OTD in 2006 Flashback:Ugo Ukah Exits QPR (Or Maybe Not)

updated and bumped

As posted on the QPR Report Blog, six years ago!

QPR Report Blog

Tuesday, May 22, 2007


Ugo Ukah: One Year Since His QPR "Departure" Announced...Months Later, Transpired Was Still at QPR
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One year ago, QPR announced that Ugo Ukah (Ukah Ugochukwu) had left QPR to join the Italian club Nourese Calcio. And that was that. The pre-season came; Squad numbers were handed out...Press pre-season previews listed Ukah as one of the players having been released by QPR.

Then suddenly, one day in a Reserve match, the name Ukah was the name of one the QPR Reserve players...And it belatedly came out that the Ukah transfer had fallen through and he'd been back at QPR. It was just never announced by the club.
In January, he was released a second time. He is now at the Italian Club
GIULIANOVA CALCIO S.R.L.


May 22nd 2006: QPR Announcement on its Official Site:

UGO A GO-GO
The Club can confirm that Ugo Ukah has today joined Italian outfit Nourese Calcio on a free transfer.
Ukah, who made just two appearances for the R's, has signed a three year contract with the Serie C2 side.
Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed the news to qpr.co.uk: "We've negotiated a fifty per-cent sell-on clause and we wish him all the best.''
The Nigerian defender, who joined the club in the summer of 2005, figured in back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Coventry City and Northampton Town in August.
'.....Stay tuned for qpr.co.uk for all the breaking news! QPR

SPORTING LIFE - ITALIAN JOB FOR UKAH
Defender Ugo Ukah has joined Italian side Nourese Calcio after failing to make an impact at QPR. Nigerian-born Ukah, lured to Loftus Road last summer, has penned a three-year deal with the Serie C2 side after making just two appearances for Rangers.
SPorting Life

QPR Official Site January 2007- Ukah Leaves -
QPR have terminated defender Ugo Ukah's contract with immediate effect.
The 22 year-old - who made just two appearances in all competitions since signing for the R's in the summer of 2005 - follows Egutu Oliseh and Ian Evatt out of the Loftus Road exit door." QPR

Ugo Ukah's QPR Timeline

August 2005, Ukah Plays for QPR on trial in Ibiza Tournament

July 20, 2005 - Ukah Signs for QPR on a free, apparently from the Italian club, Pro Vasta

January 2006: Holloway announces Ukah leaving

April 2006: Ukah one of the players Waddock announces is being released.

May 2006: QPR Announce Ukah's has gone to Italy.

November 2006: Ukah's name suddenly pops up as playing for QPR Reserves

November 25, 2006 - Ukah's name listed on the back of the QPR Programme, with the #40 shirt. (Official Site list of players does NOT currently list Ukah - Playing Squad)

BBC July 20, 2005 - QPR swoop for Nigerian defender
QPR have signed Nigerian defender Ugo Ukah on a three-year contract following a successful trial. Ukah, 21, played in Rangers' recent victory in the pre-season Copa de Ibiza tournament, and impressed boss Ian Holloway enough to earn a deal.
"Every day in training I give my all to improve, and Ian Holloway seems to like that," Ukah told the club's website. "I enjoyed my time in Ibiza, and to play in the final against Coventry there was amazing." BBC

QPR Official Site 2005-2006 Season
Name: Ugo Ukah
Nationality: Nigerian
Date of Birth: 18/01/1984
Height: 6' 0" (183cm)
Weight: 12st 11lbs (81.26kg)
Previous Clubs: QPR
QPR completed the signing of Ugo Ukah on a three year deal after a successful trial with the club.
Despite a series of promising outings for the Reserves, Ukah - who can play in the centre of defence or at right back - has failed to make the breakthrough to first team level and was placed on the transfer list by Gary Waddock in April 2006.
-QPR

BBC - Janaury 4, 2006 Ukah going as Holloway wields axe
An attempted clear-out is imminent at Loftus Road
Defender Ugo Ukah has been told he can leave Queens Park Rangers.
The Nigerian has made just two first-team appearances since being brought to the club by chairman Gianni Paladini last summer.
Manager Ian Holloway is set to tell at least four other players they are not in his plans and should move on.
"Some lads haven't done it for me. I've told Ugo that he can go and I'll be telling others the same. We need to move forward," said Holloway.
"I want to add to the squad. If I can't buy anyone I'll at least look to bring people in on loan." BBC

