Ranti Martins

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Ranti Martins
Personal information
Full nameRanti Martins Soleye
Date of birth (1986-09-05) 5 September 1986
Place of birthAgege, Lagos, Nigeria
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current clubPrayag United
Number9
Youth career
Anwar-L-Islam College
Asante Kotoko
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004King Faisal Babes
2004–2012Dempo
2012–Prayag United40(30)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 March 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).

Ranti Martins (born 5 September 1986 in Agege, Lagos) is an Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Prayag United in the I-League. He is known for being one of the most prolific strikers in the Indian I-League and for setting a single-season record for goals in one season by scoring 32 goals during the 2011–12 season.[1]

Career

Nigeria & Ghana

Martins as a teenager went to Anwar-L-Islam College in Agege, Lagos where he played for the football club in the Principal Cup and the Shell Cup.[2] He then moved to Ghana where he joined Asante Kotoko Football Academy.[2] He stayed at the Academy till 2004 before moving to King Faisal Babes in the Ghana Premier League.[2]

Dempo

In 2004 Martins signed for Dempo S.C. of the National Football League.[1] His first tournament was the 2004 Federation Cup which Dempo won.[3] After playing his first season with Dempo during the 2004–05 Martins finished the season as the 2nd top scorer at 15 goals, behind Dudu Omagbemi who had 21 goals.[4] He did however lead Dempo to the championship that very season as well.[4] Martins made his debut in the AFC Cup during the 2005 version of the cup against Al Ahed of Lebanon on 9 March 2005.[5] Dempo lost the match 0–1. [5]

The next season after the 2005–06 season Dempo finished in 5th place but Martins himself finished as the league top scorer with 13 goals.[6] He also scored 2 goals during the 2006 AFC Cup against Al-Nasr from Oman and FC Merw of Turkmenistan.[7] Both matches ended 1–3 and 2–2 respectively.[7] The next season Ranti Martins finished as joint top scorer with Odafe Onyeka Okolie with 16 goals.[8]

Martins then became one of the top scorers in the first season of the newly started I-League in 2007–08 when he scored 12 goals throughout the whole season, only ten goals behind the top scorer Odafe Onyeka Okolie, and tied with Somalian Mboyo Iyomi.[9] However it was enough to help Dempo win the I-League that season. With the I-League victory Dempo once again played in the AFC Cup in 2008 in which Martins ended up as the third top scorer of the tournament with eight goals as he helped Dempo reach the semi-finals where the club succumbed to Al-Safa of Lebanon by an aggregate score of 5–1.[10] Martins then however regressed during the next season of the I-League in the 2008–09 in which Martins finished with only nine goals as Dempo went on finish fourth in the league that season.[11] He did though lead Dempo to their second I-League title in the very next season, with himself scoring 13 goals during the whole season. Meanwhile during that season Martins helped Dempo make it to the Round of 16 during the 2009 AFC Cup in which he finished tied for eighth in scoring with five goals during the tournament.[12]

Martins then finally finished as the top scorer in the I-League after scoring 30 goals during the 2010–11 season but he could not help Dempo win the title as Dempo finished in third place.[13] Martins then became the top scorer again in the I-League the next season, the 2011–12 season, with 32 goals and he also helped Dempo win the I-League title.[14] The last season Martins would play with Dempo.

United Sports Club

On 12 May 2012 it was officially confirmed that Martins had signed with big spenders, Prayag United, who also play in the I-League.[15] Martins made his official debut for Prayag United on 20 September 2012 against Salgaocar F.C. in the first match of the 2012 Indian Federation Cup in which Prayag United lost the match 1–0.[16] Martins then made his league debut for Prayag United on 7 October 2012 against Air India FC in which Martins also scored a debut hat-trick for his club as Prayag United won the match 5–1.[17] Martins then scored again on 26 October 2012 against ONGC F.C. at the Ambedkar Stadium as Prayag United drew the match 1–1.[18]

Martins then scored a double for Prayag United against Shillong Lajong F.C. on 4 November 2012 in which Prayag United still lost by a score of 3–2.[19] However Martins helped Prayag United win their next match by a score of 10–1 against newly promoted United Sikkim in which Martins himself scored five goals in that match.[20] He did not find the net again until 2 December 2012 in which he scored the opening goal against Mumbai F.C. at the Salt Lake Stadium, however that goal did not help Prayag United as they lost the match in the end by a score of 3–2.[21] Martins then scored in his next match against his former club, Dempo, on 8 December 2012 in which he scored the opening goal in the 21st minute and he did not celebrate the goal out of respect for Dempo. Dempo went on to defeat Prayag United 3–1.[22] Despite the loss though Martins helped Prayag United win their next match against the undefeated East Bengal F.C. on 16 December 2012 in which Martins scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute for Prayag to win by a score of 1–0.[23] Martins then finished off the year 2012 with yet another goal, this time against Sporting Clube de Goa, on 29 December 2012 but again it was in vain as Prayag United lost the match 3–1.[24]

