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Ogenyi Onazi: Possibly the Best Young Player You Haven’t Heard of Yet
Published: May 17, 2013
While I could have chosen one of a number of more obscure players to report on in this piece, I felt that the claims of the youngster Onazi, as well as the early strides he has already taken in the game, make him an ideal subject for this work.
While Onazi was a key player in Nigeria’s recent Africa Cup of Nations victory, this was not the first time that the 20-year-old has been brought to the public’s attention. In fact, few players have been raised and developed with such expectation and anticipation as Onazi. His progress has long been a subtle narrative for Nigerians.
In 2008, influential pastor T.B. Joshua, a famous televangelist, minister and healer, founded his own football team My People F.C.
Joshua’s intention was to use the club as a philanthropic vehicle for keeping the unemployed youth from the streets, giving young people a purpose and direction and for allowing children to appreciate the many benefits of sport.
The non-profit enterprise has an overtly Christian message, and following its much-publicised origins, gained a major following in Nigeria after some impressive early victories. Games against the national youth teams and some established Premier League sides gave the club the momentum to recruit and grow.
Its early successes attracted the attention of Swedish side Bodens BK. The team were so impressed with Joshua’s approach, as well as some of the young talent on show, that they offered to give a platform to some of My People’s most promising players.
Following this, Onazi and his compatriot Sani Emmanuel were selected for the Nigerian U17 team. Before too long they both earned moves to Europe, and to Italian giants Lazio.
Initially, I would argue that Sani was the m...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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