Looking into the future through the class of 2009

The FIFA underage competitions; U-17 and U-20 cadet championships were designed to bring to the fore young football talents from all the countries and the first U-20 championship was staged in Tunisia in 1977 where Diego Maradona came to the attention of the world. In other championships, there have been a lot of talents discovered with Nigeria not an exception.

The graduates

We have seen the likes of Xavi, Sergio Aguerro, Landon Donovan, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Cesc Fabregas, Anderson, Ronaldinho, Gabriel Milito, Sebastian Deisler, Sebastian Kehl, Xavi, Iker Casillas, Seydou Keita, Laryea Kingston, Michael Essien, Fernando Gago, and many more.

Through the U-17 championships, Nigeria has had the likes of Jonathan Akpoborie and Nduka Ugbade from the 1985 set; they both went on to represent Nigeria at the senior level. Kanu Nwankwo has been the torch bearer of these Nigerian graduates going on to be mentioned in the same breath with some of the world's best. Recently, we have had a lot of players like Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi, and Taye Taiwo, amongst others, graduating from the U-20 side to the senior team.

Class of 2009

Our emphasis is on the class of 2009 and two players stand out in the current squad but that doesn't mean the others aren't good footballers. Ramon Azeez, the defensive midfielder and super-sub, Sani Emmanuel have shown that extra quality. Both players have shown in the matches played that they possess that extra that separates the men from the boys.

Ramon Azeez

This boy possesses all the qualities of the modern day defensive midfielder now aptly called the holding midfielder. He enjoys tackling, which is the fundamental ingredient for being a defensive midfielder. He loves to break up opponent's play and he also adds the attacking dimension to his game which has seen him playing a number of shots.

He got it right against Korea when his fierce shot proved too hot to handle for the Korean goalkeeper.

Sani Emmanuel

Emmanuel has played largely as an impact substitute and has caught the eye with his goal sense. He reminds one of Italy's Fillipo Inzaghi, who has a reputation as a goal scorer and nothing else. Inzaghi is almost a useless player out of the opponent's box but a predator par excellence inside it. Emmanuel has all the qualities to be a top scorer too. His positional instinct is rare and well-honed as he is almost always at the right places to take a shot. This attribute cannot be taught, he has that inborn ability.

The next step

Azeez is 5ft 7" tall and at that height, he could be at a disadvantage, playing against taller opponents. He needs to spend the next few years learning how to distribute the ball and garner tactical awareness which would sharpen his ability to read the opponents' game so much so that he will know where the next probing pass will come from. He looks determined and humble enough to be taught.

Emmanuel needs to get into a Dutch club where he could become the finished product in a few years. He also needs to add some beef to his stature so that he can help in holding up play and bringing his colleagues into play.

Other players not mentioned could become big with, the most important thing, proper management. They should be wary of football agents, who do not help football careers but are harbingers of ruin.