Sweden: Not too Cold---Ayorinde

The 28-year-old Nigerian had stunned the 2002 and 2003 league winners, with a remarkable performance in a derby tie months back (June 2nd 2003 precisely),coming off the bench when his side was 1-3 down with only ten minutes to go, AIK coach Richard Money introduced the much travelled star to help redeem the scoreline and hopefully cause a little stir... and he came up with the latter expectation to the suprise of all including commentators on Canal plus international.

The player who had shot into prominence on his AIK debut in, with an enviable hatrick to condemn Cafe Opera to a 4-0 bashing grabbed the opportunity in the local derby with a stuning header to pull the game out of the fire and ended up being hailed as "The King of Rasunda" , a title the aggresive attacker relished with a smile "It just one of those days you dream in football, I am happy it ended, It would have been a disaster if it ends in a 3-2 loss but I am happy I made the difference and got a heroic ovation and a kingship" the player who joined AIK in august of 2002 had said after the tie.

Ayorinde, who has played in Tunisia,Wales, Israel, England, and Finland, had hopes he can snatch a permanent shirt in the team despite the weather and challenges. Competition for places at AIK 's been tough, however, with the presence of Swedish internationals in the team.

..Djugardens Nitemare!

Few months down the lane and Djurgarden players revealed their biggest challenge was in the derby where Ayorinde shone like million stars, "Although we are still celebrating, but If I really want to forget a day quickly, it has to be the 3-3 draw against AIK at the Rasunda" revealed Forward Daniel Sjölund of Djugarden.

The former Liverpool and West Ham star was also joined by his team mate Babis Stefanidis in eulogising the Nigerian "He came from nowhere and levelled the tie which was a dark day for us"

The light skinned attacker was part of the Nigeria 55-player list ahead of the world cup last summer in the far east and told nigeriasports website from his base that the harsh weather in Sweden has only affected his game positively " To be sincere, it's terribly cold, 4pm here is like 10pm in Nigeria because it's completely dark here at that time but as a player you can only improve with any form of challenge and get spurred when people least expect of you"

" People wonder why am still here despite the cold, but I have a deal here till December 2004 and after that anything good can still happen cos am very positive in my ways and beliefs"
"Too bad we finished fifth on the table, I think we lost key games we should have won and I am optimistic better days will come for me and the team" the King of Rasunda showed confidence in his speech.

Report: Oluwashina Okeleji