gamaliel9:
Could it be that Nwakali is a late developer? Because his age mates are already making waves....its like Donnaruma has been in AC Milan for ages...or that he is not getting opportunity to play. There use to be a certain Abreu from Uruguay...panenka specialist...he use to globtrotte...but alaways find himself in national team...i think the biggest club he played was Derpotivo La Coruna in Europe and Boca Juniors in Latin America but he was always in the national team

gamaliel9:
Could it be that Nwakali is a late developer? Because his age mates are already making waves....its like Donnaruma has been in AC Milan for ages...or that he is not getting opportunity to play. There use to be a certain Abreu from Uruguay...panenka specialist...he use to globtrotte...but alaways find himself in national team...i think the biggest club he played was Derpotivo La Coruna in Europe and Boca Juniors in Latin America but he was always in the national team

TheGoodJoe:



Thank you for this. I have seen the cries and campaign of Rohr committing murder by calling Kelz Nwakali and I wonder if it is Kelechi Nwakali getting the heat or Iheanacho. I have seen open attack on the call up of Chidi Nwakali and now Kelechi Nwakali and I wonder why these people can not take a chill pill.

I have hammered on us developing our clearly identified special talents and Kelz Nwakali clearly falls into this category.

Maybe people have forgotten he was a kid spotted when he was too young to play with the U17 team and he later proved the scouts right by leading the next U17 team to glory. I remember calling that we have no like for like replacement for Mikel. I am seeing the calls for other players instead of Nwakali with a host of reasons why they should get picked ahead of Kelz.

The question is simple. Those these people are calling for, are they like for like replacements for Mikel Obi. Keep in mind, Mikel offers an attribute of tying the team together and brings coherency to our play. Mikel is not coming for the trip and he is not getting younger. It is right for the coach to look into a special talent who has the ability of bringing the quality Mikel offers. He showed so much potential in the game against Atlético Madrid. Rohr was in that game and I believed he saw much potential in Kelz Nwakali.

Finito.

tbaba1234:


There was some opposition to the new under 23 league for exactly this reason. Because the second division already had many of the under 23 players especially for the big sides.

Porto B has won the premier league international cup several times. That is essentially an under 23 tournament.

There is no personal gripe with anything. My comments avoid any personal indictments because i simply talk from my experiences and point of view. I do label people 'cry-babies' because i do not agree with them.

komekn:



I am part of this debate, but my perspective is not emotive, sentimental, subjective and or discriminatory.

My position is for an EQUITABLE, SCORE CARD ASSESSMENT BASE ON MERIT , WHICH IS UNDERPINNED BY CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE in your club and or league.

The term SPECIAL TALENT is being thrown around as if its something that is the exclusive preserve of one person to IDENTIFY and RECOGNISE. Rohr is not the person behind the inclusion of Kelechi alone, so stop making assumptions.

The question is raised is what is SPECIAL TALENT, so going back to basics as some seem to have convoluted the discussion, what is special
= exceptional, particular, extra special, unusual, marked, singular, uncommon, notable, noteworthy, remarkable, outstanding, etc. etc. about Kelechi


Putting matter into context of football the context of World football, is Kelechi any of these things in the NOW and HERE , CURRENTLY SPEAKING Talent and special are not constants they either go up or down. Last years talent can be this years failure, such is the nature of football.

I noticed that some have underpinned their deduction of Kelechi Nwakali talent on media reports, which are also fluid and time limited as well. Specifically the Spanish media MARCA which in 2017 had Kelechi in position number 45 -- http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/album/2017/03/26/58d7b20d468aebf6188b459a.html The report was dated early 2017 and was underpinned by Kelechi exploits in the U17. That report by MARCA is no longer tenable its history, of all the players they highlighted some way ahead of Kelechi most are still playing b team football.


So what makes him Kelechi SPECIAL He went to Eredivisie, considering his high billing and expectation calling a spade a spade he failed , then he dropped to the 2nd tier of Dutch football and also failed to make an impression, he is now playing in Porto B, he is now 20 years old. He played in a holiday game against ATM non competitive and did ok. He scored that doesn't mean he was exceptional or outstanding. It is one game that's all , players are judged over a season or at least a few competitive games . Considering the evidence proven and substantiated he is not by any stretch of the imagination SPECIAL TALENT



He was undeservedly called up not by merit to play in a game to give him justification for the SE. The more balanced and pertinent question is if you played Ajagu, Aluko, Ejaria, Onomah, Aneke, Akpan, Ojo, Eze, etc , etc they probably would have done a lot better. However, they were denied OPPORTUNITY.

