Barely a month after joining Hapoel Jerusalem, Nigerian defender Waliu Ojetoye has been released by the Israeli club. The former Ikorodu City FC captain and the club agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent, with accommodation difficulties cited as the primary reason.

Ojetoye, who had arrived with high expectations, saw his spell cut short after struggling to secure adequate housing. The issue, deemed serious enough, disrupted his adjustment to life in Israel and ultimately led to the early end of his stay.

The 22 year old is set to return to Nigeria as he weighs up new opportunities to reignite his career. His short spell at Hapoel Jerusalem highlights the impact of off-field obstacles, proving that even promising signings can falter when proper structures are lacking.

For Nigerian football, Ojetoye’s departure is a reminder that talent alone is insufficient transfers abroad demand strong support systems to ensure smooth adaptation both on and off the pitch.

Editorial

We see Waliu Ojetoye’s abrupt exit from Hapoel Jerusalem as a cautionary tale for the wider football community. Talent may open doors, but without the proper framework, even the brightest prospects can stumble.

In our view, the failure here does not rest on Ojetoye’s shoulders. Rather, it reflects the absence of the holistic support that professional clubs should provide to their recruits. Housing and integration are not luxuries; they are necessities for players leaving home soil to pursue opportunities in unfamiliar environments.

We believe Nigerian clubs and agents also carry responsibility. When facilitating moves abroad, their duty goes beyond signing contracts. They must ensure that players are safeguarded against avoidable setbacks—be it accommodation, welfare, or cultural adaptation. To overlook these factors is to jeopardise both careers and reputations.

This episode should push us to reconsider how we measure success in transfers. A completed deal does not equal a successful one. True success is found in longevity, performance, and fulfilment. Ojetoye’s situation shows that neglecting the human side of football risks undoing months of scouting and negotiations in a matter of weeks.

We must insist that the welfare of our players remains central. Without it, the promise of opportunity abroad will continue to be undermined by the simplest of failures.

Did You Know?

1. Hapoel Jerusalem were originally founded in 1926 but have gone through several reorganisations before returning to Israel’s top flight in recent years.
   


2. Waliu Ojetoye captained Ikorodu City FC during the 2022/23 season in Nigeria’s second-tier league, the NNL.
   


3. Many Nigerian players in Israel such as Ogenyi Onazi and Francis Odinaka Uzoho—have thrived when proper off-field support was in place.
   


4. Accommodation and welfare challenges are among the most cited reasons African players struggle to settle abroad, even more than language barriers.
   


5. FIFA regulations allow mutual termination of contracts if both club and player agree, making exits like Ojetoye’s legally straightforward despite being unusual so soon after signing.