Sekou Oliseh

Sekou Oliseh

Oliseh playing for CSKA Moscow in 2011
Personal information
Full nameSekou Jabateh Oliseh
Date of birth5 June 1990
Place of birthMonrovia, Liberia
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionWinger
Club information
Current team
CSKA Moscow
Number26
Youth career
Ebedei
2006–2008Midtjylland
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2009Midtjylland5(0)
2009→ CSKA Moscow (loan)5(1)
2010–CSKA Moscow65(3)
2013–2014→ PAOK (loan)23(4)
2014→ Kuban Krasnodar (loan)12(4)
National team‡
2010–Liberia[1]15(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 December 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 June 2013

Sekou Jabateh Oliseh (born 5 June 1990) is a Liberian international footballer who plays professionally for Russian side CSKA Moscow, as a midfielder.[2]

Early and personal life

Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Oliseh was adopted by Nigerian ex-professional footballer Churchill Oliseh at a young age.[3] His uncles are fellow footballers Azubuike Oliseh, Egutu Oliseh and Sunday Oliseh.

Career

Early career

Oliseh began his career in his adopted home country Nigeria with Ebedei, before moving to Danish side Midtjylland in 2006.[4] Between 2008 and 2009, Oliseh made 5 league appearance for Midtjylland,[5] before moving on loan to Russian side CSKA Moscow in July 2009.[6] In December 2009, the loan deal became permanent as Oliseh signed a 5-year deal with CSKA.[7]

CSKA Moscow

Oliseh made his debut for CSKA on 4 October 2009 against Kuban Krasnodar and scored his first goal on the same day. He entered the match as a substitute for striker Tomáš Necid in the 70th minute and scored nine minutes later to complete a 4–0 victory for the Army men.[8] He then made his UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute against Beşiktaş on 8 December 2009, replacing Miloš Krasić in the 82nd minute at the BJK İnönü Stadium.

However, he was not able to secure a first team spot in 2010, due to the presence of fellow attacking midfielder Krasić. Following Krasić's transfer saga to Juventus, Oliseh received a rare start and did not disappoint. He scored a double in the first half against Anzhi Makhachkala on 15 August 2010, tallying in the 12th minute and then just before halftime for manager Leonid Slutskiy's squad.[9] Another winning goal followed on 20 September, scoring the only goal in the home victory against Sibir Novosibirsk.[10]

Oliseh joined Greek club PAOK on loan in January 2013,[11] with the deal being in extended in July 2013.[12] Oliseh again went o out on loan in July 2014, this time to Kuban Krasnodar,[13] returning to CSKA during the winter break after Kuban declined to extend his loan.[14]

International career

Oliseh, who had represented his adopted nation of Nigeria since childhood, received a call-up to the Liberian team from manager Bertalan Bicskei in September 2010 for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Zimbabwe. Oliseh would honor the invitation, citing star Liberian forward George Weah as a key motivating factor behind his decision. "I have my entire family and friends here in Liberia who would love to see me play for our nation, I love Nigeria but I can't play for them," said Oliseh.[15]

Oliseh then made his debut on 5 September 2010 against Zimbabwe and scored the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw for Liberia.[16]

Career honours

CSKA

References