Opinions differ on Kanu’s relevance

Nwankwo Kanu remains one of the most accomplished footballers to have emerged from Africa but his desire to play a significant role at next year's World Cup in South Africa leaves much to worry about.

Kanu was more of a non-playing captain during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers after making just two starts and four substitute appearances in the 12 games the national team played during the campaign. In fact, Papilo, as he is fondly called, accounted for only 252 minutes out of the 1080minutes of normal time that our team spent on the football pitch in the course of the campaign. And it has been a similar scorecard for our skipper at his club after making just two starts and seven substitute appearances in the English Premier League for Portsmouth this season, scoring once- during his team's 4-0 drubbing of Stoke City in the Carling Cup last month. Last season he made just five starts and 20 substitute appearances all season.

Kanu made public his intention to play in South Africa but that declaration has drawn mixed reactions among football followers across Nigeria. Some believe the former Arsenal star should be made to earn his place rather than mouth a declaration on what is expected to be the decision of the team's technical crew.

"For me what is most important is for us to present any team that will give Nigeria a very good representation at the World Cup next year. We will have to see over the period before the competition; if his form improves I don't see why he shouldn't lead the team", says Dudu Orumen, a former technical committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

"After all Roger Milla played at a much older age during the 1990 edition and made a very big impact to help Cameroon reach the quarter finals of the competition.

"However, I have to say that I would have retired Kanu two years ago if it was up to me because I believe that was when we had seen his best. I believe we need a vibrant, more energetic and productive players, and I don't think Kanu can offer us any of that now," Orumen added.

Orumen's sentiments were shared by a former Super Eagles winger Dimeji Lawal who believes our World Cup players must earn their place.

"It is the dream of every player to be at the World Cup but we need to ensure that we put our best players who have shown they deserve their place at that level and we can only do well if we show a very good organisation in preparing for these two competitions," Lawal said.

But two other former national team stars argued that Kanu deserves to be in the team after being involved in the qualifying campaign.

"I don't think he should be left out of the team now. He has been with the team as the leader and also played his part in our qualification for the World Cup. Sometimes you do have non-playing captain who still make use of his experience to motivate younger players and I honestly think Kanu is more of that now," said Henry Nwosu.

"If he is hoping to retire after playing at the World Cup, I think we should just use that to honour him by allowing him to captain the team to South Africa. That will be a good way to say goodbye after playing for so long in the national team," Nwosu submitted.

Thompson Oliha who was in the Eagles squad to the 1994 World Cup in the United States Kanu's influence on the Eagles could be more than what he offers on the pitch.

"May be he offers a big influence in the dressing room and that is also important for the team to succeed. When you look at the composition of the current Eagles, I believe Kanu's experience will be needed in South Africa. Kanu's case is not a problem now; I think what we should be looking at is putting up a good organisation to ensure we do well at the World Cup," Oliha said.

History repeating itself

Stephen Keshi who captained the Super Eagles to our maiden appearance at the 1994 World Cup sat out our opening two games against Bulgaria and Argentina before featuring in the team's last group game against Greece in Boston.

Eight years later, Coach Adegboye Onigbinde took Mutiu Adepoju to the 2002 World Cup and the player did not play a single game before the Eagles' elimination in the first round.