This happens a lot in football in England some players are denied OPPORTUNITY in preference for their favoured player because of the inducement of self interest i.e. back- hander.

Maybe a few years ago Kelechi won accolades and was rightly considered promising and special talent. But he is 20 years old now and the promises have not been fulfilled and his once special talent is no longer special. There are far better players even younger showing better potential.

I have seen hundreds of players like Kelechi up and down the top academies who cost ten times more even played first team football for EPL clubs. But a few years down the line they are playing non- league and trying to make there way back up.

Which is not a bad thing its better to be playing non league and be outstanding and make your way upwards than growing dust as an old youth with promise playing youth football in the name of Porto B. Porto B will struggle in the Conference North of non league that is how low it is.

charlesemeka85:
brosw you too much, forget sentimental pple here wey no dey gree accept the truth. ejaria is doing big things now in the scottish league and as i type now started against celtic and about to see another 90 minutes of first team football. thats real progression!

komekn:



[s]I am part of this debate, but my perspective is not emotive, sentimental, subjective and or discriminatory.

My position is for an EQUITABLE, SCORE CARD ASSESSMENT BASE ON MERIT , WHICH IS UNDERPINNED BY CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE in your club and or league.

The term SPECIAL TALENT is being thrown around as if its something that is the exclusive preserve of one person to IDENTIFY and RECOGNISE. Rohr is not the person behind the inclusion of Kelechi alone, so stop making assumptions.

The question is raised is what is SPECIAL TALENT, so going back to basics as some seem to have convoluted the discussion, what is special
= exceptional, particular, extra special, unusual, marked, singular, uncommon, notable, noteworthy, remarkable, outstanding, etc. etc. about Kelechi


Putting matter into context of football the context of World football, is Kelechi any of these things in the NOW and HERE , CURRENTLY SPEAKING Talent and special are not constants they either go up or down. Last years talent can be this years failure, such is the nature of football.

I noticed that some have underpinned their deduction of Kelechi Nwakali talent on media reports, which are also fluid and time limited as well. Specifically the Spanish media MARCA which in 2017 had Kelechi in position number 45 -- http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/album/2017/03/26/58d7b20d468aebf6188b459a.html The report was dated early 2017 and was underpinned by Kelechi exploits in the U17. That report by MARCA is no longer tenable its history, of all the players they highlighted some way ahead of Kelechi most are still playing b team football.


So what makes him Kelechi SPECIAL He went to Eredivisie, considering his high billing and expectation calling a spade a spade he failed , then he dropped to the 2nd tier of Dutch football and also failed to make an impression, he is now playing in Porto B, he is now 20 years old. He played in a holiday game against ATM non competitive and did ok. He scored that doesn't mean he was exceptional or outstanding. It is one game that's all , players are judged over a season or at least a few competitive games . Considering the evidence proven and substantiated he is not by any stretch of the imagination SPECIAL TALENT



He was undeservedly called up not by merit to play in a game to give him justification for the SE. The more balanced and pertinent question is if you played Ajagu, Aluko, Ejaria, Onomah, Aneke, Akpan, Ojo, Eze, etc , etc they probably would have done a lot better. However, they were denied OPPORTUNITY.

This happens a lot in football in England some players are denied OPPORTUNITY in preference for their favoured player because of the inducement of self interest i.e. back- hander.

Maybe a few years ago Kelechi won accolades and was rightly considered promising and special talent. But he is 20 years old now and the promises have not been fulfilled and his once special talent is no longer special. There are far better players even younger showing better potential.

I have seen hundreds of players like Kelechi up and down the top academies who cost ten times more even played first team football for EPL clubs. But a few years down the line they are playing non- league and trying to make there way back up.

Which is not a bad thing its better to be playing non league and be outstanding and make your way upwards than growing dust as an old youth with promise playing youth football in the name of Porto B. Porto B will struggle in the Conference North of non league that is how low it is.[/s]

TheSuperNerd:
Mikel Obi was match rusty and didn't play much football leading up to our Afcon 2006 campaign yet he got called up ahead of other players into the final 23 man list. How do you explain that mister if he was not considered a special talent by the coaches and endorsed by Okocha too...

Now did that move pay off for us and for his career in the end or not?

Football is not and never simple equated mathematics, neither is it straightforward. The Dynamics of talents and opportunities is really lost on you lots.

