Last Eagles train for Martins

Great footballers never rely on their talent, they achieve their enviable status because they remain committed to their love for the game.

This love drives their passion and insatiable hunger for success. Indeed some of them are not the most endowed footballer in terms of talents, but their positive attitude towards success sailed them through challenges.

Former AC Milan and Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti recalls of Italian legend, Pipo Inzaghi, in his autobigraphy, The Beautiful Games of an Ordinary Genius: “Pipo is something of an animal. If I think of the perfect striker, he’s certainly not the first one to come to mind. Still inside the penalty area, no player on earth can compete with him.” Despite his limitations, Ancelotti regarded Inzaghi as the striker who made him great, having coached the player both at Juventus and AC Milan. Inzaghi played until his retirement last year at 37.

Obafemi Martins is expected to return to the Super Eagles against Kenya today in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Calabar, this time not as a key figure, but as a man who has to prove his relevance. Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi revealed he dropped Osaze and Martins from the African Cup of Nations squad because he wanted players with the right attitude.

Quality

Make no mistake, Martins is not one of those average talents but it is sad how quickly things have gone quietly for a player once regarded as one of the most promising young strikers in Europe. Oba was rated only second to Wayne Rooney following his impressive run while at Inter Milan in the 2004/2005 season. That run included 11 goals in 16 Serie A starts and five goals in five UEFA Champions League starts, finishing the season with 22 goals in 45 games, in all competitions.

He had virtually everything naturally: Pace, aggression and power.  Martins’ shooting strength rubbished the orthodox weaker foot impression as the Nigeria international is supremely comfortable blasting the ball with both feet. His 5ft 7 height would not get a customary nod for a striker prolific in the air, yet he could easily be described as a small man with springs beneath his heels.

Not much excitement greeted his move to La Liga side, Levante because Martins had become a regular journeyman whose adventures are no longer about what he has to offer the game as a professional, but more about doing something for himself.  Yet he was decent with nine goals in 22 games before losing interest again and finding Yankee move more attractive. Martins tweeted after joining Seattle Sounders, his new club:  “I have just signed for Sounders FC, a big step in my career.”

Discipline

Martins has had disciplinary problems which have blighted his career. He angered Newcastle manager Alan Shearer after making a late phone call to claim a groin problem would not allow him play, just a few hours before an English Premier League in April 2009. The forward who had a loan spell at Birmingham, was also forced to train with Rubin Kazan reserves while playing for the Russian club and eventually had his contract terminated.

He had disciplinary hitches at the national team level too. Obagoal, as fondly called by fans, snubbed an international friendly in London in February 2007, only to reveal later that he had travelled to Lagos to visit his sick mother. Though he later apologised to coach Austin Eguavoen. He almost missed the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after the then Nigeria handler Lars Lagerback reportedly expressed concern over his attitude. Martins eventually made the trip after injury knocked out Victor Anichebe who impressed the Swedish coach instead.

His 18 goals in 37 international appearances is a decent record but he could easily have done better. Nigerians were sure he had the potential of becoming the country’s best striker in history. For many then, the man destined to dethrone Rashidi Yekini had arrived following his competitive debut with a brace against Rwanda in 2004.

 Martins has an impressive tally of 10 goals in nine World Cup qualifiers (both for 2006 and 2010 campaign) he had featured for Nigeria, none of which ended in defeat-seven wins. So he is back on familiar terrain.

Nomadic

He made a £10million move from Inter Milan to Newcastle United in August 2006, when the then Inter boss Roberto Mancini signed the duo of Hernan Crespo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. On a weekly wage of around £60,000, Martins rewarded the Magpies with 17 goals in his first season and managed 18 goals in his two subsequent seasons at the club. He left the Tyneside for Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg in a reported £9million deal following the English side’s relegation at the end of the 2008/2009 season. Martins spent only a season in Germany before moving Rubin Kazan for whom he made only 17 appearances.

Truly Martins has been held back by injuries on occasions, but many would feel he has fallen short of expectations. Now that Keshi has handed him another chance to be part of the African champions’ quest for the next Mundial, the onus is on him to prove he is not a spent force.

 His move to Sounders in the Major League Soccer won’t however be the most convincing argument, neither would a great performance against Kenya suffice. He must do more on his attitude to keep his place in the team. Brazil 2014 is here, best of luck Martins.