Legend of the Week-Garba Lawal

Full name Garba Lawal
Date of birth 22 May 1974 (age 42)
Place of birth Kaduna , Nigeria
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Left Midfielder
Club information
Current team Kaduna United F.C. (General manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1995 Julius Berger
1995–1996 Espérance ST
1996–2002 Roda 154 (20)
2002–2003 Levski Sofia 15 (3)
2004 Elfsborg 12 (0)
2004–2005 Santa Clara 16 (0)
2005–2006 Iraklis 33 (1)
2007 Changsha Ginde 3 (0)
2007 Julius Berger 18 (8)
2009–2012 Lobi Stars F.C. 3 (1)
National team
1993–2006 Nigeria 53 (5)
Teams managed
2009–2013 Lobi Stars F.C. (Assistant Coach)
2009 Nigeria U-17 (Team Coordinator)


International career
Lawal is regarded as one of the most versatile players in the Nigeria national football team of the 1990s and early 2000s often being used for any position ranging from defence to attack on the left wing. Lawal took part at the
FIFA World Cups in 1998 , where he played a key role in the 3-2 win over Spain in Nigeria's first match of the tournament and in 2002 . He won the Olympic gold medal in 1996 . He represented Nigeria at four editions of
African Cup of Nations : 2000 , 2002 , 2004 and 2006 , scoring in all but the first.