Runjaic hails Okoye, says ‘he is indispensable’ for Udinese’s defence

Runjaic also noted that the 26-year-old Nigerian international has kept Udinese “in contention on several occasions”.

By Kehinde Okeowo

Udinese boss, Kosta Runjaic, has heaped praise on Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, urging him to deliver sterling performances in their remaining games of the season.

The 54-year-old German tactician made this known recently during an interview with the Serie A club’s website.

Okoye, who made the move to Udinese following a challenging period at Watford, has had a remarkable season, achieving ten clean sheets in the league thus far.

Analysing the importance of the Nigerian international, Runjaic stated that he is an essential component of the Udinese defensive structure.

He went on to emphasise the shot-stopper’s growth, poise, and increasing impact within the squad, remarking that his contributions have been vital in maintaining the team’s competitiveness in numerous matches.

While acknowledging he is indispensable to his team’s backline, he noted that the goalkeeper has kept Udinese “in contention on several occasions”.

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Speaking on the Nigerian, Runjaic said: “Okoye’s progress is evident to everyone. He is indispensable for our defence.

“He has managed critical moments effectively and has kept us in contention on several occasions.

“I am very pleased with the level at which he is performing. We are aware of how his season commenced; it is challenging to prepare without the opportunity to play, but he has diligently worked on his development.

“Overall, we are putting in significant effort with him; Inler frequently communicates with him, and the goalkeeping coaches are dedicated to his improvement; he is maturing.

“Each player requires a different timeframe to develop and reach their potential. Currently, he is playing with composure, focus, and is consistently mentally engaged, both during matches and in training.

“I am witnessing the Maduka I aspire to see, and I hope he delivers two outstanding performances in his final two matches as well.”

He added: “If his statistics are strong, the entire team’s performance will reflect that. I am pleased with the phase he is experiencing; he is a good individual, calm, introspective, and he has also made significant efforts to address his past.

“We are discussing young players; errors are part of this age. We continued to support him, and he was able to navigate a difficult situation independently.

“It was a complex scenario, but he is delivering exceptional performances. He is excelling and must maintain this trajectory.”