₦airaland Forum

forgiveness:
All the players I listed are far better than him

list their attributes side by side with his and let's see and not by mere assumption

forgiveness:
Five things to know about Kayode Olanrewaju


15 Aug, 2017

Colin Udoh, KweséESPN

comment
What do 17 goals in an Austrian season get you? An impending deal with nouveau riche Manchester City, that's what, and Nigeria striker Kayode Olanrewaju is the man reaping the fruits of his potency.

The forward is reportedly close to a transfer to City in a move seemingly out of left field, and is expected to spend the next season on loan to Spanish side Girona.

Here are five things about the new City arrival-then-departure.

1. Olanrewaju was a member of the Nigeria Under-17 class of 2009, which finished as runners-up to Switzerland at the World Cup in Nigeria. Although he played in every single game, he never lasted a full match and failed to score a single goal. Some of his contemporaries in that side were Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Ramon Azeez. International stars who played include Alvaro Morata, Shkodran Mustafi, Mario Gotze, Granit Xhaka, Isco and one Neymar ... who managed to score a grand total of one goal.

2. 'Larry' also played at two further FIFA cadet tournaments - the Under-20 World Cups in 2011 and 2013, scoring a combined total of five goals. Three of those came in Colombia in 2011, where he scored in consecutive group phase games.

3. Kayode started his career with Ibadan-based Marvelous FC, from where he moved to Ghana to join Red Bull FC. It was from Ghana that he was recommended to Nigeria Under-17 coach John Obuh, went for tryouts, and was picked for the World Cup squad. Prior to all of that, he was trained by one of the country's top youth coaches and spotters of talent, simply called Zico. Olanrewaju says he is grateful for the tutelage, telling KweséESPN: "I am happy with him and everyone else for what they contributed to my career."


4. It has been a grueling road for Olanrewaju, who had to overcome numerous roadblocks as he clawed his way up. Loaned out to ASEC Mimosas by Red Bull, he had trouble settling at the club and was eventually forced to go back home, where he was registered with Heartland before he could make his move to Israeli second division club Maccabi Nentaya. During his time in Israel he was managed by Emeka Ezeala, who used to work with former Germany coach Berti Vogts when the latter coached Nigeria. Olanrewaju's 13 goals and six assists helped haul Netanya to promotion.

5. Olanrewaju is a quick striker who can play centrally, but he is equally well-equipped to operate as a wide forward. Former teammate and Birmingham-bound midfielder Ogenyi Onazi says the striker has always been ready to take in as much knowledge as possible. "He is a person who always wants to learn and join in everything," Onazi told KweséESPN.

Onazi says even in their cadet days, the potential was there: "He was fast then, but the issue was his finishing. Now he has played under good coaches and learned how to finish, he will be deadly." A bold statement to make, but sources close to the player's camp told KweséESPN that Pep Guardiola watched films of the youngster for two months before making a decision on him. If true, that tells its own story, and a good one too.

https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjfg8a2xKPXAhXMthoKHVSbCesQFghcMAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espnfc.com%2Fstory%2F3180232%2Ffive-kayode-olanrewaju-facts&usg=AOvVaw0uPd8gdMhpcZFbMmY7Nm60


It is not about Kayode. it is about the rules that must guide the merits and dis-merits of selection of playere into the National team. No double standard.

so the almighty Kayode was recommended too??

And played for two clubs before playing under 17

That guy must have come with football knowledge from birth

Abusule007:
Presently, I think Nike offers the finest jerseys. I think they would give us something mind blowing for the world Cup. To me, puma no sabi anything. Check out Ghana Jersey, it looks like native attire.

hahahahahahaha native attire bawo

tglobal:
Had to jump in on Gbenga Okunowo to make the records straight, because you have mentioned his name a couple of times.

Gbenga Okunowo was in Barcelona's first team for only one season (1998-1999).and in this period, the Nigeria played only one competitive match, which was a CAN qualifier against Burundi in Abeokuta. This was an era, when the only top grade matches we played were qualifiers. The only other match in that period was the 5-nil loss to Catalonia. Yes Gbenga was not called up for either of this matches.

However, he was in the flying eagles squad for Nigeria 99 (while still in Barca). In the second half of that year, when he had gone to Benfica, the SE managed to play two friendly matches (Ghana and CDR) which were prosecuted with home based players.

1999 Summary:
Matches played by SE: 1
Matches Okunowo was not invited: 1

The scorecard doesn't show that he was shunned while in Barca.

