MFM hat-trick hero, Odey, eyes NPFL goal king crown

MFM FC of Lagos striker, Stephen Odey has said he hopes to finish as top scorer of the NPFL after he netted the first hat-trick of the season against Lobi Stars.

The teenage striker opened the scoring for MFM FC after 27 minutes, when he lobbed over Lobi Stars goalkeeper, John Lawrence ,off an assist from Sikiru Olatunbosun.

Odey then bagged his first brace of the season on 59 minutes to double his side’s lead when he blasted in a shot inside the visitors’ box with Adekunle Adegboyega creating the assist.

He wrapped up the entertaining fixture with the fourth goal of the day and first NPFL hat-trick when he capitalised on an error from Lobi Stars goalkeeper.

“I am so excited that I scored the first hat-trick of the season. The credit must go to my team mates who assisted me to achieve it because football is collective effort,” he said.

“I am glad that I’m leading the goals chart now, hopefully I can finish as the highest goal scorer of the NPFL, but it is too early to discuss that.

“I just want to focus on how to assist my team in the league.”

Odey first shone on his NPFL debut last season, but he turned down a chance to quit MFM FC despite serious interests from some of the country’s top guns.

“I stayed back in MFM to continue my development as a player,” he said.

“The coach (Fidelis Ilechukwu) has confidence in me also and so even when several clubs wanted me to join them, I insisted on staying at

MFM.”