Nwankwo Kanu: End of an illustrious career

By Prof Emmanuel Ojeme

Some days ago, one of Nigeria’s high impact and quality footballers exited gloriously from the game. He retired after  many years of successful exploits and achievements with his footprints solidly in the history of football.

During his illustrious career, he showed a unique style of play for club and country. This paper attempts to highlight the features of this football icon and related issues.

Nwankwo  Kanu, an Ohanaeze, from Imo State started his football career with local clubs in Imo State. He participated in FIFA’s age-grade football competition and that brought him to limelight.  But it was after this tournament which took place in 1993 or so, that his silky and languid style of play caught the attention of the world. He subsequently featured for Nigeria in 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, where he helped the Nigerian Olympic team to eliminate the mighty teams from Argentina and Brazil to win the Olympic Gold medal, for the first time in the soccer event.

Then, the big clubs followed and rushed to enlist him. The popular Ajax Football Club helped to further sharpen his skills and develop his game. Kanu, standing at over six feet, won trophies with his Ajax FC. He subsequently attracted the attention of Inter Milan of Italy where his heart problem was discovered at the medicals. This was to be a sad moment in his career but being the Nwachukwu that he is, he survived the heart operation and returned to the game successfully He had played for Arsenal FC, West Brom FC and Portsmouth FC where he led the team to FA Cup victory.

At the national level, he remained a loyal member of the Super Eagles and rose to become the captain the team. He played for Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup tournament as well as international friendless.

Kanu is a gentleman and kind hearted. He has used his earned income to set up the Nwankwo Kanu Foundation which is helping children with heart ailments to get relief. This project is growing to become an hospital in Nigeria.

Kanu’s style of play is majestic, showing commanding control of the ball, calmness of nerves in rounding up midfielders and defenders, a strategy of play that saw the Nigerian team through many difficult battles on the field of play. Kanu  is one of Nigeria’s living football legends. He is happily married. I congratulate you for your successful and illustrious career. The scandals of European football never smeared you. You are indeed an icon, confirmed by the twice award as African Footballer of the year.

The challenge of sports scientist is to break down the intricate skills of Kanu in order to teach the fundamentals to children. This also applies to Austin Jay Jay Okocha, two of Nigeria’s most skillful artists in the soccer field.

Playing professional football gives fame and fortune. Some players get carried away by it. But I think, Kanu, does not belong to this group. I wish to suggest to him to return his hair style to normal. The plaited style does not fit his Africanness. Secondly, he should spend two or three years on formal education to fully prepare him for leadership roles in Nigeria. This also applies to the horde of retired footballers and athletes whose professional sports careers disable their formal education and training. Congratulations Nwankwo  Kanu, Papilo!