SG Wattenscheid 09 secured a versatile attacker in Robert Nnaji this summer. Forecasting spoke to the 28-year-old Englishman.
After last season’s disappointing performance, which saw them have one of the worst offensive departments in the Oberliga Westfalen, SG Wattenscheid 09 was in need of some goal-scoring danger. After just a few weeks of the new season, the statistics show that “Nullneun” has gained in penalty area danger and already has twice as many goals on the account as it did twelve months ago.
New signing Robert Nnaji is partly responsible for this. The Englishman joined the club from TVD Velbert during the summer transfer window, coming to Lohrheidestraße with a recommendation of 53 scoring points from 120 games in the Lower Rhine Oberliga. It soon became clear during pre-season that the centre forward would be part of the Wattenscheid starting XI.
Nnaji quickly asserted himself and impressed head coach Christopher Pache with his versatility. Despite being just 1.75 meters tall, the 28-year-old packs an unexpected punch, but also impresses with his nimble dribbling and eye for goal.
Nnaji has exactly what the SGW fans have been longing for. This is also proven by the competitive game statistics in the black and white dress. On the first eight match days, the flexible attacker scored four times and set up three more goals. In other words, things have been going like clockwork in the Hellwegstadt so far.
In an interview, Forecasting found out why the start of the season has been so successful for him and what the offensive man values about the traditional club:
Seven goals in eight games – why did it work out so well for you in Wattenscheid right away?
“For me, the most important thing is to keep my heart on the pitch. I always pray and put everything I can’t control in God’s hands. The team, the coach, the sporting director – everything in Wattenscheid is just right. It’s not a given to have a squad that does everything to make you feel comfortable. When that’s the case, it makes playing football easier. I feel completely trusted and I know that my teammates are fighting for me too. They know my runs after just a few months.“
Why did you decide to join SGW this summer?
”I was looking for a new challenge. Since I’ve been in Germany, since 2015, I knew about the special nature of this club. When the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate. We have great fans, and soon we’ll have a new stadium. In my conversations with sporting director Richy Weber, I immediately felt a sense of trust. As a player, you quickly get a feeling for whether you are valued. That was the case right away.”
You have over 100 games in the Oberliga Niederrhein in your CV, and now the step to Westfalen. What is the appeal of the new league?
“I didn’t have much contact with the Oberliga Westfalen before Wattenscheid. I wanted to change that because I’ve heard that it’s supposed to be the better Oberliga. Sometimes a change and a breath of fresh air do you good. The opponents don’t know me yet, the pitches are new. I’ll take any surprises and I’m really up for the challenge.”
In a double strike with David Loheider or as the only striker – which suits you more?
“I think I’m good at both. If I have a beefy strike partner who wins balls or extends them directly at my side, then I can play well in a double strike. David does it well, we always look for each other. I may not be the tallest, but with willpower and fighting spirit, I can hold my own just as well as the only striker. I always run deep and my teammates try to find me. Center-backs hate it when you break through the chain.”
What can the team achieve this season, what are the goals?
Our big goal is to get 40 points. With that many points, you should be out of the relegation zone. The main task this season is to stay calm and develop as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team that we want to help. That’s where I come in as one of the more experienced players, wanting to help and teach them. The next step will follow next year in the new stadium.”