Kingsley Onuegbu is a two-time promotion hero of MSV Duisburg. Years later, the cult striker is still chasing goals – but is also broadly positioned off the pitch.
When he wore the MSV Duisburg jersey, the Zebras still had something to celebrate. From 2013 to 2018, Kingsley Onuegbu played 184 competitive games for MSV, scored 60 goals and twice celebrated promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga.
After his departure, the Nigerian first moved to Cyprus and then to China, where he is still under contract today. But the 37-year-old is also active off the pitch. We asked: What does Kingsley Onuegbu actually do?
Since this spring, he has been playing for the Chinese second division team DG Guanlian. And with great success. Onuegbu scored nine times in 23 games for the seventh-placed team in the table. He is not thinking of retiring at the moment.
“It’s hard to say how long I want to play,” says the attacker. “I’ve always listened very carefully to my body and it just doesn’t get tired. That’s also because I live a very professional life. “
Guanlian is already the fourth club of the “King” in China. He has adapted very well to life in the Far East and feels comfortable, explains Onuegbu. Compared to the European game, however, he sees “big differences” in terms of tactics, discipline and professionalism. But: “Many clubs are getting European coaches and are slowly catching up.”
Parallel to his job as a goal scorer, Onuegbu has also diversified into other areas. At the IST University in Düsseldorf, he successfully completed courses in sports management and football management. “I am slowly getting bored and thinking about what else I can study,” he says with a laugh.
Onuegbu also founded an import-export company in China and a football academy in his home country Nigeria. He leaves it open which tasks he would like to devote himself to as a priority after his playing days are over. What is clear, however, is that Onuegbu would like to move his centre of life back to Germany permanently at some point in the future.
He played for SC Idar-Oberstein, Eintracht Braunschweig, Greuther Fürth and SV Sandhausen. But Onuegbu experienced his longest and most successful time in Meiderich. “It’s quite simple,” he answers when asked why he spent five years at the club: “I felt very comfortable at the club.
Logically, Onuegbu counts the 2015 and 2017 second division promotions among his favourite memories, but the most emotional moment was a sad one. In the first home game after the death of club icon Michel Tönnies, Onuegbu scored a goal, then presented a wristband with the inscription “RIP Tornado” (Tönnies’ nickname, editor’s note). “I never forget that,” Onuegbu emphasises.
Occasionally he is still in contact with former teammates like Branimir Bajic, Enis Hajri, Zlatko Janjic and Thomas Meißner. “I was thick with the four of them in our Duisburg days.” He doesn’t follow the current developments at MSV “like he used to”, but watches games when it suits the time. “I keep my fingers crossed, of course, that goes without saying. “
The club has an overall problem. It’s not down to one coach or sporting director
Kingsley Onuegbu
Mostly in vain, the Zebras have been stuck in the bottom half of the 3rd division table since they were almost promoted in 2020. “It hurts a lot to see that,” Onuegbu says. “We all know that the club doesn’t belong in the 3. Liga. But that’s just the reality – and there are reasons for that.”
Duisburg is also currently in crisis. After a false start to the season, coach Torsten Ziegner had to leave. His successor Engin Vural is already the seventh coach after Onuegbu’s departure.
He does not believe that the situation is related to individual persons. “The club has an overall problem. It’s not down to one coach or sports director.” Those in charge must recognise the reality and take action, he said. “Then things will go in the right direction again,” the striker is sure. He will follow it from afar – and will surely score a goal or two until then.