{{Short description|Nigerian football goalkeeper (born 1982)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Greg Etafia | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1982|9|30}} | birth_place = Auchi, Nigeria | height = 1.80 m | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = | years1 = 2000 | clubs1 = NUB Kaduna | years2 = 2000–2001 | clubs2 = Lobi Stars | years3 = 2001–2003 | clubs3 = Plateau United | years4 = 2003–2015 | clubs4 = Moroka Swallows | caps4 = 198 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2019 | clubs5 = Highlands Park | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2003 | nationalteam1 = Nigeria | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2016 | managerclubs1 = Moroka Swallows (caretaker) | manageryears2 = 2016–2017 | managerclubs2 = Cape Town All Stars }}
'''Greg Etafia''' (born 30 September 1982) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greg Etafia - biography, stats, rating, footballer's profile {{!}} Football Top.com |url=http://www.footballtop.com/players/greg-etafia |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=www.footballtop.com}}</ref>
==Playing career== Etafia played for Lobi Stars in the CAF Champions League and the Nigeria under-23 national team which participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nigeria: Visa Hitch Threatens Etafia's Olympic Dream |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200008090241.html|agency=This Day|date=9 August 2000|author=Emeka Ezeugwu|location=Lagos|work=AllAfrica |access-date=17 March 2023}}</ref>
Etafia played for Moroka Swallows in South Africa from 2003 until 2015.
He made four appearances for the Nigeria national team.<ref>{{NFT player|4841}}</ref>
==Coaching career== A few weeks after retiring in the summer 2015, it was announced that Etafia would continue at Moroka Swallows, but as a goalkeeper coach.<ref>[https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/PSL/Etafia-confirms-new-role-at-Swallows-20150807 Etafia confirms new role at Swallows], sport24.co.za, 7 August 2015</ref> On 8 March 2016, Etafia was appointed caretaker manager of the club for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4110/nigerians-abroad/2016/03/08/21116892/greg-etafia-named-moroka-swallows-caretaker-coach |title=Greg Etafia named Moroka Swallows' caretaker coach |first=Shina |last=Oludare |website=Goal.com |date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312175243/https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4110/nigerians-abroad/2016/03/08/21116892/greg-etafia-named-moroka-swallows-caretaker-coach |archive-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>
On 21 September 2016, Etafia moved to Cape Town All Stars, accepting a goalkeeper coaching position.<ref>[https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/greg-etafia-appointed-cape-town-144832618.html Greg Etafia appointed Cape Town All Stars goalkeeper coach], uk.sports.yahoo.com, 21 September 2016</ref> Two months later, at the end of October 2016, Etafia was appointed caretaker once again.<ref>[http://www.psl.co.za/news/article/3780014-nfd-the-coaches NFD: THE COACHES], psl.co.za, 11 November 2016</ref> In his time in charge, Etafia moved All Stars off the bottom of the standings to the first position of safety in 14th place, while guiding the club to the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup. In the beginning of January 2017, the club announced that he would continue as the club's manager.<ref>[https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/news/greg-etafia-looking-for-cape-town-all-stars-assistant-coach/575620 All Stars trust in Etafia], kickoff.com, 7 January 2017</ref> However, he left the club few days later.
In May 2017, he joined Baroka F.C. as a goalkeeper coach.<ref>[https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/local/categories/south-africa/baroka-fc-have-hired-a-new-goalkeeper-coach/262142 Baroka Further Strengthen Technical Team], soccerladuma.co.za, 9 May 2017</ref> He left the club one year later, May 2018, when a new coach arrived with his own technical staff.<ref>[https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/local/categories/psl-transfer-news/goalkeeper-coach-greg-etafia-reveals-bar/589495 Etafia explains Baroka FC exit], kickoff.com, 16 May 2018</ref>
Four years after retiring from playing football, Etafia signed with Highlands Park F.C. on 17 July 2019.<ref>[https://citizen.co.za/phakaaathi/south-africa-soccer-phakaaathi-phakaaathi/2155829/etafia-comes-out-of-retirement-signs-for-highlands/ Etafia comes out of retirement, signs for Highlands], citizen.co.za, 17 July 2019</ref>
On 7 October 2021, Etafia was appointed goalkeeper coach at TS Galaxy.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{NFT player|4841}}
{{Nigeria squad 2000 Summer Olympics}} {{Nigeria Squad 2004 African Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Etafia, Greg}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:People from Auchi Category:Sportspeople from Edo State Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Nigeria men's international footballers Category:2004 African Cup of Nations players Category:Plateau United F.C. players Category:Lobi Stars F.C. players Category:Moroka Swallows F.C. players Category:Highlands Park F.C. players Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in South Africa Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in South Africa