By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigerian international Anthony Ujah has officially ended his time with Bulgarian top-flight club Botev Plovdiv, leaving on a gracious note by waiving the wages owed to him.
The 33-year-old forward, who joined the club last summer from Eintracht Braunschweig, confirmed his departure in a heartfelt message posted on social media Friday morning.
Ujah’s decision to forgo his unpaid salary has been widely praised as a rare act of loyalty and generosity in professional football.
“From the first day I arrived, the fans showed me nothing but love. Unfortunately, I got injured and couldn’t return to the pitch,” Ujah wrote. “Even with that, the fans continued to support me. When I had the opportunity to help the club financially, I didn’t hesitate.”
Ujah struggled with injury for most of the season and made limited appearances, but he emphasized his deep appreciation for the club and its supporters. “Botev is a club with a rich history and deserves to be in the top flight,” he added.
The former Bundesliga striker concluded his farewell by pledging continued support for Botev Plovdiv:
“I’ll definitely come back to support the club.”
Ujah’s gesture has drawn commendation from fans and football observers alike, highlighting his professionalism and affection for the club despite a challenging personal season.
His next destination remains unconfirmed, but his legacy at Botev Plovdiv is likely to endure beyond his brief stay.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
