emorse:
are you for real? Mikel made a mistake? Someone who's won almost everything there is to win in world football, Nigeria's best player right now who could be named Africa's best player in a few weeks made a mistake? I don't think so. I'm sure you don't either.

where were you in 2005?

he had better go to fc porto where d pressure is less and a manager that gives young players chance

thegoodjoehunt:

The problem with loans is that, no regular atmosphere for growth. Lukaku was at West Brom. Now Everton. Suoer John Guidetti was loaned out to Feyenoord by Man City. I think he was the top scorer in the Dutch league and he is yet to start a game for Man City. Nurturing is better for growing players. Let the big clubs fight for Aguero andSuarez.

Well its hit and miss, many people are mentiong lukaku, but then again there are tons of players in the lower league loaned from Man Utd, Arsenal etc who are not exactly firing on top cylinder-Frederico Macheda is currently at Doncaster rovers

When a young player gets loaned out at least(depending on their contract) they ensure they play regular games, coming straight from nigeria(no club) it will take time to adjust to certain style of play or even adjusting to the environment- tthere are tons of 'commercially attractive' talented players in portuegese, Russian league- what are the chances porto etc will pay due attention to Iheanacho

Bash92: Just hope this greedy father wouldnt destroy this guy football career. Man city and chelsea that doesnt have good reputation in nurturing of youngsters

As in ! A really greedy father. Considering we know little of McFahran and Lukaku who have only been allowed to show but little of their quality, and considering City are too such to care to raise young ones, I wonder why this man thinks EPL prestige equals better training for Kelechi.

This generation of parents, leaders and elders should know that we are disappointed in them and God knows that and as such we dont give a fly anymore.

They have made the wrong choices for us
They have influenced us wrongly
They have bequeathed hatred & tribalism to us
They have passed corruption into our blood stream

We still respect and honour them only because God has asked us to continuosly do so. But we have to bear it @ the back of our mind that they dont mean well for us.
If not, how can you justify iheanachor Snr's choice of Chelsea and Man city for a budding talent like his son? This is born out of greediness

Pipsland78:
You will soon laugh in super falcons.
Messi, Neymar, Mikel Obi and all the other talented footballers - and in deed athletes generally - were guided by their dads so long they remained minors. So why should Kelechi's own be any different.

Please list fathers that wrecked their son's career and so prove you are not confirmation biased.

Olugbenger: Joining nairaland is a better option.

His father must be greedy. City and chelsea are wrong choices at this time of his career. Sturrige n sinclair are gud examples of young talents that never got a chance at mancity while in chelsea, the number remains uncoutable. Porto is a very good choice

emorse:
are you for real? Mikel made a mistake? Someone who's won almost everything there is to win in world football, Nigeria's best player right now who could be named Africa's best player in a few weeks made a mistake? I don't think so. I'm sure you don't either.

Yes! Mikel made a mistake. I still weep whenever I think about it. Mikel was a football prodigy when I first saw him at Finland 2003 in an under 17 tournament. Mikel was a star in that tournament even though Nigeria left in group stages, an attacking midfielder with an eye for killer pass and goal. A midfielder with a high speed dribbling accuracy, sound technical attributes and good stamina. Back in Holland 2005, once again Mikel held his own. Honestly, I never seen a young talented midfielder as Mikel with those qualities at that age, no wonder Manchester united fc and Chelsea fc).

Mikel and Moses need your vote to win the BBC African footballer of the year.
The voting is closing tonight.
www.nairaland.com/1531069/lets-vote-mikel-moses-bbc

emorse:
are you for real? Mikel made a mistake? Someone who's won almost everything there is to win in world football, Nigeria's best player right now who could be named Africa's best player in a few weeks made a mistake? I don't think so. I'm sure you don't either.

