By Femi AtoyebiPortsmouth coach Avram Grant will be looking to prevent his former club Chelsea from completing a historic FA Cup and Premier League double on Saturday when both teams meet at the Wembley Stadium in the final of the English FA Cup.
As Grants prepares to take revenge on the club that sacked him after taking it to its first ever Champions League final in 2008, a stage is also being set for Super Eagles captain Kanu Nwankwo to have another shot at greatness, even if it does not guarantee Europa League competition next season.
It is not the first time that Kanu is being involved in major cup final in club competition. On his way to becoming Africa‘s most decorated player, Kanu won the Dutch Eredivisie title with Ajax in 1995 and 1996, and the Champions League in 1995 as well as the season‘s Super Cup. Although his stay with Inter Milan was not so successful because of heart surgery, he was part of the team that won the UEFA Cup in 1998.
With his career revived at Arsenal by Arsene Wenger, Kanu won the English league twice in 2002 and 2004, and the FA Cup in 2002 and 2003. His illustrious career took a dip when he sank with West Brom to the Championship, scoring nine times in 58 appearances.
While successes with club did not translate to victory with the national team, there were calls from within that he should exit the international stage especially since he was no longer playing prominent role or regularly for his club, but Kanu responded with another FA Cup victory in 2008.
It was a season blighted by Premier League goal drought but he became a hero when his goal took Portsmouth to the final of the FA Cup. He also scored the only goal in the final against Cardiff to win his third FA Cup title in England.
There were questions about his inclusion in the Eagles World Cup provisional list submitted by coach Lars Lagerback. In a career spanning over 19 years, a status built beyond football because of charity works, and a record that stands out in African football, Kanu is fast approaching the twilight of his career. At 34, it is unlikely that he will attend another World Cup as a player in four years time.
This is why today‘s FA Cup final against Chelsea is an important moment for Kanu. The World Cup is an unpredictable competition for great teams, and for a lightweight side like the today‘s Super Eagles of Nigeria, winning it is out of the question; not with the shoddy preparation the team is having.
Today, Kanu has the opportunity to walk tall again by winning the hearts of the Portsmouth supporters that was made bitter by the relegation of the club long before the season ended. It was the second time Kanu would go down with a club in England but the FA Cup offers another opportunity to enter the good side of the club‘s history; one that may never come again for the lanky player.
Odds before him
Chelsea won the league on the last day of the season after beating Wigan 8-0 on Sunday. It was a grand performance that capped a splendid run on the domestic scene but one that also has its dark side.
The title is not enough for coach Carlos Ancelotti because his first season in charge of the team was stained by the club‘s former coach Jose Mourinho who led Inter Milan to knock Chelsea out of the Champions League. Mourinho did it in great fashion by beating Chelsea 1-0 at the Stamford Bridge, having also won the first leg 2-1 at San Siro Stadium.
Chelsea is chasing it first doubles on the domestic scene and Ancelotti will be desperate to deliver the title to confirm his class among the best coaches in the game. Chelsea is no doubt a formidable side while its opponent is a lowly relegated club but with a coach and players who want to make a final impression.
Didier Drogba has had a good season with the Blues this term and one of his memorable moments was against Portsmouth at Fratton Park, where the Ivorien scored twice.
Inspiration
Chelsea is favourite to win the cup but Kanu and teammates can draw lots of inspiration from their victory over Champions League-place winning Tottenham in the semi final.
It seemed Portsmouth had risen from the crypt to play the semifinal match after its drop from the Premier League had been confirmed. It was a class act without blemish as Grant‘s men won 2-0 at White Hart Lane. Ironically, it was a win achieved against former Portsmouth coach Harry Redknapp, who led the club to FA Cup victory in 2008. Such performance is what Grant needs from his players today against his former club.
If fielded
If Kanu is selected to play by the coach, the striker would be looking forward to reliving his performance against Chelsea in 1999. As Arsenal player, the Nigerian captain score three times in 15 minutes (75th, 83rd and 90th) to give his team 3-2 victory over the Blues.
Kanu had already achieved a cult popularity at the former Arsenal Stadium in Highbury but the goals against his clubs enemy elevated him to a legendary status.
Source: Punch Nigeria Newspaper
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