The many Caps of a large Heart

BY GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR

"The most important gold I'm winning now is to save the lives of those who have heart problems. If I'm able to do that, I have won the African Nations Cup and the World Cup put together."

HIS English name is Christian, but he is rarely called that. As a Christian, he wouldn’t be said to have ‘luck’ because the Bible does not recognise that expression. He, however, has the grace and favour of God in him.

  That is Nwankwo Christian Nwosu Kanu.

  Born on August 1, 1976 in Owerri, to parents, who hailed originally from Arochukwu, Abia State, he was very fortunate to be the right man in the right place and at the right time.

  The time?

  The over 19 years he spent wearing national colours as a player.

  On the pitch, Kanu was respected for his precision on the ball. His swift passing and turning power were phenomenal. He was one of the few footballers, who could easily switch from right to left and right again.

  Kanu chose the 1996 Atlanta Olympics as the right moment to implant himself in the hearts of Nigerians.

  Many watched in bated breath, as he scored two fantastic goals in the semi-final against Brazil; and that was it. Nigeria was down 2-3 and two quick goals from him gave Nigeria the desired victory — the last being a golden goal. The first at that level against Brazil. It was not that he scored those goals that mattered, but the manner in which he executed them. They were much like that of legends.

  In a spate of 10 minutes, the man-child proved that talents alone do not take a star go far; what was needed was a limitless supply of determination, grit and drive. Kanu showed he had them. Awesomely!!! An extraordinary gift and determination to claw his way to the top.

Career

STANDING at 6'5, Kanu began to play professional at 15. From that age, the responsibility of delivering had always fallen on his sleigh, gentle shoulder. His glacial composure and deft technical ability came handy for the execution of those ‘King’ Kanu tricks. He racked up 428 professional matches, scoring 117 goals.

  Kanu announced his retirement from international football at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in June 2010.

  What a player and what a career Kanu has had. Very few players have had so many high and low and still remained in everyone’s heart.

  You ask? What was it that made Kanu such a special human being? Was it as a result of his dazzling footwork? The fact that he survived a career and life-threatening heart problem and had overcome it all to post superlative performances in his football career?

   His magnanimity of spirit?

  His selfless life-style that deviated from what conventionally obtains with a majority of African high-achievers?

  Now check this:

  From childhood, he sowed the seeds of success. He prepared the ground for a bumper harvest.

  According to him, "there's a time to start and a time to finish, it has been a fulfilling ride from day one," Kanu had said after the match. "I thank all the players who cut short their holidays from different places and the Nigerian fans for their endless love and support throughout my career."

 

‘Undoubtedly the most recognised, successful and talented footballer’

A DAY to his testimonial match last Saturday, for several hours, business activities around Lagos Island had come to a halt, as school children and market women trooped out in their hundreds to welcome Papilo and a team of international stars, who accompanied him to visit the country’s premier elite school, King’s College, Lagos, as well as the General Hospital, both in Marina.

   Around him were some of his friends and former colleagues, each of whom had come to give him their ilk a befitting retirement.

  Each owed him one last favour on the pitch, so to say. Among them were former Aston Villa midfielder, George Boateng, as well as ex Black Stars of Ghana defender, Anthony Baffoe and former Bayern Munich defender, Samuel Kuffour.

  Also in the delegation was former Super Eagles coach, Bonfrere Jo and some former Nigerian internationals such as Friday Elahor, Bright Omokaro, Waidi Akanni and Yisa Sofoluwe.

  Among those who honoured were Stephen Keshi, Jean Makoun, Khalilou Fadiga, Jay-Jay Okocha, Joseph Yobo, Taye Taiwo, Herman Hreidarsson and Obinna Nsofor, Michael Essien, Kolo Toure, Stephen Appiah, Kalusha Bwalya, John Utaka, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Obinna Nwaneri, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Elderson Echiejile, Onyekachi Okonkwo, Raphael Chukwu, Daniel Amokachi, Uche Okechukwu and Ogbonnaya Kanu.

  Africa’s most decorated player and three times UEFA Champions League winner, Samuel Eto'o, said, "Kanu is undoubtedly the most recognised, successful and talented footballer I have ever seen on the field."

  According to him, "it was not hard to honour him by travelling down because he is an icon of the African game and we must honour him. After playing against him, I was honoured and today I came here to show how much we respect and appreciate his achievement, inspiration, motivation and charitable gesture."

   Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor revealed that Kanu was his only hero when growing up and as a professional.

  "I cannot hide the fact that I moulded my career in his image and it is obvious that he’s still my inspiration and hero as a footballer," he said.

From one tiny ball-chaser to a Soccer giant

KANU started his professional career at the then National Division one league side, Federal Works, before moving to Iwanyanwu Nationale in 1992.

  As a member of the Golden Eaglets that were victorious at Japan ‘93 U-17 World Championships, he was signed on by Dutch Eredivisie AFC Ajax in 1993 for €207,047.
  He made his Ajax debut the following year and went on to score 25 goals in 54 appearances. Kanu’s touch and acceleration were palpable and when he came in as one of the subtitutes in Ajax’s 1995 Champions League final win over AC Milan, the difference was clear.

   From Ajax, he moved to Serie A side, Internazionale, for around $4.7 million that summer in 1996 after his wonderful performance as the captain of the Dream Team that won gold at the Olympics in Atlanta.

  Inter was Kanu’s annus horribilis, not because he underwent a medical examination, which revealed a serious heart defect and surgery in November 1996 to replace an aortic valve, but the fact that  after his return to the club in April 1997 to 1999, when he moved to Arsenal, he only appeared 11 times for the club.

  When he was with Arsenal FC (England), he created one of the biggest football fans followership in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

  In 2008, he was voted 13th by the Arsenal fans in their list of the 50 greatest players in the history of the club.

  Kanu also played for West Bromwich Albion, the current club of another Nigerian, Osaze Odemwingie.

  In his two years at The Hawthorns he made a total of 58 appearances – 16 of them as a substitute – and scored nine goals.
  From West Brom, he signed for Portsmouth, his current club, where he won his third English FA Cup, scoring goals in the semi and final matches.

Kanu’s travail

  Kanu’s travails humanised the goals and successes he has had with and for Nigeria. It was after his Atlanta 1996 Gold medal that his soccer career nearly came to a halting end, based on a medical tragedy.

  He was diagnosed with a heart defect that threatened to cut short an amazing career that only a gifted talented, focused and hardworking individual could amass.

  With his firm faith in God, he underwent the heart surgery successfully in Cleveland Hospital, Ohio. USA.

  Kanu, the two-time CAF African Footballer of the Year, was moved by the public's concern towards him during his rehabilitation period; that he set up Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), with the aim of serving the entire African continent.

  The Foundation was founded in 2000 to help save underprivileged African children by offering cardiovascular procedures.

   “The most important gold I'm winning now is to save the lives of those who have heart problems. If I'm able to do that, I have won the African Nations Cup and the World Cup put together,” said Kanu.

  Officials of the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) say the organisation has spent an average of $7,000 on the 250 children it has facilitated their treatment in Israel, India and London.

  It has also brought in cardiac surgery equipment worth over $240,000 to treat children in Nigeria. This equipment is housed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu.

  Former Health Minister, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, while donating his December 2006 basic salary to support the excellent work of the Kanu Heart Foundation, said: "The Kanu Heart Foundation is an initiative of an exceptionally gifted Nigerian who has contributed to safety of lives and remains a national source of pride and an inspiration to other Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

  "Nwankwo Kanu has delighted Nigerians, Africans and lovers of football all over the world with his unique soccer artistry and emotion over more than one decade. In a rare gratitude to almighty God for His grace upon his life, and in imbibing him with such uncommon talent, Kanu has dedicated his life and resources to giving (assistance to) children and parents and replacing hopelessness with the bright and prosperous future. This is a unique and laudable manifestation of private-public partnership in the provision of health services to the people of this country. The Foundation Surgery initiative for Nigerians with heart defects should be seen as a challenge by the rest of us, especially our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora."

 

Trivia

APART from philanthropy, Kanu has done well for himself as a businessman, with his holding reportedly worth overN3 billion.

   Sources close to Papilo say he has investments in an airline, huge shares in banks, a hotel (Hardley Suites located in Lagos), a guesthouse in London, and a table water company.

  Kanu also has more than 60 houses in Nigeria and London, all bringing rents to the soccer icon. This is apart from choice cars, including a Ferrari, in his London garage.

 His fashion statement outside the football pitch is quite remarkable and very much in comparison to the pattern of his numerous goals in the biggest league games in Europe.

  Kanu married his heartthrob, Amarachi,  in 2004, and and the marriage is blessed with two boys