{{short description|Singaporean footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Precious Emuejeraye | image = Preciousemujeraye.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Precious playing for [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] in 2008 | fullname = Precious Emuejeraye | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|3|21|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Abeokuta]], Nigeria | height = {{convert|1.88|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | position = [[Centre-back]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2002–2003 | clubs1 = [[Jurong FC|Jurong Town]] | caps1 = 64 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2003–2006 | clubs2 = [[Young Lions (football team)|Young Lions]] | caps2 = 50 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2006–2008 | clubs3 = [[Gombak United FC|Gombak United]] | caps3 = 73 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 2008–2009 | clubs4 = [[Woodlands Wellington FC|Woodlands Wellington]] | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 2009–2010 | clubs5 = [[Sriwijaya F.C.|Sriwijaya]] | caps5 = 28 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2010–2012 | clubs6 = [[Persija Jakarta]] | caps6 = 52 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2012–2013 | clubs7 = [[Persiba Balikpapan]] | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2013 | clubs8 = [[Persidafon Dafonsoro]] | caps8 = 14 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2014–2015 | clubs9 = [[Home United FC|Home United]] | caps9 = 18 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2015–2016 | clubs10 = [[Putrajaya SPA F.C.|Putrajaya SPA]] | caps10 = 1 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2016 | clubs11 = [[Eunos Crescent FC|Eunos Crescent]] | caps11 = | goals11 = | years12 = 2017–2018 | clubs12 = [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]] | caps12 = 6 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2019 | clubs13 = [[Project Vaults Oxley SC|Project Vaults Oxley]] | caps13 = | goals13 = | nationalyears1 = 2006–2009 | nationalteam1 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] | nationalcaps1 = 61 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}
'''Precious Emuejeraye''' (born 21 March 1983) is a professional [[association football|footballer]] who last played for [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]] in the [[I-League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Football: Sundram to closely monitor Singapore footballers playing overseas|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/sundram-to-monitor-overseas-contingent|access-date=7 January 2021|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111021132/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/sundram-to-monitor-overseas-contingent|url-status=live}}</ref> Born in [[Nigeria]], he plays for the [[Singapore national football team|Singapore national team]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/12997/Precious_Emuejeraye.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Precious, Emuejeraye|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 May 2018|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228101214/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/12997/Precious_Emuejeraye.html|website=national-football-teams.com}}</ref> Now, he coaches in the Liverpool International Academy in Singapore.
==Club career== === Jurong Town === Emuejeraye came to Singapore in 2002 from Nigeria after being signed by the now-defunct [[S-League]] side [[Jurong FC|Jurong Town]]. He made his debut for Jurong Town on February 21, 2002, against Sembawang Rangers and scored his first goal for the club in the Singapore Cup semi-final against Geylang United in the same year.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2012/10/19/3455062/one-on-one-i-hope-to-play-for-singapore-again-precious|title=One-on-One: 'I hope to play for Singapore again' - Precious Emuejeraye {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133509/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2012/10/19/3455062/one-on-one-i-hope-to-play-for-singapore-again-precious|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Young Lions === Even though Jurong FC folded a year later, his impressive performances in league did not go unnoticed, as the [[Young Lions (Singapore football team)|Young Lions]] signed him next.
=== Gombak United === In 2006, [[Gombak United]] snapped up the burly defender after doing well in his 3 years with the Young Lions. He won the 2008 Singapore League Cup with the bulls.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/ffts-forgotten-clubs-gombak-united-bulls-who-want-back-big-time|title=FFT's Forgotten Clubs: Gombak United, the Bulls who want back to the big-time|date=2017-12-05|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=2018-01-03|language=en-SG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133718/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/ffts-forgotten-clubs-gombak-united-bulls-who-want-back-big-time|archive-date=2018-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Woodlands Wellington === He was snapped up by new [[Woodlands Wellington FC]]'s coach, [[Nenad Bacina]], who signed him for the 2009 season.
=== Move to Indonesia === Following the disbandment of the national team due to poor showings in the [[ASEAN Championship | AFF Suzuki Cup]], he moved to Indonesia to start afresh.<ref name=":0" /> He signed for [[Indonesia Super League]] club, [[Sriwijaya F.C.|Sriwijaya]] and helped the club to the 2010 [[Piala Indonesia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/2007-alam-shah-inspired-singapore-where-are-they-now|title=2007 Alam Shah-Inspired Singapore: Where are they now?|date=2016-09-23|website=FourFourTwo|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103194858/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/2007-alam-shah-inspired-singapore-where-are-they-now|archive-date=2018-01-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
He next move to Persija Jakarta before moving to [[Persiba Balikpapan]].<ref name=":0" /> He was, however, sacked by the club following poor performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/03/15/3826250/precious-emuejeraye-sacked-from-persiba-balikpapan-for-poor|title=Precious Emuejeraye sacked from Persiba Balikpapan for 'poor performance' {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013628/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/03/15/3826250/precious-emuejeraye-sacked-from-persiba-balikpapan-for-poor|url-status=live}}</ref> He trained with Woodlands Wellington before being snapped up by [[Liga 3 North Sumatra|Liga 3]] club [[Persidafon Dafonsoro]] and made his debut for the club in a 3–1 loss against his former club Sriwijaya on 16 May 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3875/transfer-zone/2013/05/29/4010928/pss-sleman-considering-sacking-noh-alam-shah|title=PSS Sleman considering sacking Noh Alam Shah {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013612/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3875/transfer-zone/2013/05/29/4010928/pss-sleman-considering-sacking-noh-alam-shah|url-status=live}}</ref>
Persidafon Dafonsoro proved to be his last club in Indonesia as a decrease in the slots for Asian players from two to one saw him return home in 2014.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/5098/sleague/2014/02/21/4635471/precious-grateful-to-be-back-home|title=Precious grateful to be back Home {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133637/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/5098/sleague/2014/02/21/4635471/precious-grateful-to-be-back-home|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Home United === Before signing for S. League club [[Home United FC|Home United]] in 2014, Emuejeraye went on trials in Thailand but found that many clubs have filled their foreign signing slots. His chance at Home came as a coincidence as he was merely looking for somewhere to train to keep himself match fit and stumbled upon Home's training who coincidentally had a free slot left for registration.<ref name=":1" /> He was released at the end of the season.