TheSuperNerd:
The Opposition is inconsequential. It does not erase the fact that the U-23 league launched this season is sooo well below the standard of the Ledman Liga Pro. Finito. Stop using a game or a few to indict the league as poor when I have also seen extremely low level soccer in Scotland and Norway with all the kick and follow well below the standard of the technical quality mostly on display in Ledman Liga Pro. Scotland only have a few good quality games especially involving Rangers and Celtic but I have seen poor quality games (lots of them) in the SPL. For Norway, the abundance of poor quality games is also not in question.


Your cries against K.Nwakali have become nauseating. Always shouting up and down that he has done nothing... You think we didn't hear you the first time huh? But because you just wanna carry on watering down his talents even at this stage of his development, you keep singing the "he has done nothing" song yet Rohr called the lad up based on "something" he did and showed. "Something" you are so quick to ignore and water down. If that is not synonymous with "cry-babying" then I wonder what else that is.


Let Rohr do what he has to do. Let him act on his intuitions. If Rohr was silly and bereft of convictions, he would have included K.Nwakali somehow in the provisional squad heading to Russia 2018 but he did not despite calls for K.Nwakali's inclusion. He knew it would be wrong timing.

But after Russia, his mind was made up and he was more convinced and he finally decided to hand K.Nwakali the call. So let us see what Rohr got up his sleeves. You saw his work with Uzoho and how the lad's potentials have been harnessed so far and is still being worked on.

Kelechi Nwakali is a special talent and a beautiful project which even Super Eagles Legend and captain, Mikel Obi endorses. Mikel says it is okay to bring in young players with lots of potentials with stuffs to offer the team just as he was given opportunities back then especially at the 2006 AFCON. Now did Mikel merit his place in that Afcon Squad?? Was he not still engaged in a club tussle between Man Utd and Chelsea? Was he not rusty prior to Afcon 2006? But he went on to shine didn't he? The coaches knew he had the talent and only needed to work with the lad. IN THE LONG RUN ARE WE NOT THE HAPOY ONES? DIDN'T THE NATIONAL TEAM BENEFIT FROM THAT DECISION TO NURTURE A SPECIAL TALENT IN MIKEL??
Now, same scenario is returning to the team again today so let it be and let us see where it leads. In the end, it is likely to be for the very good of the Super Eagles and Nigerian Football. And it will also be a huge boost to the special talents' careers.

Focus and always stay focused on the bigger picture Tbaba.

charlesemeka85:
atleast he proved is mettle at the 2005 wyc where his was the 2nd best player of the tournament just few months before the afcon and also his talent sparked a war between 2 of the best clubs in the world.

there is no way you can compare mikel's case to that of nwakali because in the 2005 wyc mikel wowed football lovers all over the planet earth with is enamors talent so that alone made him to deserve a lookin by the then coach and he got drafted into the team in january 2006 for afcon competition. aside nwakali's exploit with our u17 team which is almost 3 years now what have he done that is exceptional to that of mikel when the latter was at his age?

tbaba1234:


I am focused on the big picture. I do not think he deserves to be in the national team but i hope he makes the best of it and comes good. I would be glad if he seizes the opportunity and takes over the Mikel role. This does not reduce the validity of what i have said.

There is a good chance that it does not happen like we have seen with Osimhen, Musa Muhammad and Chidi Nwakali before.

Mikel was much more advanced than Nwakali in 2006. He was the second best player in the under 20 WC behind a certain Lionel Messi just a year earlier. Since the under 17, there has been limited progress for Nwakali on the other hand.

I remember when Zalelem first played for Arsenal as a 16 year old, i thought we had a special talent in the mould of Fabregas coming through. It has not panned out that way so far.

TheSuperNerd:




As always you will blab lies, half truths and nonsense... So a rating in 2017 was to measure the lad based on performances of two years before in 2015?? Chaaaiiiii... You are really funny. You will twist anything and say anything to lie and water down our indigenous-born Nigerian talents. You have never ever praised or vauled anyone... Not even Samuel Chukwueze. So cut the crap Biko. You are a known facts twister.

Kelechi Nwakali made that Marca list based on the back of his steady progression at MVV in Holland having been signed by Arsenal and sent out on loan. His 2016/2017 performances in the Dutch second division was the reason he made that list... So your tales of 2015 hold no grounds at all. You ehn... You will never change ooo.. a leopard never changes its spots indeed. Lol...


