Igbonefo playing for Navy in 2016
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1985-10-10) 10 October 1985 (age 38) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Enugu, Nigeria | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Persib Bandung | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 32 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 0000 | Nigerdock Soccer Academy | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | First Bank | 18 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2011 | Persipura Jayapura | 162 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Pelita Jaya | 31 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | → Chiangrai United (loan) | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | Arema Cronus | 60 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | → Osotspa Samut Prakan (loan) | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Navy | 29 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Nakhon Ratchasima | 33 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Persib Bandung | 27 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | PTT Rayong | 27 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020– | Persib Bandung | 53 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Indonesia Asian Games (O.P.) | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2013–2021 | Indonesia | 14 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Victor Chukwuekezie Igbonefo // ⓘ (born 10 October 1985) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Liga 1 club Persib Bandung. Born in Nigeria, he plays for the Indonesia national team.
Igbonefo started his career by joining Nigerdock Soccer Academy in Nigeria. In 2003, He signed his first professional contract for Lagos based club, First Bank.[2] He made 18 league appearances with the club before leaving in 2004.
In 2005, Igbonefo signed for Indonesian league giant, Persipura Jayapura. On his first season with the club, he won the 2005 Indonesian League, after defeating Persija Jakarta 3–2 in the final.[3] Igbonefo became a key player for Persipura in their campaign to win the leaguein2008–09 and 2010–11 respectively, he also formed a solid partnership in the heart of defence with Bio Paulin.[4] On 7 October 2009, Igbonefo helped Persipura to win the 2009 Indonesian Community Shield after defeating Sriwijaya 3–1 at Andi Mattalatta Stadium.
On 12 October 2011, it was announced that Igbonefo has joined Pelita Jaya, two-days after he was naturalizedasIndonesian citizen.[5] He only stayed a season, making 31 appearances and scoring 5 goals.
On 6 August 2012, Igbonefo was loaned out to Thai Premier League club Chiangrai United. He was loaned with teammate Greg Nwokolo until October 2012.[6] During his short loan spell, Igbonefo made 12 appearances and scoring a goal.
During the 2013 season, Igbonefo helped Arema Cronus finish as league runners-up.[7] On 25 February 2014, Igbonefo scored his first goal for Arema Cronus, in a 1–1 draw against Selangor in the 2014 AFC Cup group stage match tie.[8]
On 28 July 2015, Igbonefo returned to Thailand, by signing a loan deal for Osotspa Samut Prakan, he was given the number 30 shirt. He was signed by the team, to strengthen them in the second half of the 2015 season.[9]
On 2 January 2016, It was announced that Igbonefo has joined Thai League 1 club, Royal Navy.[10] On 20 July 2016, He scored an equaliser in the 90th-minute to help Navy hold BEC Tero Sasana 1-1.[11] In his only season with the club, Igbonefo recorded 29 appearances and scored 2 goals, with his team finishing 14th in the league.
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced that Igbonefo has been officially naturalised on 10 October 2011. He made his debut for the Indonesia national football team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on 23 March 2013.[12]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Continental[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pelita Jaya | 2011–12 | Indonesia Super League | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |
| Chiangrai United (loan) | 2012 | Thai Premier League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Arema | 2013 | Indonesia Super League | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Indonesia Super League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2015 | Indonesia Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 1 | ||
| Samut Prakan (loan) | 2015 | Thai Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Navy | 2016 | Thai League 1 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| Nakhon Ratchasima | 2017 | Thai League 1 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |
| Persib Bandung | 2018 | Liga 1 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2[c] | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| PTT Rayong | 2019 | Thai League 1 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| Persib Bandung | 2020 | Liga 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Liga 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 8[d] | 1 | 27 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | Liga 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | Liga 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Liga 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 278 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 300 | 13 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 2013 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 0 | |
Persipura Jayapura
Arema Cronus
Persib Bandung
Indonesia
Individual
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Persib Bandung – current squad
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