Yes! Mikel made a mistake. I still weep whenever I think about it. Mikel was a football prodigy when I first saw him at Finland 2003 in an under 17 tournament. Mikel was a star in that tournament even though Nigeria left in group stages, an attacking midfielder with an eye for killer pass and goal. A midfielder with a high speed dribbling accuracy, sound technical attributes and good stamina. Back in Holland 2005, once again Mikel held his own. Honestly, I never seen a young talented midfielder as Mikel with those qualities at that age, no wonder Manchester united fc and Chelsea fc fought each other for his signature. A player that rival Messi (the best player ever to play the game) in every way. Had Nigeria won, Mikel would had been the MVP of the Holland 2005. Had Mikel gone to a club where he can play in his preferred position as an attacking midfielder, we could been seen another world best from Africa.

Mediocrity is disease that paralyses success, always thrive for the best out of life. Mikel is an average footballer because he made a wrong decision. Trophies or no trophies Mikel never lived to expectation hence he is an underachiever.

safarigirl: His father needs to butt out, why do Nigerian parents think they can force their wants on their kids? If the boy wants to go to Porto, let him go, if it turns out to be a mistake, fine, it's his mistake. He should let Kelechi be his own man, afterall he'll be an adult by next year. Better to go where he'll be happy and content than where his talent will dwindle due to discontent

adult next year? Someone who is already 32? Because he dey claim 17? Just check his profile and u'll confirm my comment

stantob: Stupid decision from a greedy father. Same father that maybe was scolding the lad when he returned home from one of his street football games now turns to be the one to choose the right club for him as if he's the one to contest for position for him in the field. That od man should let the young man be, nonsense.

you must be a fool....when u hav a child, thats if u can....let him be......and to those sayin mikel made a mistake, did he come crying to u pple or wat....foolish pple...u want to compare africa with south america,....

Dominionng: You wanna go to Porto? Simple! Present your birth cert. Show the world you are 18+ and save urself and ur career from ur greedy Pop.




We will deal with the consequence lerra

lol! oga mi, your head dey there ni!

pazienza:

Even in footballing terms, Fc porto is a bigger Club than Chelsea and Man city, With two Champions league trophies, two Europa league/ UEFA cup and 27 primeira liga titles, and what more, unlike chelsea and man city which are artificial teams with no true football philosophy, Fc porto is a real football club with a football philosophy.

Iheanachor will be stupid to turn down the porto offer, porto is experiencing some kind of re building process now, things are not looking that fine for them now in europe, but they are still on top of primeira liga right now, Iheanachor can be a part of this re building process and grow with this club to prepare himself for the top, Falcao did the same with porto before his move to athletico madrid.

Exactly. Porto has more history than Chelsea and Man city. It's just that that unlike those two, they're not blood thirsty and are a natural club that give players the opportunity to express themselves and grow unlike chelsea and Mancity that expect you to be performing magic at such a young age. Iheanacho is still very young and he needs time to discover himself and Porto is a very good place to do that.

It just has to be Porto else the boy can as well forget his future in his chosen career.

Black man!!!!! no near chelsea ooooooo morinho go bench u ehhhh

Let this guy move 2 arsenal,i bet u,his tag price will be more than that of bale,,,

emorse:
How old was CR7 when Lt Portugal 4 England?

Are you saying he's better than cr7 was at lisbon

Pipsland78:
You will soon laugh in super falcons.
Messi, Neymar, Mikel Obi and all the other talented footballers - and in deed athletes generally - were guided by their dads so long they remained minors. So why should Kelechi's own be any different.

I see a chelski fan lying to his teeth. Don't join in killing a prospect's career just cuz you want your slow motion chelski to sign him. He is better of with Proto who has great reputation in nurturing young starz.

Bash92: Just hope this greedy father wouldn't destroy this guy football career. Man city and chelsea that doesnt have good reputation in nurturing of youngsters

The truth! He neither needs Chelsea nor Man City. He will come to limelight on a senior professional football platform easier with F.C. Porto than with chelsea or city.

Conversation with a Golden Eaglet parent

Telephone rings…….

Chief Effiong……Hello who is this?