Going forward, Gbenga was the first choice RB (had Jersey number 2), going into CAN 2000, where he started in 3 of the matches and came in as a substitute in the other two. He was already on loan to Benfica at this time. He was also a part of the Dream Team that year as well and featured in our matches in Sydney.

Again, I stepped in to correct a misrepresentation about Okunowo, because this is not the first time you are raising the issue of his exclusion from the SE. The facts on ground suggest otherwise

i doubt he even knows the players

probably someone gave him that and he began running with it without caring to find out if the assertions were indeed true

thanks for clearing the air

forgiveness:
Shola going to the world cup was corruption.

I only asked a question with a Yes or no answer

Twas as simple as that not this long turenchi

''I am very pleased. I have been working for this and I am grateful to be given the chance to prove myself. It is a good confidence boost for me and shows I have been doing the right thing,'' said Abraham to Swansea City's official website on Thursday evening.




so his heart was never with us after all

forgiveness:
Martins is grandfafa but he is still active and better than Shola

and Shola wasn't active when he went to the world cup right

safarigirl:
so, you will not get Nigerian jersey. Na Egypt wey no concern you, na their own you wan get

Wehdone

i still de wait for our own now

i never see our own and i no know where to get am

as soon as i have an idea, I'll grab one

Naija jersey na must have for me

safarigirl:
a little too plain.

Not enough character, but na jersey last last

I like the simplicity though

Would get it If I can order it online

tbaba1234:
Argentina squad for Russia and Nigeria

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DNoXC5UXkAIrVlv.jpg

rumor have it that messi won't be playing against us

mrhowoto:
Hi

so all those things you were just doing to get the thread to 2000 pages?

jotey:
You are calling him grandpapa but you want Martins

that's speaking from both side of his mouth

forgiveness:
National team is not dumping ground for every d...h....it is for those who have distinguished themselves among the rest. As it is Chidiebere Nwakali is not qualified to be given any chance ahead of those who are doing well better than him. They didn't get to where they through magomago way like chidiebere is about to do.

He is not the best in Norway neither is he considered for any award because he is not pleasant to behold even in the low low lowly Norwegian league. Sorry.

have you Ajagun and Ilori distinguished themselves among the rest?

forgiveness:
Prove yourself and the world will notice your quality but in this case, he is nominated for the best player in Norway? Mbanu!

I can see the Ajagun, Ilori et al you've clamored for have been nominated for the best player award

forgiveness:
Chidiebere Nwakali a player like this in a relegated threatened club for better players.

who are the better players to be called up in his place?

komekn:
I am unable to understand your position.

Ngolo Kante a few years couldn't even get a club so he played 3rd tier, then 2nd tier before primotion to French league 1. In all this time he was a million miles away from the French team.

Walsh at Liecester City and his scouting team identified him as a prospect. Paid the modest £5 million for him. From there he set the premiership on Fire then got a call up to the French National team.

He was not called to the French team when he was at Boulogne or Caen. It was after he was proven and tested in the EPL that he got his first cap.

So can you explain how this journey of Kante and or Mahrez has any relationship or similarity with Nwakali.

All players start somewhere either at the top or the bottom. Each level you play is a test, which will if you perform propel you to the next higher level. Where you start is irrelevant it is how you progress.

If you are cutting it week in week out with consistent top quality outstanding performances, no matter the league you will get noticed. Then you will progress, but you will not remain in the backwater leagues unless you are not truly good enough.

My view he has not progresed enough to for a call up just in the same way the bench warmer at lowly Wolfsburg Osimhen. For any of them to be called to the SE

Are they better than the hundreds of Nigerian players in far better teams playing week in and weak out.

You earn your call up to the SE by the consistent performances that put in at your parent club. Not because the scouting crew think you are good. If you are good prove it in your club performance Finito.

youve always dodged my question of who should be called up know their place

Mujtahida:
Iwobi chose us when England's invite stopped. Ola Aina, Ebere Eze and Josh Maja were invited to train with the Super Eagles at their London camp in March before our friendly with Burkina Faso.
Guy it's not easy. He's made his choice. Good luck to him. We will still fly even without him.

but will you agree the pressure kept mounting on him not to turn up for Nigeria up to the last minute?
Consider this

Let's assume you base in lagos and your dream higher institution is university of lagos. You wrote jamb making unilag 1st choice while using another university as 2nd choice.. your 2nd choice institution gave you admission 1st list and your dream uni's 1st,2nd and 3rd list is out and your name isn't on them. You started the registration process in your 2nd choice only for a week later you get admission into unilag.. won't you drop your 2nd choice and embrace the first?

