Gent boss Hein Vanhaezebrouck responds to Gift Orban benchwarmer role outburst

The Nigeria forward has been one of the brightest youngsters so far this season and recently bitterly complained about not getting enough playing time in recent games, insisting that he does not deserve to be a benchwarmer.

The 20-year-old joined Gent from Norwegian club Stabæk Fotball for a transfer fee worth €3.30 million in January 2023 and has scored 15 goals and provided two assists in 17 games in all competitions so far this season.

After coming off the bench to guarantee Gent’s 3-1 win over Westerlo, Orban expressed his displeasure of losing out on the team’s starting eleven and gradually becoming a benchwarmer at Gent.

In a response, his coach admitted the Nigerian star deserves to be angry for being benched.

“I have yet to meet the first player who appreciates me for sitting on the bench,” Vanhaezebrouck told Voetbalkran.

“He is a young man. He’s off to a tremendous start right now. He injected everything he touched. Today as well.

“But, he still has to take action in other areas, however. We are not worried.”