Martins then opened up his 2013 account on 9 January 2013 when he scored the second goal for Prayag United against Pune F.C. at the Salt Lake Stadium to give Prayag United a 2–0 victory.[25] Martins then scored again in the next match against Sporting Clube de Goa on 12 January 2013 but this time with a better result as Prayag United won the match 2–1.[26]

In the 2013-14 I-League, Ranti scored the first goal in the opening fixture for his side, when he headed home a Eric Brown (footballer) free-kick against Rangdajied United F.C.. He also scored in the next match against Sporting Clube de Goa to lead his side to a 3-1 victory.[27]

International

Martins, despite playing in the Indian I-League, believes that he has what it takes to play for his birth country Nigeria.[1] According to Martins he had a chance to play for the Nigerian U20s but AFC Cup commitments and the Dempo president failing to tell Martins on time stopped that from happening.[1] Martins also said that at one point an official from the Nigeria Football Federation arrived in India to watch him play a match and that he would be watching Martins.[1]

Martins also hit back at the question of how he would get a call-up if he was playing in the Indian league, a league considered lower standard for the Nigeria national team, by saying "I know that many people will begin to say that what is in India league, but I want to say here that the league in India is very strong. It is stronger than what we have in Nigeria because it is improving every season. More so, I want the handlers of the national team to look at the quality of the individuals and not where they play. I know my quality as a striker and I want the coaches, particularly Stephen Keshi to give an opportunity to prove myself. I won’t disappoint him.”[2]

Chance to play for Ghana

In 2003 Martins was using a Ghanaian passport from which his agent gave him and at one point he was offered the chance to join the Ghana U17s for the 2005 African U-17 Championship qualifiers.[1] However Martins rejected the offer due to his loyalty towards Nigeria.[1]

Personal Life

Martins is a personal fan of La Liga and FC Barcelona for their style of play.[1]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of 29 March 2013.
Club Season League Federation Cup Durand Cup AFC Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Prayag United 2012–13 222320————2423
Career total 22232000002423

Honours

Dempo

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 AKPODONOR, GOWON. "From India... A Striker’s Plea To Eagles’ Boss". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 BABALOLA, TAOFEEK. "MARTINS SOLEYE:I can solve Eagles’ striking problem". The Nation. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  3. ↑ Vaibhav, Pawar. "Ranti quits Dempo for European dreams". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "India 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Al Hussein, hot favourites to defeat Dempo in AFC Cup clash". The Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  6. ↑ "India 2005/06". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "AFC Cup 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 July 2012. 
  8. ↑ "11th "ONGC Cup" National Football League 2006/07:". Indian Football.com. Retrieved 1 August 2012. 
  9. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "1st "ONGC" I-League - Division 1 2007/08". IndianFootball.com. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  10. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 2008". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  11. ↑ "I-League 2008-09". Rediff. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  12. ↑ "2009 AFC Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Ranti Martins Shines In India". Retrieved 19 January 2013. 
  14. ↑ Bera, Kaustav. "Ranti Martins bags a double as I-League 2011-12 top performers announced". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Ranti Martins joins Prayag United". MTN Football. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  16. ↑ Noronha, Anselm. "Salgaocar FC 1-0 Prayag United SC: The defending champions get off to a winning start". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Prayag United 5-1 Air India: Ranti Martins’ hat-trick grounds the Airmen". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  18. ↑ Vaz, John. "ONGC FC 1-1 Prayag United SC: Ten-man Oilmen hold Kolkatan outfit". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  19. ↑ Noronha, Anselm. "Shillong Lajong FC 3-2 Prayag United SC: The Reds shatter Sanjoy Sen's unbeaten I-League run". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  20. ↑ Bera, Kaustav. "Prayag United SC 10-1 United Sikkim FC: Ranti scores five as Shattorie's reign begins in style". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  21. ↑ Bera, Kaustav. "Prayag United SC 2-3 Mumbai FC: A goalkeeping howler costs Eelco three points at home". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  22. ↑ Noronha, Anselm. "Dempo SC 3-1 Prayag United SC: The Goans come from behind to dismantle Eelco Schattorie's side". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  23. ↑ Bera, Kaustav. "East Bengal 0-1 Prayag United SC: Schattorie returns to winning ways by ending East Bengal's unbeaten streak". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  24. ↑ "Prayag United 1-3 Sporting Clube de Goa: Eelco Schattorie’s side suffer yet another defeat". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  25. ↑ Nakashe, Mrunal. "Prayag United 2-0 Pune FC: Bhowmick's wonder-strike and Ranti Martins late goal sinks the Red Lizards". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  26. ↑ Noronha, Anselm. "Sporting Clube de Goa 1-2 Prayag United SC: Eelco Schattorie's men win three on a trot". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  27. ↑ Mitra, Atanu. "United SC 3-1 Sporting: Brown's impressive strike cools down Flaming Oranje". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 October 2013. 
United S.C. – current squad
2011–12 FPAI Team of the Year
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