By Fredrick Nadduli,
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, began exporting football players to more elite leagues in Europe and the Americas in the early 80s.
Players of the caliber of Moses Kpako, Peter Rufai, Stephen Keshi et al went to play in the hitherto unexplored virgin territories of Europe, opening the way for many Africans who have since followed that trail.
In Kenya, the trend is only just catching up, following in the footsteps of Mike Okoth Origi who is the doyen of professional footballers in Europe, starting his journey in modest Belgium.
LONG WINDING ROAD
History will aptly tell you that many successful West African nations benefitted immensely from this exodus, footballers joining top and nondescript leagues across Europe, from Romania and Poland in the east to France and Germany in the west.
What made these countries tick was the sheer number of players that left to seek greener pastures.
So massive were the numbers that coaches found it extremely difficult to come up with squad selections, owing to the many talented footballers at their disposal.
There were talent sacks bursting in the seams. Nigeria for instance had at one time more than seventy top professionals littered all over Europe’s major leagues, making selection a headache for then Super Eagles coaching team of Clemens Westerhof, Joe Bonfrere, Christian Chukwu and Bitrus Bewarang.
The trickle down effects were Nigeria’s sublime showing at the World Cup in the USA 94 and the Olympics triumph in Atlanta 96. Of the 23 members of the team at the World cup, only one player; Isaac Semitoje, was not based in Europe. Players fought hard to catch the eye of national team selectors.
While many players turning out for top foreign sides is a headache some African coaches would gladly die for, owing to the stiff competition for places such dilemmas come with, in countries like Kenya, it is a total contrast, where players strutting their stuff in meaningful leagues can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Which presents countries like this with the big problem of complacency and gargantuan egos on the part of the few professionals available from the overseas contingent.
Kenya’s current biggest export to Europe and captain of the national team Victor Wanyama, whether by design or default, has two sides to his game that often rubs local fans the wrong way.
Many a time the Wanyama you see playing for his club in England aint the same midfielder you watch turning out for the Harambee Stars.
Public opinion suggests complacency is hugely a factor at play here, with the maestro well aware there is very little, if any, in terms of competition to knock him off his high perch. Sadly, he and other pros do not give their all when donning the coveted national team jersey.
LEARN FROM THE BEST
What made those Nigerians and other West Africans tick was the competition for places in the national set up.
Players sharpened their fellow professional players in a serious and deadly but friendly rivalry for the limited positions available.
For every player you saw on the pitch, there were at least three more busily stabbing him for the position.
If perhaps some of these Kenyan professionals get fatigued by the air miles they choke up in the line of national duty, the reasonable thing to do is to stick with their illustrious overseas clubs and create room for hungry locals itching to get off the mark. Lest it escapes our mind, some of these big egos are so difficult to tame.