Also just earlier this year after the World Cup... Goal International came together and one of their International analysts, Kris Voakes pinpointed certain high quality youngsters with potentials to shine and be more... Kelechi NWAKALI yet again was mentioned.


http://www.goal.com/en/lists/pulisic-adli-and-15-new-stars-to-watch-out-for-at-2022-world/1h88ov3jxp2v014oko472lla11




How much more longer will your lies and half-truths be found out Komekn? Don't you know how to tell the full truth for a start? Well I guess not... Pity.

charlesemeka85:
bros we have seen a lot of players mentioned in such list who are languishing in obscure leagues now. our own rabiu ibraham, chrisantus marcauley, ex spanish u17 start xisco just to mention a few. nwakali is 20 now and this is the right time he starts doing something in europe football wise to reach the hype wey una don hype am here.

if the porto loan move doesnt work as planned, he can join any decent developmental league such as the belgian,french,dutch or even the austrian league where the likes of salzburg,sturm graz,austria wein are known for given unproven talents a chance to showcase their talents.

charlesemeka85:
bros we have seen a lot of players mentioned in such list who are languishing in obscure leagues now. our own rabiu ibraham, chrisantus marcauley, ex spanish u17 start xisco just to mention a few. nwakali is 20 now and this is the right time he starts doing something in europe football wise to reach the hype wey una don hype am here.

if the porto loan move doesnt work as planned, he can join any decent developmental league such as the belgian,french,dutch or even the austrian league where the likes of salzburg,sturm graz,austria wein are known for given unproven talents a chance to showcase their talents.

TheSuperNerd:
Same way Mikel Obi NEVER deserved to be called up for Afcon 2006 yet he was invited and proved the coaches right. A lad who was even match rusty and haven't played much since after WYC 2005 (FIFA U-20).
So chill and observe abeg. You don't and can't know more than the coaches who see tiny details you cannot even spot.

Mikel Obi was a special talent case back then in 2005/2006 and so is Kelechi Nwakali in same boat now. Let time be the judge...

tbaba1234:


I am focused on the big picture. I do not think he deserves to be in the national team but i hope he makes the best of it and comes good. I would be glad if he seizes the opportunity and takes over the Mikel role. This does not reduce the validity of what i have said.

There is a good chance that it does not happen like we have seen with Osimhen, Musa Muhammad and Chidi Nwakali before.

Mikel was much more advanced than Nwakali in 2006. He was the second best player in the under 20 WC behind a certain Lionel Messi just a year earlier. Since the under 17, there has been limited progress for Nwakali on the other hand.

I remember when Zalelem first played for Arsenal as a 16 year old, i thought we had a special talent in the mould of Fabregas coming through. It has not panned out that way so far.

charlesemeka85:
bros we have seen a lot of players mentioned in such list who are languishing in obscure leagues now. our own rabiu ibraham, chrisantus marcauley, ex spanish u17 start xisco just to mention a few. nwakali is 20 now and this is the right time he starts doing something in europe football wise to reach the hype wey una don hype am here.

if the porto loan move doesnt work as planned, he can join any decent developmental league such as the belgian,french,dutch or even the austrian league where the likes of salzburg,sturm graz,austria wein are known for given unproven talents a chance to showcase their talents.

tbaba1234:


Mikel was been fought over by 2 big clubs to PLAY. Nwakali on the other hand, whilst on the books of Arsenal, has played in the lower reaches of world football.

Osimhen was invited several times by Rohr but he has also not lived up to the potential so far. This guy broke the goal scoring record in the under 17 WC. Lets put the invitation into proper perspective.

charlesemeka85:
leave pple wey sentiment don becloud their sense of reasoning and judgement. mikel was exceptional at the 2005 wyc which was not up to a year before the commencement of afcon 2006, while nwakali who last did something tangible in world football at the 2015 u17 but have been quiet since then deserves to be given such chance as that of mikel? 2015 to 2018 is how many years gap?

komekn:



I am part of this debate, but my perspective is not emotive, sentimental, subjective and or discriminatory.

My position is for an EQUITABLE, SCORE CARD ASSESSMENT BASE ON MERIT , WHICH IS UNDERPINNED BY CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS, OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE in your club and or league.

The term SPECIAL TALENT is being thrown around as if its something that is the exclusive preserve of one person to IDENTIFY and RECOGNISE. Rohr is not the person behind the inclusion of Kelechi alone, so stop making assumptions.

The question is raised is what is SPECIAL TALENT, so going back to basics as some seem to have convoluted the discussion, what is special
= exceptional, particular, extra special, unusual, marked, singular, uncommon, notable, noteworthy, remarkable, outstanding, etc. etc. about Kelechi


Putting matter into context of football the context of World football, is Kelechi any of these things in the NOW and HERE , CURRENTLY SPEAKING Talent and special are not constants they either go up or down. Last years talent can be this years failure, such is the nature of football.

