Uzoho gets given lifeline as Deportivo sack coach Cristobal Parralo who relegated him to second team

NIGERIAN goalkeeping sensation Francis Uzoho looks set to see more action in the Spanish league again over the rest of the season following the sacking of the Deportivo la Coruna coach Cristobal Parralo yesterday.

Uzoho, 20, burst on to the scene earlier this season after coach Pepe Mel elevated him from the second team and made him first choice.  After two brilliant La Liga performances, Uzoho got invited the Super eagles camp, where he manned goal during the second half in a friendly against Argentina, keeping a clean sheet in the process.

However, a string of poor results in the Spanish league led to Mel being fired and replaced with Cristobal Parralo, who relegated Uzoho back to the second team. Now, less than four months in charge of the side, Parralo has been sacked too following Friday’s 5-0 hammering of the club by Real Sociedad.

During the January transfer window, Deportivo sent Romanian international goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who was on loan from English Premiership side Watford out to Nottingham Forest. This has resu7lted in Uzoho climbing up the rankings at the club and with the sacking of the coach, he may get a new lease of life.

Deportivo won just two of the 13 La Liga games since Parralo came on board and the new coach may decide to revert back to Uzoho in a bid to avoid relegation. Last month a 7-1 demolition by Real Madrid was followed by a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Levante, who fought back from 2-0 down to rescue a point.

Friday’s 5-0 loss at Real Sociedad ,who themselves had lost four in a row beforehand, proved the final straw, as Deportivo now sit third from bottom in la Liga. Uzoho, who is looking to man goal for Nigeria at the World Cup, will be hoping to now get a good run in the side to boost his chances of getting the number one shirt.