Nigerian players at Trabzonspor; John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi and Anthony Nwakaeme featured in the club’s endurance training session on Saturday morning as they stepped up preparation for the first leg of their Europa League Third Qualifying Round away to Sparta Prague of Czech Republic, Completesports.com reports.
Sparta Prague will host Trabzonspor on Thursday, August 8 at the Generali Arena Prague, while Trabzonspor will welcome their Czech opponents at Medical Park Stadium Trabzon a week later – Thursday, August 15.
Mikel and Onazi who are training to regain full fitness following injury-iduced layoffs, were put through some exercises during the session closely supervised by Trabzonspor manager, Unal Karaman while club president Ahmet Agaoglu watched from the sideline.
Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel, copped a knee injury in an AFCON 2019 third Group B match against the Barea of Madagascar, and has been working hard to be fit for his new club’s new season campaign.
Onazi sustained an achilles tendon injury in a Turkish Super Lig match against Rizespor last December. He consequently missed the opportunity to be called up by Gernot Rohr to vie for a spot in the Super Eagles’ squad for the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He has also endured a six-month inaction at Trabzonspor.
Anthony Nwakaeme who impressed in his first season in Trabzonspor with 10 league goals from 27 games last season, also featured in the Saturday’s endurance training session .
The Karadeniz Firtinasi (Black Sea Storm) men are looking to book a spot in the group stage of Europa League this season and do well in the competition. They will also aim to finish in a better position in the Turkish Super Lig than their fourth place feat last term.
By Nnamdi Ezekute