=== Putrajaya SPA === Following his release by Home United, Emuejeraya was left without a club before being snapped up by [[Malaysia Premier League]] bottom-dwellers [[SPA F.C.|Putrajaya SPA]]. He had a debut to forget as he scored an own goal in a 3–1 loss to [[UiTM F.C.|UiTM]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3896/malaysia/2015/04/09/10598782/transfer-news-malaysia-premier-league-edition?ICID=SP_TS_6|title=Transfer News: Malaysia Premier League Edition {{!}} Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013707/http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3896/malaysia/2015/04/09/10598782/transfer-news-malaysia-premier-league-edition?ICID=SP_TS_6|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Eunos Crescent === Emuejeraye has failed to earn a professional contract in Singapore and played for amateur side [[Eunos Crescent FC|Eunos Crescent]] in the National Football League (NFL), winning the title in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/sports/amateur-champs-eunos-crescent-eye-place-among-sleague-big-boys|title=Amateur champs Eunos Crescent eye place among S.League big boys|work=TODAYonline|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=2018-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133658/http://www.todayonline.com/sports/amateur-champs-eunos-crescent-eye-place-among-sleague-big-boys|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://khelnow.com/news/article/i-league-2017-18-churchill-brothers-first-foreign-signing|title=Churchill Brothers announce first foreign signing, bolster defensive ranks|last=Now|first=Khel|access-date=2018-01-03|language=en|archive-date=2018-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133621/https://khelnow.com/news/article/i-league-2017-18-churchill-brothers-first-foreign-signing|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Churchill Brothers=== It was announced in late-November 2017 that Emuejeraye has signed for [[I-League]] side [[Churchill Brothers SC|Churchill Brothers]], becoming the first foreign signing for the team in the upcoming season.<ref name=":2" />
===Project Vaults Oxley === On 28 April 2019, Project Vaults Oxley announced on their social media that Emuejeraye had returned to Singapore and joined the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pvosc/posts/pfbid0Ga2VUbNuTHEXGnLfDPrr5gRMSTe7kqH4AXkKnoqj9FuKuX2jPTW1EAmZjDhJLZXRl |title=Transfer Update - Project Vaults Oxley Sports Club |date=2019-04-28 }}</ref> The team won the [[2019 Singapore National Football League|NFL Division 2 title]], and achieved third-placing in the [[2019 Singapore FA Cup|FA Cup]].
==International career== In December 2005, he was awarded the citizenship of [[Singapore]] and the head coach of the national football team, [[Radojko Avramovic]] duly gave him his international debut in a friendly against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] on the 26 January 2006. He then became the third [[Nigerian]] to play for the national team, after [[Itimi Dickson]] and [[Agu Casmir]].
His performances in the national team colours at first were met with criticisms from the supporters, citing that his speed was making the whole defence a liability. But soon, people realised that he was able to use his sheer build and strength to make up for the lack of speed and soon became a firm fixture in the first team of the national squad.
As of November 2017, Emuejeraye has earned 61 caps for the Singapore national team.<ref name=":2" />
== Personal life == His wife is Nigerian. He is the elder brother of [[Alfred Emuejeraye]] and Emmanuel Emuejeraye. He is currently residing in Singapore with his wife and children (2 sons, 1 daughter).{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070216160615/http://sleague.com/new0101.asp?ID=1803]}}
==Honours== <!-- LEAGUE AND FEDERATION-SANCTIONED AWARDS ONLY -->
'''Gombak United''' * [[Singapore League Cup]]: [[2008 Singapore League Cup|2008]]
'''Sriwijaya''' * [[Piala Indonesia]]: [[2010 Piala Indonesia|2010]]
'''Eunos Crescent''' * National Football League: 2016
'''Singapore''' * [[AFF Championship]]: [[2007 AFF Championship|2007]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/SPORTS/CO/IGCOParticipantInfo.aspx?Register=5852299 Player profile – doha-2006.com] *{{NFT player|pid=12997}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Emuejeraye, Precious}} [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Singaporean men's footballers]] [[Category:Singapore men's international footballers]] [[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]] [[Category:Nigerian emigrants to Singapore]] [[Category:Singaporean people of Nigerian descent]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Indonesia]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India]] [[Category:Naturalised citizens of Singapore]] [[Category:Geylang International FC players]] [[Category:Gombak United FC players]] [[Category:Woodlands Wellington FC players]] [[Category:Lion City Sailors FC players]] [[Category:Singapore Premier League players]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia]] [[Category:Sriwijaya F.C. players]] [[Category:Persija Jakarta players]] [[Category:Persiba Balikpapan players]] [[Category:Persidafon Dafonsoro players]] [[Category:Liga 1 (Indonesia) players]] [[Category:Men's association football central defenders]] [[Category:Jurong FC players]] [[Category:Young Lions FC players]] [[Category:21st-century Singaporean sportsmen]] [[Category:I-League players]] [[Category:Churchill Brothers FC players]] [[Category:Footballers at the 2006 Asian Games]] [[Category:Asian Games footballers for Singapore]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Abeokuta]] [[Category:Footballers from Ogun State]] [[Category:Naturalised association football players]] [[Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen]]