Solomon Breaking Records In Croatia

According to Sport Novakalist, a respected sports outfit in Croatia, HNK Rijeka on loan forward Theophilus Solomon went into the record books for his goal in Zadar’s 2-5 loss to Lokomotiva.

The-18-year-old playing for the first time on his return from injury finished expertly with a rasping drive from the right to put his team up in the fourth minute, and the goal makes Solomon the youngest foreigner to score in the Croatia top flight league.

However, the youngest ever goal scorer title still remains with Barcelona B forward Alen Halilovic with Solomon’s strike second on the list of youngest goal scorers.

Also his goal makes him NK Zadar youngest ever goal scorer in the league in addition to being the first man to score a hat-trick for the club in the Croatian cup.

His hat-trick in the club’s 5-1 win over Zagora in a cup game back in September also makes him the club youngest ever player to score a hat-trick.

Solomon, who narrowly missed out on a move to Juventus two years ago due to an ownership tussle, was also a late omission from the Nigeria Under-17 team that won the World Cup in the UAE.

Snapped up by Rijeka from Football Academy Abuja alongside six others, he is the only one playing top flight football as the rest play in the third division with Rijeka B team.

Nicknamed the Nigerian Ronaldo by the press in Nigeria due to similarities in his play with that of the Portuguese legend, he was initially billed to remain with the B team of Rijeka this season.

His goal return of seven in five games at the 62nd edition of the International Kvarnerska Rivijera tournament which earned him the MVP and top scorer award forced a rethink.

The Europa league campaigners were, however, unable to register him as they have already fulfilled their foreign quota hence his loan to NK Zadar.