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Fullname: Armstrong Okoflex
aka: Nutmeg, Armstrong Oko-Flex
Born: 2 March 2002
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Signed: 1 Sep 2018
Left: 25 Jun 2021
Position: Winger, Midfield
Debut: 2021-01-11: Celtic 1-1 Hibernian, League
Squad No.: 48
Internationals: […]
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
The young Dublin born Armstrong Okoflex joined Celtic during a golden era, but had to wait until it was over before he got a first team chance.
He had progressed through the ranks at Arsenal, and represented the Republic of Ireland and even England at U16 level. He had been spotted for Arsenal by ex-Celtic manager Liam Brady in Dublin.
Apparently he was nicknamed Nutmeg for his penchant for playing around in training matches.
Armstrong Okoflex is of Irish-Nigerian in background, and had the option to play for various international sides. There were reports of interest in him from Italian clubs just prior to his Celtic debut, but not from any of the top sides. Not many were convinced of its veracity.
Various comments were very positive on his development and performances in the reserves, with some expecting the step up and a good future. It wasn’t to happen at a Celtic that began to slide.
By unexpected circumstances he won his debut in January 2021 v Hibernian in a rare Monday night league match following the enforced isolation of 13 Celtic players after a sanctioned trip to debut when one player tested positive for Covid. He came off the bench to ironically replace another debutant, but Celtic drew 1-1 after a late equaliser by Hibs which was a punch to the guts. Tough time as more dropped points as Celtic were collapsing and handing over the title to TheRangers after nine titles in a row. He was playing in a makeshift side so little he could have done, but at least he had made his debut.
It didn’t help his reputation when he was seen to have had apple airpods in his ears prior to coming on for his debut. It didn’t look professional or respectful to his coaches or show interest in the match in front of him. Then again maybe it was just the evolving millennial youth culture. He’d already got into trouble due to some crude naïve comments on social media previously, the details which are left for discussion outwith of this site.
He was ridiculously blamed by some for dropped points in the following match when he missed a sitter in a no goals draw with Livingston at Celtic Park in the league. It was a touch unfair, as the whole side were again off form that day, embarrassingly against a makeshift side due to Covid restrictions. There were actually far worse performances in that dire season from the Celtic side. He was still young at this point with time on his side.
However with big changes needed at Celtic, cost cuts imposed and a new manager brought in, Okoflex was one part of the culls to help regenerate the squad. He hadn’t convinced enough of his future at the club. In fairness, Neil Lennon had been a disastrous manager for developing players in his second stint, and there was a large bailout of youth talent. Morale was rock bottom.
He was on the brink of a switch to English Championship (second tier) outfit Huddersfield Town in January 2021 before Celtic pulled the plug at the eleventh hour on deadline day. For his own sake he should have been allowed to move on.
With his contract having come to an end and not rolled on, he left for West Ham in June 2021.
Ironically both he and his fellow debutant from their same debut match, were gone quickly from Celtic.
We wished him the best, it was not a pleasant last season to be at the club.
Post-Celtic
He soon returned quickly, when in the summer following his departure, Celtic played a resurgent West Ham in a friendly in which Celtic got pummelled and Okoflex even grabbed a goal. Some Celtic fans even questioned if losing him was another mistake amongst the multitude in that dreadful 2020/21 season.
However, at West Ham he was given no real opportunities, and he was sent off to Swansea City in the lower tiers (playing alongside ex-Celt Ntcham), and then moved onto FC Zurich in 2023 having not been awarded any appearances with West Ham.
With all due respect to the player, over time with the burgeoning success of Celtic under Postecoglu, nobody was to argue for that he’d have had much chance for a first team place if he had remained.
[…]
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2020/21 | (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | (2) |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Articles
Celtic sign former Arsenal forward Armstrong Okoflex on three-year deal
Last Updated: 01/09/18 3:30pm
From <https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/11487447/celtic-sign-former-arsenal-forward-armstrong-okoflex-on-three-year-deal>
https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/11487447/celtic-sign-former-arsenal-forward-armstrong-okoflex-on-three-year-deal
Celtic have confirmed the signing of former Arsenal forward Armstrong Okoflex on a three-year deal.
The 16-year-old, who was born in Dublin, progressed through the ranks at Arsenal, and has represented the Republic of Ireland and England at U16 level.
Okoflex, who has been training with the Hoops, says the prospect of playing under manager Brendan Rodgers was a major factor in his decision to sign for the club.
Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “It feels good for it to be all official, This is a massive club and one that plays in Europe, while Celtic are also known for bringing young players through their academy to their first team.