April 28, 2006 - QPR Official Site Players Released
Today, following talks with Gary Waddock, several players have been released from Queens Park Rangers.
Those who still have contracts outstanding will be placed on the transfer list and those who have come to the end of their deals will be released.
Georges Santos, Richard Langley, Sammy Youssouf, Marcin Kus, Ryan Johnson and Luke Townsend will not be offered new deals by the club.
Stefan Moore, Tommy Doherty, Ian Evatt, Ugo Ukah, Marcus Bignot, Steve Lomas, Matthew Hislop and Marc Bircham will all be placed on the transfer list....
Official Site

July 21, 2005 Football: QPR contract for Ukah after trial
Independent, The (London), Jul 21, 2005
The Nigerian defender Ugo Ukah has signed a three-year deal with Queen's Park Rangers following a trial spell. The 21-year-old, who played for Italian club Reggina last season, was involved in Rangers' victory in the Copa de Ibiza, and impressed the manager Ian Holloway enough to be given a contract. 'Every day in training I give my all to improve, and Ian Holloway seems to like that,' Ukah said.
Independent

SkySports Olly wants assurances
By Alex Dunn - Created on 14 Sep 2005
Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway is to seek assurances from the club's hierarchy before putting pen-to-paper on a new five-year deal....
The popular chief is unhappy that some of the players brought into the club in the summer were not those hand picked by himself..."In the summer there were three players (believed to be Mauro Milanese, Ugo Ukah and Marc Nygaard) signed who I don't know much about - and that can't be right. "I will back my judgement (of players) all day long, and I don't need people telling me what to do.... Sky

November/ 2005 QPR Board Q&A with Paladini
Q: What is the truth behind the stories that you signed players over the head of Holloway?
A:My background is an agent and I know many players. We couldn't afford many players in England so we looked abroad. I brought over Milanese, Nygaard and Ukah. Ian Holloway was able to look at them before they were signed. Q&A

Dave's Queens Park Rangers Site- 32. Ugo Ukah
"... The deal came about after Ukah's previous club Reggina ran into financial problems in Italy. Ukah was ironically sharing a room with Dan shitetu on a Nigerian tour of London when he got the call from Gianni Paladini to join QPR on trial, which he gratefully accepted. Paladini had become aware of the 21 year old after he impressed in an under 21 tournament in Italy and Rangers beat off competition from several Italian clubs including Parma to get their man..."
- Dave's Queens Park Rangers



Also: QPR Report November 2006 "The Puzzling Return to QPR of Ugo Ukah"

Saturday, November 25, 2006

The Puzzling Return to QPR of Ugo Ukah
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Six months after QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini announced that Ugo Ukah had joined Italian club Nourese Calcio on a three year contract, Ukah is supposedly back at QPR, and according to messageboard posters who saw today's programme, given the number #40 shirt. (As of now he is NOT listed on the Official Site Playing Squad - Squad
Ukah played for QPR Reserves on Wednesday, Reserve report and his name was just listed on the Reserve Lineup but there has been no announcement on the official site about his having returned - or why he had returned.
In May of this year, QPR announced "The Club can confirm that Ugo Ukah has today joined Italian outfit Nourese Calcio on a free transfer. Ukah...has signed a three year contract with the Serie C2 side. Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed the news to qpr.co.uk: "We've negotiated a fifty per-cent sell-on clause and we wish him all the best.'' Ugo A Go-Go

This of course is scarcely the first instance in recent months of events occurring at Loftus Road without any explanation being offered: To cite but three instances: The departure of Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell after less than three months in the job; the departure of Chief Financial Officer, Chris Pennington; and the departure of Gary Waddock, just weeks after the club said he was staying on under a Gregory Managership.

Re Ugo: See also
Ukah

NB: The website of the Italian club, Nourese Calcio where QPR announced Ukah was going (The website obviously in Italian) Nourese



WQPR Report - ednesday, November 22, 2006

Six Months Ago Today, QPR Said Goodbye to Ugo Ukah...Last Night Ukah Played for QPR Reserves
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QPR Reserves lost 3-0 to Millwall Reserves at Loftus Road, last night. In the QPR team (without any further elaboration/"clarification") was a certain Ukah. Presumably, that's the same Ugo Ukah whose departure from QPR was announced exactly six months ago. Whether the player is just training with QPR while he looks for another club, or what, wasn't announced. QPR's team last night: Thomas, Ukah, Goode, Milanese, Hislop (Howell 56), Baidoo, Rose (Folkes 78), Donnelly, Watanabe, Czerkas, Jones (O'Brien 60). Subs: Crowther, Coyne.
Playing in goal for Millwall, was ex-QPR's Chris Day...

