OK. I'm probably like the only person who cares about Kanu but...

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

World stars invited to Kanu testimonial

 

Posted: 2011-06-06 15:19

A number of stars and legends have been invited to play in the long-awaited testimonial match for Nigerian star Kanu, to be played in Lagos, Nigeria, on Saturday.

Media reports in West Africa confirm that Ghanaian stars Michael Essien (Chelsea), Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) and Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan) are to be at the match.

They will rub shoulders with a legion of past and current global icons of the game, including Senegalese footballer El Hadji Diouf (Glasgow Celtic), Cameroon's Samuel Eto (Inter Milan) and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, on-loan to Real Madrid).

South Africans Aaron Mokoena (Portmouth) and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs) are also expected to play.

Essien is expected to dash straight to the airport after the last whistle in order to make the flight to Paris, France, where he will attend the wedding of his Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba.

Drogba's Ivory Coast teammates Yaya and Kolo Toure (Manchester City) have both confirmed that they will make the trip to the Nigerian capital.

Zambia legend and 2010 World Cup Ambassador Kalusha Bwalya has been included in the Southern African contingent.

A large representation is expected from Holland, with the De Boer twins, Frank and Ronald, expected, along with the legendary Frank Rijkaard and Patrick Kluivert.

They were, along with Kanu, all members of the victorious Ajax Amsterdam side that dazzled all the way to European glory in 1995.

Ex-Chelsea goal-poacher Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and former World, Europe and African Footballer of the Year George Weah are also on the star-studded roster for the match, to honour one of Africa's best-ever football exports.

FullCircle Sport

Sauce.

Other stars expected to play include: Peter Odemwingie, Clarence Seedorf, and David James according to the testimonial's (really low-budget looking) website. In true Nigerian fashion I have no idea what time the testimonial is supposed to start, it's not listed on the website or anywhere, but anyway all you need to know is that it won't start on time, and cross your fingers that there will be streams.

For anyone who doesn't know Kanu, I always was told he was the most decorated African player of all time, but now Eto'o may have surpassed him. Either way, a list of his numerous accomplishments for club and country. He is also the most capped Nigerian NT player.

His achievements: (via Wikipedia, yeah I know, but I'm lazy.)

Honours

Club

Iwuanyanwu Nationale

• Nigerian Premier League: 1992–93

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
• UEFA Champions League: 1994–95
• UEFA Super Cup: 1995
• Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Internazionale

• UEFA Cup: 1997–98

Arsenal

• Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04
• FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03
• FA Community Shield: 1999

Portsmouth

• FA Cup: 2007–08

Nigeria

• FIFA U-17 World Cup: 1993
• Olympic Gold Medal: 1996

Individual

• African Footballer of the Year: 1996, 1999
• BBC African Footballer of the Year: 1997, 1999

also there are like no tags that apply to this post. :( none for nt: nigeria. nothing for gyan, nothing for peter odemwingie even?

Comments

[crouchea.livejournal.com]

Aw, that is lovely! Ess conducted a peace match recently from the sounds of it, it was a total success. Drogba, Malouda and Cole all scored!
(http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z317/RobbenRaccoon/footie/?action=view&current=africa.png)

I love Ess, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and the Toures, so here's hoping this is a good one!

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

lol i was sad africa lost the peace match (also kind of an apt metaphor), but i also didn't get to watch any. the laughter in that pic is adorable!

i hope they just have fun, and i get to somehow watch it.

[fannylatte.livejournal.com]

I care! He is an amazing talented player/Nigerian! It is so awesome how loads of African players are going to play the match, it is gonna be so fun.

[fannylatte.livejournal.com]

huh why are these people hated? /is clueless

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

LOL i'm glad he's brazil famous!!! even though it's hatred.

[cojos-revenge.livejournal.com]

Mexico is like that too.

[tonstant-weader.livejournal.com]

AWWWWW! AND MY FLAWWWWWLESS CHELSEA BOYS ARE THERE :']

[fannylatte.livejournal.com]

wait what? Drogba is getting married? I thought he already was?

[tonstant-weader.livejournal.com]

He's getting re-married to his same wife. And then I'm assuming a second honeymoon. :3

[tonstant-weader.livejournal.com]

You should just tag it with all of the most awesome tags to make up for the oversight.

[fannylatte.livejournal.com]

Peter Odemwingie is awesome. I dunno what the drama is with him and the Nigerian NT tho...

(http://tinypic.com?ref=ivbk7n)

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

it was that he left training early without permission. then he went on a twitter rampage about the coach. :\ so he was left out for the last 2 matches. he's an amazing player, but nigeria has had problems with discipline before so siasia is trying to set a new standard. i love odemwingie, but he has to get with the program.

hopefully they'll sort it out and he'll be back. especially for the friendly against ghana because i'll die if we lose.

[ultra-obscene84.livejournal.com]

Mmm Odemwingie. He is he best thing that ever happened to West Brom tbh.

[laacrima.livejournal.com]

lol I had no idea Drogba was even married, let alone getting re-married.

:**** My bb

[laacrima.livejournal.com]

OIC. I googled it.

He's getting remarried because when he originally married his wife, they were really young and had no money so it was just a small wedding and I guess he wants to have a lavish celebration~ this time around because he said he feels like he owes that to her or something

:'3

[laacrima.livejournal.com]

and lol Kanu. My grandfather loves you. I think he has shirt framed up somewhere.

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

your grandfather has flawless taste!

[partipo.livejournal.com]

I fucking love Kanu. Total class act. I was really impressed that he stuck around at Portsmouth after they went down.

I'm pretty happy the de Boer brothers are making the trip out. I kind of hope Marc Overmars makes an appearance too - he played years with Kanu at Ajax and Arsenal.

[mila-casillas.livejournal.com]

Kanu! My dad loved him and I did too even though I barely understood football back then.

"In true Nigerian fashion I have no idea what time the testimonial is supposed to start, it's not listed on the website or anywhere, but anyway all you need to know is that it won't start on time, and cross your fingers that there will be streams."

I laughed so hard. I remember during the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999 we lost electricity during one of the matches... I miss you Nigeria!!

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

LOL last time i was in nigeria there was no light on v.i. for TWO WEEKS. at christmas! for shame. and isn't that the u-20 iker won? :333

[leetje.livejournal.com]

KANU!!!! He was one of my heroes when I was a little girl and he played at Ajax <333

[lady-teazle.livejournal.com]

How could I forget Kanu? :) I got to see the Nigerians in the 1996 Olympics. I hope there will be a stream of this game; if I can find time to watch it I will. What a fantastic line-up of players!

[kurai007.livejournal.com]

"but anyway all you need to know is that it won't start on time"

omg in true Nigerian fashion, I can't
I love it

this post is beautiful

ilu my fellow Naija girl

[ttentten.livejournal.com]

mo nife e too!

[sean-haz-moobz.livejournal.com]

Kanu jumping over Wiltord. one of my very first memories as Gooner

[partipo.livejournal.com]

i have this season on dvd. such a good year. remember that? winning things?