If Iwobi had his 100% interest on downing the England jersey and due to no interest forth coming he decided to jump ship only to discover that they really want him to play for them I think he would have jumped ship

Let's give the young man some kudos

komekn:
Firstly, was never ever in the reckoning for an England call up he had one game at U18 and 3 at U17 for England.

Iwobi who was a youth player played his first game for Nigeria before he had even played one games for the first team of Arsenal. The small matter of his Uncle JJay obviously made sure things happened for him.

I wish you would have added Aina too

Since he hasn't placed for Chelsea senior team when he was courted my Nigeria and he doesn't have an uncle who would have accelerated his entry

Joebie:
I got good news. real good news

if he's not joking that means the news is fake since he said this on the 29th of last month and Tammy is handed his first invite today

Joebie:
Iwobi wasn't that strong-willed as we may want to believe. He was already on his way to the airport. He had already made up his mind after some efforts at convincing him. Aina never got a look in by England for awhile. He waited in vain for an England call up. It was a case of no hope for England for him.

and you think all the names they've been reeling out without a call up for a while too will have taken that bold step?

tbaba1234:
NFF dropped the ball on Tammy. They simply accelerated his english call-up. All the best to him.

i feel it accelerated it too

but i still feel he might not be as strong-willed as Iwobi who resisted the overtures or as daring as Aina who came to the Super Eagles camp in London for Rohr to have a look in

if he hadn't made that appearance i'm sure we would not have gone hook line and sinker for him

after filling the paper, it will still go through the FA and will still be made public by then

so the pressure would have still been as much as it is now only that it is delayed and might delay his call up to the Senior team of England.. before the switch would have been concluded they may still have capped him

BTW nobody from all the news i read around that period invited Aina to join the Eagles to train when they were in London so why should that of others be different.. when you need something badly why not go for it and not until they give you on a platter and even as it was given to Tammy on a platter, he still rubbed it on our faces

Mujtahida:
What do you say about Roma doing Chelsea the current EPL Champions the thing. I didn't want to say this after Roma put Chelsea on the back foot during the first leg and resoundingly beat Chelsea on Tuesday cos I recognise that such things happen in football. But now that you are using Tottenham's victory to sing a hymn of praise about the EPL, kindly let us know about what you think regarding Roma v Chelsea as far the EPL is concerned.

we can as well say if Girona was in the EPL they would gladly be in the top 5 since they are able to beat Real Madrid that Tottenham beat

Magink:
Sky Sports News‏Verified account @SkySportsNews 23m23 minutes ago
More
BREAKING: @SwansOfficial's Tammy Abraham, on loan from @ChelseaFC, is in-line for his first senior England call-up, #SSN understands.

Hahaha I knew this would happen.

we wish him best of luck



we'll start counting his less than 10 caps for him soon

komekn:
My friend you are muddying the waters, the subject is best player selection by merit.

The discussion is not circumstances personal or otherwise but structure, definitive standards of measurement for the best quality players. The removal of sentiment and the enthronement of merit without question. Let the best players come in no sentiment.

People left Nigeria direct and went to French league, Belgium league, Portuguese league, Italian league. So if you find yourself in the backwaters of Europe it's nobody fault. Life is tough and unfair it's just how it is.

Under no circumstances do we circumvent standards for anybody irrespective of circumstances. One player bypassing the standards is one too many. It us unfair, unjustifiable and not right, no apologies.

If you find objective merit based selection as condescending then I have nothing to say. The EPL is the most competitive league in the World if not the best so what's wrong with the pursuit of excellence

Finally, I am probably more Nigerian conversant than you. Naija no far from me. Dont assume that I don't have am indepth understanding and empathy for the dynamics and struggles in Nigeria. I still can leave Ocean view drive to Okirigwe jnct and eat starch and owo with my hands.

I just will not compromise my integrity, if that makes me Un-Nigerain in your book. Once again no apology.

please i'll really like you to list the best players that should be selected and is eligible to play for the Algeria and Argentina match coming uo in the next 12 days that were not called up

Oluwainnie:
not bad. what part of nasarawa are you staying

the mararaba axis

forgiveness:
Dem go dem go. Finish. O parish.

the process have been kickstarted according to that report

Oluwainnie:
lol... yeah

how's ogun state now