Festus Agu Explained

Festus Agu
Birth Date:13 March 1975
Birth Place:Enugu, Nigeria
Height:1.85 m
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1988–1989
Youthclubs1:NITEL Vasco Gama
Youthyears2:1989–1990
Youthclubs2:African Continental Bank
Years1:1990–1991
Caps1:19
Goals1:11
Years2:1991–1992
Caps2:5
Goals2:1
Years3:1992–1993
Caps3:5
Goals3:3
Years4:1993–1994
Caps4:21
Goals4:13
Years5:1994–1995
Caps5:5
Goals5:1
Years6:1995–1997
Caps6:8
Goals6:0
Years7:1996–1997
Clubs7:Ourense (loan)
Caps7:9
Goals7:0
Years8:1997–1998
Caps8:22
Goals8:14
Years9:1998–1999
Caps9:7
Goals9:0
Years10:1999
Years11:2000–2001
Caps11:22
Goals11:11
Years12:2001–2002
Caps12:21
Goals12:14
Years13:2002–2003
Caps13:11
Goals13:2
Years14:2003–2005
Caps14:38
Goals14:8
Years15:2005–2006

Festus Agu (born 13 March 1975) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Football career

Beginnings

Agu was born in Enugu, and began his career in his country with Nitel Vasco Dagama FC Enugu, African Continental Bank FC Lagos, [Esan F.C.|Bendel United]], Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance FC. During his development years, he was considered to be the most promising footballer in the nation.[1]

At the age of 19, Agu moved abroad joining Club Bolívar in Bolivia, having no impact whatsoever in one season.

Spain

Agu ventured to Spain in 1995, joining La Liga side SD Compostela. The club's chairman José María Caneda described him as "...a mix between Ronaldo and Bent Christensen" (the latter a player in the team).[1] During his stint, he shared teams with countryman Christopher Ohen but played only eight times in the season, going scoreless in the process.

In the following campaign, Agu was loaned to Galician neighbours CD Ourense in Segunda División, where he met exactly the same individual fate.[1]

Germany

Agu played the following eight years in Germany, starting with FSV Optik Rathenow in the NOFV-Oberliga.[1] In his only season he scored a career-high 14 league goals, and his performances resulted in a move to SC Fortuna Köln in the 2. Bundesliga. In the following campaign, after failing to find the net, he signed with fellow league side FC Gütersloh; his spell would be short-lived, however, due to the club temporarily dissolving because of debt.

In 2000, Agu joined 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 in the Regionalliga Süd, scoring 11 goals in his first year as the club promoted to the second level.[2] He was not re-signed however, and subsequently stayed in the category to play for VfR Aalen, netting 14 times as the Baden-Württemberg team finished in fourth place, three points shy of promotion.[3]

In the summer of 2002, Agu returned to the second division signing for SV Wacker Burghausen. However, he failed to replicate his previous goalscoring record and was ultimately released at the end of the season. Afterwards, he played with FC St. Pauli in the Regionalliga Nord, scoring six goals in his first year but only two in the following.

Retirement

At the age of 30, Agu retired following series of injuries and relocated to the United Kingdom to start a new career in law. Agu is now a qualified and practicing solicitor in England and Wales].[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ¿Qué fue de... Festus Agu? . Whatever happened to... Festus Agu? . . 12 June 2009 . es . 21 October 2009 . 11 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511215457/http://www.elcorreogallego.es/deportes/futbol/ecg/fue-festus-agu/idEdicion-2009-06-12/idNoticia-436792/ . dead .
  2. News: RL Süd – Spieltag / Tabelle 2000/01. kicker. de. 27 October 2011.
  3. Web site: RL Süd – Spieltag / Tabelle 2001/02. kicker. de. 27 October 2011.