JOHN MIKEL OBI: A CHICK THAT NEVER BECAME A COCK The footballing world at least had another burgeoning talent to look forward to blossoming, or at least so it seemed when back in 2005 at the FIFA U17 Championship, a certain John Michael Obi (now Mikel, no thanks to Nikes printing error) announce himself to the global audience with his supreme skills. His touches were so exquisite he could virtually do anything with the ball, and while the world watched this youngster in awe, Nigerians were particularly thrilled by the fact that there was someone perching on the wings to take over Jay Jay Okochas mantle in the midfield. Nigerian did not win the tournament; losing to Lionel Messis Argentina in the finals, but Mikel won hearts and minds back then. His exploits were so rated in the tournament he was head and shoulders in comparison with the Most Valuable Player (MVP), a certain Lionel Messi. However, after the early promises, their careers have taken different trajectory, while Messi has gone on to become the stand out player of his generation ( winning four consecutive Ballon DOrs), Mikel has steadily threaded a path of footballing obscurity. This could firmly be linked to the career choices they made. Mikel, then with Norwegian club, Lyn Oslo, had a pre contact agreement to join Manchester United, had the European superpowers beckoning. The allure of Abramovics wealth was strong enough a centripetal force to get the youngster sucked into Mourinhos circle of negativity. Chelsea finally secured his signature in a multi million dollar contract, a move that would prove the ultimate death knell for his rising career and profile. The Portuguese tactician, and self-styled Special One, re-engineered and re-programmed Mikel, thrusting him into the heart of Chelsea midfield to understudy Claude Makelele. Thats how far the story goes, and from a brilliant playmaker, whose divine and rare gift was in belonging to that rare genre of footballers whose forte is in seeing spaces before they become apparent, metamorphosed a a dodgy hatchet man, albeit robotic. Mikels re-programming at Chelsea was with special emphasis on lateral and backward module, oftentimes giving rise to the insinuation that he plays his football to align with the earths magnetic pole. Mikels stroking of the ball to the sides and backwards is so diabolical it must have some spiritual connotation. Even the great Makelele scored a few vintage goals for Chelsea, and the fact that Mikel has been an integral member of the playing personnel at the Bridge for a decade without notching a single goal in the Barclays Premier League demonstrates the extent of his failings as a midfielder. It could be argued that for Mikel to survive different regime changes at Chelsea, he must be a special player. Yes, hes a special player in his own right. Mikel at Chelsea reminds one of a certain Garba Lawal, then in the Super Eagles. Hes that rare breed of players to have in a team for a specific job. Whenever such special and specific tasks arise, Mikel is the pawn to fix the leak. This is the very tragedy of his Chelsea career; that a talent walking in tandem with the genius of Lionel Messi, could arise from the ashes of footballing infamy to become that special glue to caress the cracks in his team. Unfortunately, hes fallen precariously short of the role he was ab initio remodeled for in Chelsea. In the last BPL season, returnee Nemanja Matic excelled better as a destroyer for Chelsea, leaving Mikel in limbo. Football, like Jose Mourinho has moved past the Mikel type of straight jacket approach, and little wonder he (Mikel) is now largely seen as a spent force at Chelsea. Hence, his muted transfer to Galatassaray last season. Perhaps it might happen sooner than later. One could speculatively plot the loci of Mikels career in retrospect, had he joined Manchester United. United so much coveted him then that Sir Alex Ferguson would have gradually blooded him into a midfield that had obvious deficiency (one manned centrally by Alan Smith and a slowing Paul Scholes). The corollary is that at the time United beckoned, they had ample space for him in the middle of the pack to develop. Mikels lackluster approach was manifest in Brazil in the Eagles three games. Characterized by lateral and backward passes, he mistakingly foraged forward in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina; finding himself in the opposition eighteen yard box, and suddenly realizing he was at the wrong place, beat a retreat to his more comfort zone of parallelism. Against Argentina, the substitution of Ogenyi Onazi (following a malicious, yet unpunished tackle) exposed Mikels soft and feeble underbelly as a midfielder. Lacking in guile, and without any modicum of creative sparks, the Eagles midfield was overrun by the Argentinians. Mikels ineptitude is a further apt demonstration of the importance of Onazi to the Eagles course. Mikel has consistently underwhelmed starring for the Eagles, and Keshi (or the new man) must demonstrate courage in dropping Nigerias star player. The horizon looks good for the Eagles in the absence of Mikel; defensively, the likes of Mba and Azeez could thrive and offensively, we could tap into the exploits of the U17 winning team. The U17 winning team is one that brims with raw and pristine talent. Nigerians must come to the sudden realization that their prized Mikel is the pseudo playmaker. Mikel is a promise that never was; a chick that never matured to a cock. Albeit by his own machinations!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:34:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015