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My affair with Eagles
not yet over
By FREDRICK EFOLEE
Monday,
April 2, 2007
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•Celestine
Babayaro
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Newcastle defender, Celestine Babayaro,
has sensationally said that he has not turned his back against Nigeria, as he
has stated that he would be ready to honour Super Eagles’ subsequent invitations
in future.
With this statement, the Newcastle's row with Nigeria over
the unavailability of the left fullback looks to have reached an amicable conclusion.
Recently,
the Magpies sent a medical certificate from the club’s doctor to the Nigeria
Football Association (NFA) to inform Coach Berti Vogts that Babayaro was injured
and would not be available for the last Nations Cup qualifier in Abeokuta.
However,
the NFA, recalling the fact that the defender has not played for Nigeria for some
years now, were annoyed with the development, and so, demanded that the 28-year-old
should come to Nigeria for further checks. But after Babayaro himself signalled
his intention to play for his country again, communication between the NFA and
the Tyneside seemed to have turned positive once more.
"Having studied
the situation, we have resolved not to take any action against Babayaro,"
said an official of the NFA.
Meanwhile, Obafemi Martins, who teamed-up
with Babayaro in Newcastle, has been backed to become a Premiership legend. After
a stuttering start to life in the North East, Martins has hit 10 goals in 25 Premiership
appearances for the Magpies and six in other competitions.
Having spent
the last five years in English football with Everton, Nigeria's assistant captain,
Joseph Yobo knows exactly what it takes to become a success at the highest level
and thinks that the Newcastle's £10million man has all the credentials to
become a household name at the long run.
"Everything is possible. Martins
is young and this is just his first year in the Premiership," said Yobo.
"Alan
Shearer was a legend and if Martins keeps doing what he is doing, he will be a
legend too.
"In the beginning, he went a few games without scoring
and people started having doubts. But it happens to every player, and I believed
he would come through as the Newcastle’s manager (Glenn Roeder) trusted
him and kept faith with him. I am happy he did because Martins is a good quality.
"Right
now, he's doing great and has become one of the most-feared strikers in the Premiership.
As a defender, if you are playing against Martins, you will know that you are
in for a game because you are playing against a great striker. If you give him
an inch, he scores."
In another development, one of Martins' younger
teammates, Paul Huntington, is on the verge of signing a contract, which will
tie him to St James' Park until 2010. |
