A legend takes his bow

By Ifeanyi Ibeh

Nwankwo Kanu’s first game for the Super Eagles took place just over 16 years ago on May 5, 1994, in an international friendly against the Swedish national team. Last Tuesday, Kanu appeared for the Super Eagles in the 2-2 draw against Korea Republic, and stayed on the field for 57 minutes, before making way for Obafemi Martins.

Prior to the commencement of the game, the 33-year-old earned the loudest applause from the spectators that had trouped into the stadium in Durban, to watch what turned out to be a dramatic encounter between two sides eager to advance to the knockout rounds of the tournament.

For almost one hour, the former Arsenal, Inter Milan, and Ajax star remained on the field; his every touch on the ball was greeted with some sort of cheer from the appreciative crowd. Even as he lumbered off the pitch with his 1.97 metre frame, to be replaced by the much smaller Martins, there were still fans at the match venue as well as millions of others watching the game across screens the world over, who didn’t realise the implications of what had just transpired.

But hours later, with the Super Eagles unable to achieve their target of advancing to the Round of 16, it suddenly dawned on everyone that the legendary ‘Papillo’ had called time on his international career.

Undoubtedly the most successful and consistent Nigerian player of his generation, Kanu first emerged on the global stage as a bean pole utility player in the victorious Nigerian U-17 team to the 1993 tournament in Japan. A year later, he broke into the first team of Dutch club side, Ajax, and went on to claim the prestigious UEFA Champions League title in 1995.

More honours

A year after winning the Champions League trophy with Ajax, the lanky Kanu skippered Nigeria to the gold medal at the Olympic Football Tournament at Atlanta, scoring two goals in the famous 4-3 semi-final win over Brazil, including the last-gasp equaliser and the exquisite extra-time winner.

Not even the heart defect that was discovered by Inter Milan doctors and the subsequent surgery to correct the defect, was able to prevent Kanu from his number one passion, as he returned in time to play a part in the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 1998 World Cup in France, and went on to take part in the tournament where he entered the record books as the youngest player to captain a side in World Cup history.

He thereafter left Inter Milan for Arsenal, where he attained legendary status, scoring 44 times in 198 appearances with the Gunners, winning two league titles and two FA Cups in the process. He also won an FA Cup winners medal with Portsmouth in 2009, and looks set to play second-tier league football with the English south coast outfit, following their relegation from the Premier League.

But even though he has lost some pace to age, his brilliance on the pitch still seem a couple of years away from oblivion, and will still be enough to attract to match venues football fans eager to catch a glimpse of the benevolent football icon, who has dedicated a greater part of the past decade towards ensuring a better life for children with heart defects through the Kanu Heart Foundation.

Testimonial

“Kanu will always be a great player, if not the greatest player to have come out of Nigeria,” said former Super Eagles defender, Benedict Iroha. “I always felt this will be his last appearance for Nigeria. It didn’t turn out the way we all wanted, but I’m sure people will always remember him for the great things he did on the field of play.”

Iroha also called on the Nigeria Football Federation to “immediately” organise a befitting testimonial for Kanu, a view that is equally shared by a host of his former Super Eagles teammates, including Nduka Ugbade.

“That is the least that can be done, and it must be as soon as possible, not one year later because Kanu has given so much of his life to this country,” said Ugbade.

Regardless of whether a testimonial is organised or not, football fans the world over will not easily let go of the great memories evoked by the legendary Nigerian, who competed at six African Cup of Nations tournaments, three FIFA World Cups, and who was twice named the African Player of the Year.

Kanu the coach

Who knows, he might even delve into coaching, an idea that he seems to be warming up to when he met up with reporters shortly after Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup.

“Moving into coaching is an interesting idea, but the organisation from above has to be right. Not just for anyone who wants to coach, so it is easier for them to do the job, but for those who want to play and get on with it.

“You don’t see many Africans who have made it (as players) want to go into coaching - they don’t want to take all the nonsense that comes from above. If the people in power have played football, they would understand what is going on, but that is not often the case,” said Kanu.

