Nigeria: Utaka Targets Premiership - 8:00 AM, May. 10, 2006

Super Eagles' striker, John Utaka says he prefers to play Premiership football in England, when his current contract with French Championat side, Rennes, grounds to an end "If I leave Rennes, I would love to go to England and play Premiership football because of the competitive nature of the game there and the general excitement which is just massive", Utaka, who still has a year to run in his contract with Rennes, told Brila FM, yesterday.

He however insists that his priority for now is to end the season on a good note with Rennes, who he admits, have performed beyond his estimation.

"We still have one game to go before the season ends and my focus is to keep up doing well so that the club can end the campaign on a solid note", said Utaka. 

He added that " we have had a good season and all the glory goes to God and the team. I never saw it coming because everything was just going so well that I just felt on top of the world".

He also commended his Super Eagles' colleagues plying their trade in the French Championat, for rising to the challenge in their respective clubs. These players include Osaze Odemwingie, who netted two goals at the weekend for Champions League hopeful, Lille, Taye Taiwo and Wilson Oruma, both of whom play for losing French Cup finalists, Marseille.

"Our players in France are doing fine", said Utaka, who insists that such performances "show that we have a bright future in the Super Eagles. Hopefully, we will win the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana".