Thompson Oliha facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thompson Oliha | ||
| Date of birth | 4 October 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Benin City, Nigeria | ||
| Date of death | 30 June 2013 (aged 44) | ||
| Place of death | Ilorin, Nigeria | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1987 | Bendel Insurance | ||
| 1988–1991 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | ||
| 1992–1994 | Africa Sports | ||
| 1994–1995 | Maccabi Ironi Ashdod | 21 | (1) |
| 1995–1996 | Antalyaspor | 20 | (4) |
| International career | |||
| 1988–1994 | Nigeria | 31 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thompson Oliha (born October 4, 1968 – died June 30, 2013) was a talented Nigerian football player. He played as a midfielder, which is a key position in the middle of the field. Thompson played for many clubs in Africa and Europe. His career was shorter than usual because of injuries.
Playing for Clubs
Thompson Oliha started his football journey in Nigeria. He played for Bendel Insurance from 1985 to 1987. After that, he joined Iwuanyanwu Nationale and played there from 1988 to 1991.
He then moved to Africa Sports in Ivory Coast, playing from 1992 to 1993. Later, he played for Maccabi Ironi Ashdod in Israel from 1993 to 1994. His last club was Antalyaspor in Turkey, where he played from 1994 to 1995.
Thompson was known for his very powerful shots. He was also great at heading the ball. Sadly, he had a serious knee injury. This injury made him retire from football at just 27 years old.
Playing for Nigeria
Thompson Oliha also played for his country, Nigeria. He was part of the full Nigerian national team. He played in 31 games and scored two goals for them.
His first game for Nigeria was in 1988 against Cameroon. His last game was at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He came on as a substitute against Italy in that match.
Before playing for the senior team, Oliha also played in the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship. This was a big tournament for young players.
His Final Years
Thompson Oliha passed away on June 30, 2013. He died because of problems from malaria. At the time of his death, he was helping to coach young players. He worked as an assistant coach for the Kwara Football Academy.