A few days ago, Kanu, speaking to a reporter from the BBC, said he would be looking back on his international career with pride.

“I’ve really enjoyed myself, and it was emotionally important for me to play in front of my family,” he stated.

“I’ve won the [under-17] World Cup, the Olympic gold, and Nations Cup silver and bronze medals. We haven’t achieved much as a team, but personally, I think it’s an achievement I am proud of.

“My wife was here [in Durban] to watch me. I played in front of my kids at the biggest football tournament, so what else can I ask for,” he added.

Indeed, what else can one ask for from such an accomplished individual?

Lack of cohesion may cost Eaglets title

October 25, 2009

By Ifeanyi Ibeh

Former Green Eagles player and coach, Paul Hamilton, believes the Golden Eaglets’ apparent lack of cohesion and teamwork may prevent them from staging a successful defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The Golden Eaglets on Saturday came back from the brink of defeat to force Germany to a 3-3 draw at the National Stadium, Abuja. The Golden Eaglets, the tournament’s defending champions, were 2-0 down at the break and, two minutes after the commencement of the second half, conceded yet another goal against the European champions.

The 53rd minute sending off of German defender, Robert Labus, after he hauled down Omoh Ojabu in the area, and Stanley Okoro’s subsequent conversion of the resultant penalty kick, however, sparked a heroic fight-back for the Golden Eaglets, who then went ahead to score two more goals in quick succession through Kenneth Omeruo, in the 59th minute, and Edafe Egbedi, in the 61st minute.

But Hamilton feels the team’s lack of cohesion may stop it from a successful title defence adding that the core of a junior team in a competition is its ability to “fit in and play as one”.

Hamilton, while citing examples, said: “This is a cadet competition, the boys playing in this competition are home-grown; they ought to play with a certain level of understanding which, unfortunately, is lacking among our boys. The teamwork isn’t there; we did not see that cohesion that should characterise a cadet team.

“Look at Brazil and even Switzerland, we saw fantastic players playing beautiful football. The cohesion was there. The team that played against Germany lacks that.”

Role of MRI

Hamilton, who manages a weekend soccer academy also blamed the Eaglets’ performance on the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test failure, which resulted in the dropping of as many as 15 players, and the frequent changes of coaches.

“We are harvesting what we have sown. Do you remember how many coaches the team had within two years,” asked Hamilton before retorting: “none of the coaches spent a year. “The MRI failure too contributed; weeks into the tournament we still did not have a team.

“In Japan 93, [Nwankwo] Kanu and the boys spent more than two years together under Fanny Amun and we saw the result. The boys played beautiful football, the cohesion was there and we got the cup. The same in Atlanta 96, our boys won the cup because there was understanding in the team.

“For the senior team it is a little different, most play internationally and may not have enough time to prepare for a competition, relying more often on their experience and the direction of the coach to team up. But the cadets shouldn’t have that problem,” added Hamilton who, however gave credit to the team for pulling a draw against the Germans, just as he “expects them to improve with subsequent matches.”

Hamilton isn’t alone with regards to his expectations as a former Super Eagles defender and captain of the victorious China ‘85 Golden Eaglets side, Nduka Ugbade is also of the opinion that the performance of the Nigerian team at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup will only get better as the tournament progresses.

Ugbade, who had praises for the players, along with the technical crew, for coming back from three goals down against the Germans, said: “It was an incredible match and a wonderful advertisement for football.

“The boys and their coaches deserve a pat on the back for getting a draw. They did well to have come from three goals down and I feel they will get better now that the opening match is behind them.

Damman miracle repeated

“It was like watching the Damman miracle all over again,” added Ugbade with reference to the thrilling encounter between Nigeria and th e former USSR in the Saudi Arabian city of Damman at the 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup which saw the Flying Eagles coming back from four-nil down to draw level with the Soviets before going on to win on penalties.

It wasn’t all plaudits though from Ugbade for the Golden Eaglets, as he feels that they could have won the game had they been more com posed from the outset.

“They appeared nervous, especially at the beginning,” continued Ugbade. “They weren’t confiden t of what they could do with the ball and gave too much room to the Germans to operate.”