By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Real Oviedo head coach Veljko Paunovic has urged supporters to remain patient with Ovie Ejaria, following the midfielder’s brief debut in the club’s 3-0 home defeat to Real Madrid.
Ejaria, 27, signed a two-year contract with Oviedo after a successful preseason trial, reuniting with Paunovic, under whom he previously worked at Reading.
The Nigerian-born midfielder impressed the coaching staff during preparations, convincing the manager to add him permanently to the squad.
Reflecting on Ejaria’s introduction against Madrid, Paunovic praised his qualities but stressed the need to carefully manage his return after a lengthy spell without competitive football.
“He’s a star — you’re going to love him here,” Paunovic said.
“We have to be cautious with his physique because he’s been out for a long time. Little by little, he’s getting back into shape. He feels the affection of the fans and the people around him. He’s an important player for us who is adding value.”
Paunovic plans to gradually integrate Ejaria into the team as Oviedo — newly promoted to La Liga — look to compete on multiple domestic fronts while securing their top-flight survival.
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.
