King Kanu: Tribute To A Legend

On the 11th of June, 2011, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, the curtain was drawn on the international career of one of Nigeria’s most talented footballers ever, Kanu Nwankwo. Born of a lowly background in the commercial city of Owerri, South East Nigeria, Kanu had the football world at his feet in an illustrious career spanning over eighteen years which saw him becoming the most decorated Nigerian player in history. Kanu was among the Nigerian team that won the U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993.

Success in Japan provided young Kanu the platform to launch a glorious soccer career that took him to Ajax of Amsterdam in Holland, Inter Milan of Italy, Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth all of England. Kanu recorded early success in his European club career as he won the coveted UEFA Champions league title with Ajax Amsterdam in only his second season in Europe in 1995 and at age 18.

Playing along football greats such as Edwin Van der Saar, Patrick Kluvert, Edgar Davis, Clarence Seedorf, the De Boers brothers, among others, Kanu’s Ajax triumphed over an AC Milan team parading experienced stars such as the legendary Paulo Maldini, Franco Baresi, among others. While at Ajax, Kanu won an unprecedented three consecutive Dutch league titles and from Italy to England, it was all success galore for this golden son of Africa. On the international scene, Kanu, at the young age of 22, captained the Nigerian U-23 team, consisting of established stars like Uche Okechukwu, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Tijani Babangida, among others, to win gold at the football event of the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, the first of its kind in Africa.

However, as glorious as Kanu’s football career was, a dark chapter was recorded in 1996, immediately after the historic success in Atlanta, when the tall football icon was diagnosed of a heart problem which according to medical experts would end his football career. It was, perhaps, the most difficult period of Kanu’s entire life. However, being the fighter that he is, coupled with prayers and unflinching support of Nigerians, Kanu survived the worst as he was certified fit enough to play football again after a successful heart operation in Cleveland, USA. Most Nigerians, out of sheer love for Kanu, advised him against taking to football again after the successful operation. But, like most great men, Kanu braved the odds to continue with his soccer career, recording even more successes in the post heart operation years by appearing in three World Cups in France 1998, Korea –Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010. This is in addition to representing Nigeria in six African Nation Cups from Nigeria-Ghana 2000 to Angola 2010, surpassing the record set by the late Muda Lawal.

The Kanu success story has vital implications for the Nigerian youth and indeed the nation at large as we continue the process of nation building. For one, the Nigerian youth must imbibe the spirit of self belief by rising above every limiting environmental factor to achieve set goals. The inherent difficulties of living in Nigeria or being a Nigerian should not provide stereo type excuse for failure. Aside Kanu, there are numerous Nigerians in various fields that have braved the odds to excel in their respective careers. Also, Nigerian sportsmen need to realise that it is a privilege and rare opportunity for them to represent their country. Aside offering them the platform to contribute their quota to national development, representing their country offers them a unique opportunity to have their names enshrined in gold forever. Today, individuals such as Segun Odegbami, Chidi Imoh, Mary Oyeali, Chioma Ajuwon, Jerry Okorodudu, to mention just a few, command great respect across the country for their selfless service to their fatherland. It is rather unfortunate to see some ignorant and short sighted Nigerian sportsmen misusing the God given opportunity of representing the country at various sporting events. They need to take a cue from Kanu Nwankwo whose years of selfless service have endeared him to Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides. Throughout his international career, Kanu was never involved any disciplinary case.

Also, it is important for Nigerian sportsmen to develop the mindset of giving back to the society that has given them so much. After his close shave with death, Kanu reasoned that he was , perhaps, lucky to survive as a result of the rare privilege of having access to the best medical facility in the world. Lesser mortals, with similar ailment, would have died unsung. This is the motivating factor behind the setting up of the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) which has been bringing smiles to the faces of thousands of people with heart related problems since its inception. It is high time our sportsmen realised that the success of a man is not measured by material possessions but by the number of lives he positively impacts on. While he was alive, the late MKO Abiola was not the richest living Nigerian, but he was one wealthy Nigerian who offered unlimited opportunities for many Nigerians to live a meaningful life.

On a final note, governments at various levels in the country should intensify effort to develop sports at the grassroots. Decaying sporting facilities across the country must be given a face lift in addition to providing new ones. This is why kudos must be given to the Fashola-led administration in Lagos State for its effort to transform sports in the state. The recent inauguration of the Lagos State Sports Endowment Fund is geared at tapping the dormant human and financial resources in the private and multi-lateral sectors. The Fashola Administration has been harnessing the potentials of Lagos youth through the resuscitation of competitions such as the Principals’ Cup among secondary schools in the state, the School Sports Festival, the State Sport Festival, the U-13 Soccer Championship, the U-15 Swimming Competition, Falilat Ogunkoya 400m meet, Governor’s Cup, the International Squash Racket Competition, MTN Street Soccer, Oba Cup, among others. The State Government has also embarked on sports and recreational infrastructural development which has transformed the popular Campos Square in Lagos Island into a mini stadium with a sitting capacity of 5,000, multi-purpose hall for all outdoor court games, FIFA Star 2 Artificial Turf, and administrative offices/equipment stores as well as the Agege Stadium into a sporting facility with a FIFA standard playing turf and a sitting capacity of 15,000.

It is only in doing this that we can discover new sports heroes and tackle the twin issues of job creation and youth restiveness in the country. Meanwhile, as the chapter closes on Papilo’s eventful and successful international career, I join hands with well meaning Nigerians in wishing him and his family the very best in life. Thank you Papilo, for all the sweet memories!

•Tayo Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja