FC Cincinnati manager Patrick Noonan has praised Chidozie Awaziem following the Super Eagles defender’s impressive debut on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Awaziem, who recently joined from Portugal’s Boavista, made an immediate impact in Cincinnati’s 1-0 victory over Querétaro in the Leagues Cup.
Awaziem, playing as one of the back-three centre-backs, delivered a strong performance and played all 90 minutes, contributing significantly to the team’s clean sheet.
Despite having trained minimally with the team due to Visa and Work Permit limitations, and being in the early stages of his season, Awaziem adapted quickly.
Noonan had initially planned for Awaziem to build his fitness throughout the tournament, but the defender exceeded expectations by playing the full match.
Noonan was particularly impressed with how Awaziem managed his energy and controlled his movements on the pitch.
“The plan was not for him to go 90,” Noonan told the Cincinnati official website.
“(We were going to) see where we’re at at halftime and I thought because of the way the first 45 was played, that he could carry on.
“He was going to be honest with us about how he was feeling as the second half progressed.
“And I thought that the way he controlled his running, the way we were able to control the tempo with the ball at times, didn’t consistently put our back line in spots where they had to defend the space, he managed it for himself in the game in a good way.”
Having spent the last eight years in Europe, playing for clubs in Portugal, Turkey, France, Spain, and Croatia, Awaziem seamlessly integrated into his new team.
The 27-year-old expressed his delight with both his performance and the team’s victory, ending a three-game losing streak.
“It feels amazing. It feels great to be part of this wonderful club. I feel so excited to be here and to get a win in my debut. I’m excited and happy that we came out with the three points,” Awaziem said.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel there was any need for me to go out because I wanted to help the team more. I was feeling good, so I felt that there was no point going out to the bench.”
Securing a spot in the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup is just the beginning for FC Cincinnati. The win guarantees a third match and at least matches last year’s tournament performance.