Alhaji Maigari...If I am on to Chief Effiong, I am Aminu Maigari the President of the NFF

Chief Effiong….Ah interesting how are you? You are the one who wants to teach me how to manage my son? When I bought him his first ball when he was three years old where were you? At age six, I got him a football boot because I knew he was destined for greatness.
You needed to be at my house on that day of the final. Over fifty people came to watch the match with me. Neighbours, relatives and well wishers they all came.
And my wife had to cook for all of them because we knew there was going to be a celebration at the end of the match.
Do you know how much we spent for food and the drinks?
Without consulting me as the father, you went and wrote the two million naira cheque in his name. Do you know how much we spend every time he plays? You went and wrote a two million naira cheque in the name of a 16 year old?
I want to return the cheque so that you can reissue it in my name.

Alhaji Maigari.….on the contrary sir, I advice that you use the cheque to open an account in his name, so that as he grows up you can help him to invest and….

Chief Effiong.. ( cuts in ) Invest what? I have told you what we have put in so far to bring him to this level and you want to put enmity between me and my son?

Alhaji Maigari….God forbid sir. In fact that is why I called to first of all congratulate you for siring a child who has the potential of becoming a great footballer if properly nurtured

Chief Effiong….Did you hear when I told you that I knew he was going to be great? Look if not for injury, today I would have been one of Nigeria’s best footballers. I played for my primary school and I was always the one called upon to take corner kicks…

Alhaji Maigari….No wonder your son is so good. Congrats Sir. As earlier said we will find time to sit with you and discuss how best to handle your son’s future, because right from UAE, we noticed the influx of scouts who we believe can short circuit the future of these boys if we do not intervene.

Chief Effiong…listen Alahaji Maigari, I am not a novice, I know what is good for my son and I do not need you to tell me about his future…

Alhaji Maigari.….hold on sir, talk to the Honourable Sports Minister.

Chief Effiong….Hon Minister, are you one of those who want to reap from where you did not sow?

Hon Minister…..I beg your pardon Chief…..reap from where we did not sow? If you must know. We are the ones that have sowed. This country invested millions in those children. For the past three years we have given them the best in terms of comfort of living and personal development. I don’t know about your son, but nearly all those kids stayed in hotels for the first time when we took them over. None of them had flown in an aircraft before. Since we adopted them they have benefited the best of training from first class coaches and international academies.
Ask them about the Aspire Academy in Dubai, five star hotels, best of airlines……they owe this country Sir you owe us for bringing your child to the level where he has become a global celebrity…dines with Presidents, met face to face with Mr Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of The House, Ministers…..

Chief Effiong ….Hon Minister, I withdraw my statement.. I think you have a point there…..I apologise. In fact it was when he always came back from camp that we discovered he could eat rice with a fork and knife.

Hon Minister.…Apology accepted. Sir I asked the NFF President to call you because I heard, and authoritatively too, that an agent offered you one million naira which you collected….

Chief Effiong….Don’t go there….don’t just go there. A whole country gave my son two million naira, an individual brought one million naira and you are querying me…?

Hon Minister…The federal Government’s donation was an appreciation, one that is bound to open the flood gates for more of such. The one million naira from the agent may be an invitation to slavery, a bet that you may regret…..

Chief Effiong …What makes you think you people are the only ones that know about football?

Hon Minister.…Far from it, we are not the only ones, but this is our culture medium. We plan and sincerely too to bring together experts in the business to sit down with all the parents of the kids and the kids themselves to advice on the way forward. We have multiples examples of bright youngsters whose careers were destroyed by self seeking and selfish agents. We do not want that to happen to this glorious bunch at our disposal.
Let me also congratulate you for being the father of such a wonderful footballer as I hand you back to the NFF President

Alhaji Maigari….So sir we are planning to come and see you.

Chief Effiong….Are you coming alone?