22-May 2006 Ukah's Departure from QPR - QPR Official Site "UGO A GO-GO"
The Club can confirm that Ugo Ukah has today joined Italian outfit Nourese Calcio on a free transfer. Ukah, who made just two appearances for the R's, has signed a three year contract with the Serie C2 side. Chairman Gianni Paladini confirmed the news to qpr.co.uk: "We've negotiated a fifty per-cent sell-on clause and we wish him all the best.''
The Nigerian defender, who joined the club in the summer of 2005, figured in back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Coventry City and Northampton Town in August...
QPR

QPR Official Site - LIONS ROAR TO WIN
Millwall cantered to a deserved 3-0 victory at Loftus Road, on a night to forget for QPR Reserves.
The Lions dominated from start to finish, as Rangers - despite the presence of first team squad members Ray Jones, Matthew Rose, Shabazz Baidoo and Mauro Milanese - failed to deliver the goods.
Millwall made a positive start, with Sean Thomas on hand to hold Gavin Grant's powerful right footed drive inside the opening 60 seconds.
Grant was proving a constant threat early on, with the winger seeing his fifth minute shot deflected round the post after Matthew Rose had conceded possession all too easily in the heart of the R's midfield.
The one-way traffic continued and Thomas again on hand to deny the roaming Kevin Braniff on seven minutes.
Rangers' first chance arrived three minutes later, but Ray Jones was unlucky to see his snap shot fly over the bar, via the aid of a deflection.
The visitors squandered a glorious chance to open the scoring on 10 minutes, with Grant picking the wrong pass with Marvin Williams ready to pounce on the edge of the six-yard box.
Undeterred, the breakthrough the Lions deserved duly arrived on 13 minutes, as Grant smashed an unstoppable half-volley past the unsighted Thomas.
The R's should've been on terms seven minutes later, but after being gifted the freedom of the 18-yard box, Adam Czerkas' strike from an acute angle flew high and wide.
As the half wore on, the impressive Sammy Mewene curled an effort inches over, while at the other end, referee Mr Phillips waved away vocal appeals for a spot-kick after Taku Watanabe went to ground inside the box.
The Lions were really good value for their lead and they were soon two goals to the good on the half hour.
Grant provided the assist, laying the ball on a plate for Braniff to fire home from close range.
The small gathering of R's fans in the South Africa Road stand were made to wait until a minute before the break to witness the hosts first shot on goal.
After neat build-up play involving skipper Scott Donnelly and Czerkas, the ball eventually found its way to Shabazz Baidoo, who fired straight at former Rangers keeper Chris Day.
Millwall were on the front foot immediately at the start of the second period.
Indeed, the half was only 25 seconds old when Williams' thunderbolt flew just wide from fully 20-yards.
Millwall were orchestrating proceedings and after Williams fired straight at Thomas, Grant's piercing drive was blocked on the line by Mauro Milanese.
Baidoo could've handed Rangers a lifeline with 28 minutes to go, but after evading the last line of the Lions defence with ease, he fluffed his lines, firing straight at Day.
Rangers improved as the half wore on, with Czerkas unfortunate to see his measured 66th minute effort tipped round the post by Day.
But their profligacy in the final third proved costly a minute later, when Filipe Morais fired an unstoppable 20-yard effort past Thomas to all but seal victory for the Lions.
The hardworking Czerkas went close again 15 minutes from time, but few could deny the Lions deserved their three goal victory margin.
QPR: Thomas, Ukah, Goode, Milanese, Hislop (Howell 56), Baidoo, Rose (Folkes 78), Donnelly, Watanabe, Czerkas, Jones (O'Brien 60).
Subs: Crowther, Coyne.
Millwall: Day, Fuseini, Bakayogo, Mawene, Payne, Phillips (O'Rourke 68), Grant, Williams (Noel 83), Braniff, Trotter, Morais.
Subs: Crowther, Ebsworth.
QPR

Friday's hero of the hour Ray Jones starts for the Reserves against Millwall at Loftus Road tonight (Tuesday).
The teenager partners Adam Czerkas up front, as the R's lock horns with the Lions in the Pontins Holidays Combination League fixture at 7.00pm.
QPR: Thomas, Ukah, Goode, Milanese, Hislop, Baidoo, Rose, Donnelly, Watanabe, Czerkas, Jones.Subs: Crowther, Coyne, Howell, O'Brien, Folkes....QPR

Bump:

As we say goodbye to the likes of Agyemang and Borrowdale...(and having said goodbye a few months ago to Pellicori and Alberti...and having seen (or not seen Armel Tchakounte at QPR) ...Flashback to Ugo Ukah...!