A handful of players going to the FIFA World Cup 2014 to represent Africa had stints in South Africa’s PSL and will give locals fans something to smile about. Emmanuele Emenike, Eyong Enoh and Siaka Tiene all used the National Soccer League in South Africa as a springboard to further their careers in Europe while Mikel Obi’s brief time in Mzansi has long been debated. Super Eagles striker Emenike has spearheaded Nigeria’s attack during their successful 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign and made his presence known when Nigeria won the Africa cup of Nations in South Africa during January/February this year. Click here for Nigeria and Emenike Emenike spent time at FC Cape Town in South Africa’s First Division (second tier) just prior to his move to Europe. This was back in 2008/09 and without even touching a ball in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, the powerful Nigerian was off to Turkey, a transfer arranged by FC Cape Town owner Errol Dicks. Emenike moved to Karabukspor and never looked back. He scored goals at will in Turkey before moving to Russia’s Spartak Moscow where the goals continued to flow and he is now back in Turkey with Fenerbahce. Helping Cameroon to reach the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup was midfielder Eyong Enoh, who has quietly built himself into the Cameroon starting line-up ever since he won a move to Ajax Amsterdam. Click here for Eyong and Cameroon It was from PSL outfit Ajax Cape Town that Eyong won a transfer to Holland and he, like Emenike, has never looked back again. A loan move from Amsterdam to Fulham has since materialised, but Eyong is back in Amsterdam now and finding regular first team football hard to come by. While his club career has stalled a little, there is no doubt he will be thrilled at reaching Brazil 2014 with the Indomitable Lions. With over 80 caps for the Ivory Coast national team, Siaka Tiene is a true veteran warrior of the Elephants. The left back has been out of contention in recent games, but is likely to make the trip to Brazil. Click here for Ivory Coast’s moment of glory Tiene is well known to South Africans having starred for Mamelodi Sundowns between 2003 and 2005 before heading to play in France. His time in Ligue 1 has been very successful with stints at Saint Ettiene, Stade Reims, Valenciennes, PSG and his current club Montpellier. Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi, also spent time in South Africa when he trained at Ajax Cape Town during the tenure of Gordon Igesund as coach of the Urban Warriors. His stay in Cape Town remains something of a mystery as one school of thought suggests that Mikel was considered not an ‘Ajax type player’. They will have you believe that Ajax could have kept Mikel and actually let him slip through their fingers. Another school of thought, however, will tell you that Mikel was just parked at Ikamva, Ajax’s headquarters, and was only there for a short while to stay fit. These reports say that Mikel was already on the books of Chelsea. At the time Mikel was facing a European work permit issue and was sent to train with Ajax Cape Town to stay fit. Depending which strand of thought you believe, Mikel was still at Ajax Cape Town and spent some time in South Africa. All four players now have a chance to make their name at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:29:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015