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| Sunday Oliseh and Taribo West Pix: By Arukaino Umukoro |
On Friday,
September 28, at the Soccerex Seminar Lagos, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, I met
former Super Eagles defender and rock of Gibraltar, Taribo West, now turned
pastor. I shook hands with him and joked "Pastor, I would like a prayer of
blessings, sir,” He laughed “You’re blessed,” he said with a hand gesture as if
he were the Pope. Of course
In case you
don’t remember, West, also then famous for his crazy hairdos - including one
half of a dreadlock painted in Nigeria’s colours green white green, was part of
the golden generation of Super Eagles that won the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations
that rose up to become the best entertaining side at the USA 1994 World Cup. At
that time the Eagles were adjudged by FIFA as the fifth best side in the world.
West was also part of the all-conquering Dream Team that swept aside South
American giants, Brazil and Argentina to win the Atlanta 1996 Olympic football
gold, the first time for an African country.
Okay. Let’s cut
the chase.
A few minutes
later, Sunday Oliseh walked out of the Soccerex meeting hall where he was
drilled with questions by Osasu Obayuiwana, one of Africa’s leading football
journalists, and Associate Editor of NewAfrican
magazine. And in case you didn’t know, Oliseh, like West, was also part of
the golden generation of the 1994 Nations’ Cup and 1996 Olympic gold winning
team. Oliseh aslo scored that beauty of a rocket in the 78 minutes to clinch a
memorable 3-2 victory against Spain, now European and World Champions, at the
France 1998 World Cup.
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| Oliseh and West in conversation. Pix: By Arukaino Umukoro |
Just as Oliseh
came out, he met West at the door. On sighting West who had his back to Oliseh
and was caught up in conversation with notable names that had gathered around
him. Oliseh gave him a playful nudge from behind. And when West turned round to
see who it was, it became two golden summers again, 1994 and 1996. Time seemed
to pause as people around watched in delight as they gave each other repeated bear hugs that lingered in the memory
and banter like best friends. They chatted for a while. Like during their
Eagles’ heydays, it was beautiful to watch them play like long lost friends.
Oliseh, the
classy and hugely-talented midfielder. Taribo West, the defender
extraordinaire. Both were integral part of a Super Eagles generation that was
bleeding with class everywhere. Indeed, they were a golden generation. It was
great meeting them both. They were golden moments with a touch of impressive
history.
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