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He then became the manager of the Delhi based I-League 2nd division side Osian's New Delhi Heroes.

Honours

=Individual=

Calcutta Football League Top Scorer: 1987 (26 goals),{{cite web|first1=Gautam|last1=Roy|first2=Swapan|last2=Ball|date=2007|url=http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers6.asp|title=East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players|access-date=25 February 2009|website=www.eastbengalfootballclub.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221072225/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers6.asp|archive-date=21 February 2009}} 1991 (11 goals){{Cite web|first=Josef|last=Bobrowsky|title=India tournaments 1991 – Calcutta Premier League|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india91.html|date=22 March 2002|access-date=20 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707094528/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/india91.html|archive-date=7 July 2003}}

References

Bibliography

{{cite book|last=Sen|first=Dwaipayan|year=2013|chapter=Wiping the Stain Off the Field of Plassey: Mohun Bagan in 1911|editor-last1=Bandyopadhyay|editor-first1=Kausik|editor-last2=Mallick|editor-first2=Sabyasachi|title=Fringe Nations in World Soccer|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-99810-5}}
{{cite book|last=Sen|first=Ronojoy|year=2015|chapter=The Empire Strikes Back: The 1911 IFA Shield and Football in Calcutta|title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-16490-0}}
{{cite book |last1=Kapadia |first1=Novy |year=2017|title=Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football |publisher=Penguin Random House |isbn=978-0-143-42641-7 }}
{{cite book |last=Mukhopadhay |first=Subir |title= সোনায় লেখা ইতিহাসে মোহনবাগান ({{Translation|Mohun Bagan in the history written in gold}})|year=2018 |isbn=978-93-850172-0-9}}
{{cite book |last1=Banerjee |first1=Argha |last2=Basu |first2=Rupak |title=মোহনবাগান: সবুজ ঘাসের মেরুন গল্প ({{Translation|Mohun Bagan: Green fields' Maroon stories}})|year=2022|publisher=Shalidhan |isbn=978-81-954667-0-2}}
{{cite book|title=Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora|year=2001|publisher=Frank Cass Publishers|location=London, United Kingdom|isbn=978-0-7146-8170-2|page=33|last1=Dineo|first1=Paul|last2=Mills|first2=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=71JHZiiP3hoC|archive-date=25 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725072732/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Soccer_in_South_Asia.html?id=71JHZiiP3hoC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y}}
{{cite book |last1=Martinez| first1=Dolores |last2=Mukharji |first2=Projit B|year=2009|title=Football: From England to the World: The Many Lives of Indian Football |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&q=kerala+footballer+in+Burma |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-138-88353-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702174505/https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&dq=kerala+footballer+in+Burma&source=gbs_navlinks_s |archive-date=2 July 2022 }}
{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ|title=History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10|first=Nirmal|last=Nath|year=2011|publisher=Readers Service|isbn=9788187891963|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722172604/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/History_of_Indian_Football.html?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y|archive-date=22 July 2022}}
{{cite book |last=Tariq |first=T Islam |script-title=bn:মোহামেডান-আবাহনী ময়দানি লড়াই ({{Translation|Mohammedan-Abahani battle field}}) |publisher=Annesha Prokashon |year=2025 |language=bn |isbn=978-984-99475-1-6}}

External links

{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312021951/http://www.uptheposh.com/people/2995/ Profile]}} at {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070205233152/http://www.uptheposh.com/ UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database]}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Nigerian men's footballers

Category:Peterborough United F.C. players

Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players

Category:Torquay United F.C. players

Category:Ikast FC players

Category:East Bengal Club players

Category:Viborg FF players

Category:Sogndal Fotball players

Category:Norwegian First Division players