Turkish Super Lig 1: Kayode Scores Again, Takes A Knee To Celebrate

Barely a week after scoring a sensational and fantastic overhead kick during a Turkish  Super Lig 1 match against  Galatasaray, which was disallowed by  referee  Alper Ulusoy, , Gaziantep FC striker, Olanrewaju  Kayode,  at the weekend scored another beautiful  goal for his club, which this time around counted.

The game was against Antalyaspor and it ended 1-1, with  Kayode being Gaziantep FC lone scorer.

Smarting from having his bicycle kick strike wrongly overruled by centre referee,  the former Golden Eaglets and Flying  Eagles forward was in red hot form as he fired in a right volley that rattled the back of the  net.

 
Displaying an uncanny sharp alertness and agility in front of goal,  Kayode netted the opener after 58 minutes,  latching onto a pass from the right flank to spark off wild celebrations from his teammates, who only a week ago,  were left frustrated following the  referee’s decision to disallow the  former Under-23 forward injury time overhead kick against Istanbul giants  Galatasaray.  That encounter ended 3-3 at Galatasaray home ground.

What made Kayode’s goal against  Antalyaspor on Sunday the more interesting  was the  celebration that ensued after his powerful right  volley shot rested at the  back of the  net.

As if taking a cue from the events and reactions that have trailed the death of Black American George Floyd  in the hands of a white American  police officer,  who has since been dismissed and facing murder.charges, for kneeling on the neck of Floyd, Kayode celebrated his goal with a take a knee celebration,  evoking emotional responses from teammates and fans watching on television at homes.

Kayode has now scored 10  goals,  made six assists, from 13  appearances this season.

His fine  scoring form has raised his market value in the transfer market,  with some top clubs in the  Turkish top flight, believed to be keen to  sign him on a permanent basis from parent club,  Shakhtar  Donetsk from Ukraine.

Some observers and pundits also feel that  Kayode is due for another  invitation to the  Super Eagles squad by Manager Gernot  Rohr, given his impressive form in top flight football in Europe.