02:40 GMT 18th July 2011
As vehicles moved bumper to bumper toward the Teslim Balogun Stadium in raindrenched Lagos, commuters seem transfixed by the sight of green and white banners, flags, caps and sundry souvenirs that seem to adorn just about every fan and structures in the vicinity. Even though it is only a friendly, it is the biggest match of the season in a city that has for many years been deprived of top-flight football. And one man has made this all possible. Former Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu has singlehandedly dragged the cream of the best legs in African football, including a sprinkling of European players (active and retired) to Lagos for his testimonial match to mark 17 years in international football.
Four-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o, Rigobert Song, Stephane Mbia and Jean Makoun (Cameroon), Michael Essien, Samuel Ossei Kuffour and Sulley Muntari (Ghana), Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Benjani Mwaruwaru (Zimbabwe), George Boateng (Holland) Kalilou Fadiga (Senegal), Emmanuel Eboue (Cote d'Ivoire), and a motley crowd of celebrated Nigerian stars like Austin' Jay Jay ' Okocha, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Peter Rufai, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Taye Taiwo and the Dche brothers (Ikechukwu and Kalu) were on hand to feature in the Super Eagles All Stars against Friends of Kanu match.
Never had a testimonial for a Nigerian player attracted a gathering of this quality, and as a bonus organisers of the event allowed Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to captain the Super Eagles All Stars. The governor showed he is as skilled with his feet as he is with his politics as he played upfront alongside Kanu and Ikechukwu Uche in dazzling style.
Midway through the first half, midfielder Kalu Uche worked a clever one-two with Kanu on the edge of the Friends of Kanu area, allowing the latter to score the opening goal. Panning through the terraces, excited fans waved banners bearing different inscriptions like 'King Kanu', 'Who will be like Kanu?' and 'Kanu is ourlegend - we wi 11 always love you'. Even a second goal scored by the talented Ikechukwu U che for the All S tars just before the end of the first half failed to draw attention away from the man fondly called ' Papilo' by his fans.
Kanu, now in the colours of the Friends of Kanu team, returns in the second half, but Ikechukwu Uche, obviously in his elements on this cold evening, notched a second. At last the final whistle blows. The score is 3-1 and Super Eagles All Stars are winners.
The gangling 6ft 5 Kanu embraces players on both sides one after the other, totally lit up. Then he gestures to the fans, first clenching his fist and then opening wide his arms and blowing kisses.
Not so long ago, Kanu was the poor boy from Owerri in lmo State, the southeast of Nigeria, whose rise to stardom looked like being halted by serious health problems. Now he is the king receiving not just tributes but total adulation.
'Kanu Nwankwo is a great son of Nigeria and we are all proud of his contributions to the game in Nigeria and the world over, ' declared Governor Fashola.
Johannes Bonfrere, the Dutch coach who made Kanu captain ofthe historic Nigerian team to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, added: 'He was very good on and off the field. Kanu was also a very good leader and never had any problems with anybody. It's a pity he is quitting now. He was magic.'
For Eto'o, 'Kanu is without a doubt the most successful and talented footballer I have ever seen on the field. ' While Togo's Adebayor, described Kanu as his football idol, saying, '1 moulded my career in his image, and he is still my inspiration and hero as a footballer.'
There is no debate in Nigeria that Kanu, who won 86 caps for the Super Eagles, is the greatest player the country has ever produced. His plaudits are numerous - Premier League shield with lwuanyanwu Nationale, a Champions League triumph and three First Division titles with Ajax Amsterdam, a UEFA Cup medal with Inter Milan, two Premier League and two FA Cup crowns with Arsenal, another FA Cup win with Portsmouth, an Olympic gold medal, two African F ootballer of the Year awards and the small matter of a FIFA Under-l 7 World Cup win in 1993.
But the world might have been denied seeing Kanu's full potential when he was diagnosed with a heart disorder. Soon after returning from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he underwent surgery to replace an aortic valve and did not get his career back on track until February 1999 when he was given a lifeline by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Kanu 's near-death experience led to his founding the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer heart defects.
'Kanu Heart Foundation,' its management told NewsAfrica, 'has realised the impossible for families in over 300 homes where a child, brother, father, mother, uncle, sister and relations have benefited from this noble cause within and outside Nigeria. Many still hope and the waiting patients list of over 1000 is a priority.'
Fashola said, 'The Kanu Heart Foundation is a great public initiative, and Kanu is an ambassador for change who has addressed an area which we as government may not have focused very well on.'
The only honours missing in Kanu's collection are the African Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup winning medals, but the 34-year-old, whose retirement from international duty has put paid to any thought of such honours, fmds solace in his humanitarian project.
'The most important gold I'm winning now is to save the lives of those who have heart problems,' he declared. 'If! do that, I have won the African Nations Cup and the World Cup put together.
He added, 'I quit because I feel I can't be there forever. I believe it is time for me to bow out. I've played my part and I enjoyed doing it.'
People wonder about the inspiration behind Kanu's exemplary soccer career. 'First I believe in God and I also believe in myself,' said Kanu. 'I have that belief that Kanu is the best, so in anything I do I try to be the best and do my best. I don't look back, I always learn from my mistakes. No matter what anybody can say about Kanu, I always believe Kanu is the best.
'The most important thing is to know what you are doing and be disciplined. And don't let whatever you are doing get into your head.
Discipline is important, if you don't have it you are not going to go far.'
Kanu, who in May 1994 made his full international debut for Nigeria in an international friendly against Sweden, described Nigeria's triumph in the Atlanta Olympics as his finest moment in national colours.
'Winning Olympic gold in Atlanta was the highlight of my international career. Nobody gave us a chance; nobody thought we could make anything out of the Olympics.
'We went to the Olympics calling ourselves the Dream Team, and the Europeans and South Americans laughed at us. They said how could a team from Africa call themselves the Dream Team. But we showed them the stuff Africans are made of. I will forever cherish that moment.'
It was uncertain whether Kanu's contract with English championship side Portsmouth would be extended at the time of filing this report, though there were reports that he could tum up for a franchise in the soon-to-be-Iaunched Premier League Soccer (PLS) in India.
What looks certain is that age is fast catching up with him. Has he ever thought about taking up coaching? 'Coaching is a good idea, but not every player succeeds as a coach. I think the pressure would be too much for me,' he said.
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