Alhaji Maigari…No sir, I am likely to come with one of the coaches and the chairman of the technical committee of the NFF. In fact if possible with other members of that committee including Chairman Christian Chukwu, JJ Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Garba Lawal…….those who have seen it all and are in a position to give wise counsel…….we also have your country man Paul Bassey in that committee

Chief Effiong……Ah Paul Bassey….we are proud of him. Tell him I saw him on Tv during the Algeria Burkina Faso match. He has added weight…..he is chopping FIFA money….

Alhaji Maigari....We thought so too but when we confronted him he said the cold forced him to wear two jackets that is why he appeared fat…

Chief Effiong …..None of you will admit to chopping money until we catch you with oil on your lips. On a serious note, let me know when you will come because we must celebrate with a feast

Alhaji Maigari…..Sir, that will not be necessary. What we are coming for is serious, bordering on the future of your child and of course the sustained sports glory of this country.

Chief Effiong….My friend we in this part of this country are noted for culinary excellence ask Paul Bassey. Do you know what it means to be visited by the Award winning NFF president? I am not talking about all those junk you eat in hotels….I am talking about home made buffet that includes afangsoup, edikang ikon, white soup with goat meat to go with pounded yam, fresh fish pepper soup……..do you eat dog meat?

Alhaji Maigari…..No thanks I don’t like it.

Chief Effiong… What is no thanks? How can you not like what you have not tasted? The day you eat well prepared dog meat with unripe plantain to boot that day you will bow…..

Alhaji Maigari…(..laughter)……I pray that day does not come ( more laughter) so sir in summary of what the Honourable minister said, it is our desire and the wish of all Nigerians that these boys be guided and monitored for a better tomorrow. Rather than collect a one million that is like a one off…

Chief Effiong….President, forget this one million….forget it. I have collected it and have spent it, except you want to refund it…

Alhaji Maigari…..Sir I was saying that rather than collecting a one off, we will prefer a 500,000 thousand that will come again and again…..I give you the classic case of Mikel Obi and how two great clubs Man U and Chelsea were fighting for him. On paper, Man U was the better choice, but a lot of other factors were taken into consideration in counseling him, including playing regularly and the presence of Africans in the team that will help him settle down faster, and today Mikel is one of the world’s greatest footballers whose profile rises daily…

Chief Effiong….Alhaji Maigari, I am not dumb, I appreciate all you are trying to say…..my only concern is that you people should consider the interest of the parents in all that you do. I could not have invested so much in a child only for you to come and issue a two million naira cheque in his name..

Alhaji Maigari….Sir, again this is a one off. What we are saying here is a stable future. Go to Jos and see what Mikel has done to his parents and siblings…..Kanu, Okocha, Finidi George, Obafemi Martins. With the benefit of proper counseling and good upbringing, even the sky will not be his limit…. 
Chief Effiong…Anyway, money is like a spirit. If you don’t have, no problem, but the moment it enters your hand you feel like taking a big bottle of stout with every meal. Besides this agent looked quite honest and serious…

Alhaji Maigari…..Sir we are not saying all agents are bad. By the time we know who you are dealing with, he may just be someone we can trust.

Chief Effiong….Ok till you come. You people must bring something for me and my wifeoooooo. You are busy chopping CAF and FIFA money

Alhaji Maigari….( laughter )Have I also added weight? You must be a very interesting person.

Chief Effiong….See let me tell you, did you see that first goal my son scored? That was me in my youth. All I needed from my team mates was for them to put the ball in my left leg and off I went. My nick name was okokobioko…….

Alhaji Maigari ( prolonged laughter….)
See you next week.

Am sure sum of u dnt folo futbal wel. If u check wel, u wl observe dat chelseafc is nw investing on young players. If he is eventualy signed by chelsea, they wl neva bring hm 2 d first team, bt he wl b sent on loan 2 a club wia they re sure he wl get regular first team actions. U cn c dis in d case of Christian Atsu of ghana nd Bertrand Traore of burkina faso.

I laugh in Darren Fletcher.That iheanacho played under 17 does not mean that he is not 27 we all know so hw on earth can his father decide for him when he is not a MINOR.Am sure the father is one of those people who believe that football ends in the premier league.