“I feel I have a chance to progress here and this is the right club for me at the moment.
“I had a meeting with Brendan Rodgers and he was very convincing. He’s a great manager with all the success he’s had at previous clubs and at Celtic, and he was one of the big factors in coming here.
“The manager told me about Raheem Sterling, how he was a young teenager at Liverpool and then he brought him up in pre-season and, because he was doing well and better than the older wingers at the club, he played him in the league games. It shows he’ll play young players and that’s encouraging for me.
“I come from Arsenal and I was U16 and sometimes U18 and I have played a few internationals in my age-groups.
“This season I would like to make my debut. My personal target it to make my debut before I turn 17.”
Irish Players In Middle Of International Tug Of War In Ever-Changing Landscape
Irish Players In Middle Of International Tug Of War In Ever-Changing Landscape
https://www.balls.ie/football/irish-players-tug-of-war-406280
A lack of domestic development supplemented by eligible recruits, the essential tale of Irish football. It is time to ask is either strategy being appropriately implemented.
On a summer’s day in 2013, the phone rang at St. Kevin’s Boys FC. A voice asked to speak to U12’s manager, Mick McCracken.
“Liam Brady rang Kevin’s. He wanted to know what a kid from Kevin’s was doing moving to London and why he hadn’t come near Arsenal,” McCracken explains to Balls.ie.
It had not taken long for the 12-year-old talented Dubliner to attract attention. Shortly after his family emigrated to the English capital, he began playing schoolboy football. Before long London’s professional clubs would all come calling. It took one trial game for West Ham to offer to extend his stint to six-weeks.
After his second game, they wanted to make it permanent. The opposition that he had faced, Fulham, also reached out.
The phone at St Kevin’s began to ring relentlessly. Fulham enquired about compensation; they were told to deal directly with the boy’s family. The Arsenal invitation arrived, and a four-goal debut convinced them to make an offer. At the same time, Chelsea declared their interest.
Armstrong Okoflex chose Arsenal.
“We did call Arsenal back and said, ‘Listen, we might try Chelsea,’” recalls Reginald Okoflex Inya, Armstrong’s father.
“They said they would come to the house. Then I said to his Mum ‘I love Arsenal, I supported them as a child, and it reminds me of St. Kevins,’ and we talked to him. All he wanted to do is play football. They actually signed the contract in the living room of the house. The rest is history.”
Reginald Okoflex Inya is a renowned figure in North inner-city Dublin. After emigrating to Ireland over two decades ago, he studied at Dublin City University and Dublin Institute of Technology. Soon he helped establish the Migrant Family Support Services and Community Foundation for Ireland programme for which he was awarded numerous UN and Social Entrepreneur Ireland accolades.
Describing himself as a proud Irish-Nigerian and ‘one global village’ advocate, it is through this lens which one must view Okoflex’s upbringing:
I was always looking forward to the time when my son could be a symbol of a different Ireland. His age-group and generation, a mixed raced kid from different parts, being successful. If you see African people on a Dublin street, people still associate that with an asylum seeker. Not a professional, not a pro football player or a rugby player.
But in time we will respect a black man for who he is, not what he looks like. Knowing he can be a doctor, or a TD, or in the four courts deciding cases. He could be a policy-maker in the Irish system. There is a moment when we will get there.
Last summer, Okoflex turned down a new Arsenal deal in favour of Celtic. Manager Brendan Rodgers had compared his situation to Raheem Sterling’s and Okoflex declared it his goal to make his debut before turning 17.
Roll forward to last Sunday; his father watched proudly as his son was included in the senior squad for Celtic’s SPL contest against Kilmarnock.
His prowess attracted the attention of various professional clubs and eventually an international underage side but remarkably, it was not Ireland.
Due to emigrating and living in London, Okoflex is eligible to play for England as well as Ireland, his country of birth and Nigeria, where his father is from.
“To be honest, he was first called up and played with England before Ireland even called him. He already played for England, then Ireland called him up. He is still playing with the two.”
The FAI did wake up and call in Armstrong subsequent to his initial England appearances, and he has represented both at U15 and U16 level.
Balls.ie understand that Nigeria have also been in contact with an invitation but thus far, Armstrong has not accepted it. His father is reluctant to dwell on international teams, with their focus firmly on his own footballing development.
“We just want to see how his future works out. He has a chance to play. You know what? Anything about international is a pure longshot right now to even think about.”
Armstrong Okoflex is an Irish-born prospect who was called up by a different nation before Ireland. As it turns out, he wasn’t the only one.