Football fans in Ebonyi on Sunday celebrated the birthday of former Nigerian international and Arsenal legend, Nwankwo Kanu.The former Super Eagles skipper, turned 45 on Sunday.
The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club of Owerri’s talisman, scored 13 goals for Nigeria in an enviable career that spanned from 1994 to 2010.
Kanu is a recipient of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), an Olympic Games football gold medalist and had illustrious club careers with Ajax Amsterdam of Holland, Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion of England.
“Kanu won two African Footballer of the Year awards, an AFCON silver medal; four AFCON bronze medals among other honours.
“He was the first Nigerian, alongside Finidi George to win the prestigious UEFA champions league trophy with Ajax in 1995,” said Onele.
“Kanu played 197 times for Arsenal, scoring 44 goals and was part of the club’s invincible team that did not lose any match in the 2003-04 EPL season.
“He was instrumental in endearing Arsenal to millions of Nigerian soccer fans, despite later dropping to lowly-rated clubs such as Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion,” Okoro said.
“Kanu, Augustine J.J. Okocha, among other ex-internationals are still financially stable as many ex-internationals have become bankrupt.
“Kanu remembered that there was life after retirement, despite his celebrity status which was explored to the fullest,” said Ogoh.
“I watched Kanu address youths during the #END SARS Summit, organised by the Ebonyi State Government in January and I was awed by his inspirational talks.
“Kanu advised youths to consider their financial backgrounds in their activities and be engaged positively for societal benefit,” Obi said.
NAN