I noticed that some have underpinned their deduction of Kelechi Nwakali talent on media reports, which are also fluid and time limited as well. Specifically the Spanish media MARCA which in 2017 had Kelechi in position number 45 -- http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/album/2017/03/26/58d7b20d468aebf6188b459a.html The report was dated early 2017 and was underpinned by Kelechi exploits in the U17. That report by MARCA is no longer tenable its history, of all the players they highlighted some way ahead of Kelechi most are still playing b team football.


So what makes him Kelechi SPECIAL He went to Eredivisie, considering his high billing and expectation calling a spade a spade he failed , then he dropped to the 2nd tier of Dutch football and also failed to make an impression, he is now playing in Porto B, he is now 20 years old. He played in a holiday game against ATM non competitive and did ok. He scored that doesn't mean he was exceptional or outstanding. It is one game that's all , players are judged over a season or at least a few competitive games . Considering the evidence proven and substantiated he is not by any stretch of the imagination SPECIAL TALENT



He was undeservedly called up not by merit to play in a game to give him justification for the SE. The more balanced and pertinent question is if you played Ajagu, Aluko, Ejaria, Onomah, Aneke, Akpan, Ojo, Eze, etc , etc they probably would have done a lot better. However, they were denied OPPORTUNITY.

This happens a lot in football in England some players are denied OPPORTUNITY in preference for their favoured player because of the inducement of self interest i.e. back- hander.

Maybe a few years ago Kelechi won accolades and was rightly considered promising and special talent. But he is 20 years old now and the promises have not been fulfilled and his once special talent is no longer special. There are far better players even younger showing better potential.

I have seen hundreds of players like Kelechi up and down the top academies who cost ten times more even played first team football for EPL clubs. But a few years down the line they are playing non- league and trying to make there way back up.

Which is not a bad thing its better to be playing non league and be outstanding and make your way upwards than growing dust as an old youth with promise playing youth football in the name of Porto B. Porto B will struggle in the Conference North of non league that is how low it is.

Humility017:


the bolded summed it all.

sometimes I rarely take oga komekn cry serious reason he barely watch these matches...he already have a preconceived notions about these players that he barely sit to watch them play....

his stake in football is not really rooted in passion for the game but the business side of football still remains his motivation.

no coach will ignore such lad after that ATM match...
I call his inclusion in the ATM match party as questionable but the lad proved himself as such his performance in that match fetch him these one.

to be honest he is one of the few creative midfielders in that team save for iwobi....
he can slot in the 10 role very well.
I won't judge him by his club football sojourn...
had it been he was a British or German citizen...he would have been out of our reach by now.

opportunities sometimes tells in players progress
oga komekn and his gangs still can't fathon it out that in the streets of Nigeria there abound exceptional talented kids better than those English lads he splashed on our faces here...but opportunities have eluded them....to showcase their potentials in the world stage and as well make football progress....

many of our players are underrated and I won't join shallow minds here speak ill of these lads save for the one in China who I am still waiting for him to prove himself...

safarigirl:
how far Dominic Solanke wey win U20 and some people no gree us hear word on top the matter?

A year after, the guy cannot secure a spot in Liverpool, England senior team has seen enough of him as well. Allow people to hype who they want, big team name does not mean big player.

Let him be playing regularly where he is for now, everybody cannot blow at the same time. He is just twenty and has time, and if he comes good for the national team, to hell with club.

Rohr has already called him up, all this wailing means nothing. Wait till after the games before we can come here and complain with justification. For now, nothing can be done about his call-up, we watch and wait

TheSuperNerd:



I wonder what should be said of you who allows a proven liar and facts twister to do your thinking for you.... Lol

charlesemeka85:
solanke distingushed himself in the same eredivisie nwakali couldn't make the 1st 11 of one of the leagues lowly rated teams at the age of 17-18 in the colors of vittesse whom he joined on loan from chelsea when he was in their books. do you know how many championship teams that wanted the kid of loan for the season but liverpool declined? kloop retaining him in his current team signifies the kid have something special.

TheSuperNerd:



I wonder what should be said of you who allows a proven liar and facts twister to do your thinking for you.... Lol

safarigirl:
how far Dominic Solanke wey win U20 and some people no gree us hear word on top the matter?

A year after, the guy cannot secure a spot in Liverpool, England senior team has seen enough of him as well. Allow people to hype who they want, big team name does not mean big player.

Let him be playing regularly where he is for now, everybody cannot blow at the same time. He is just twenty and has time, and if he comes good for the national team, to hell with club.

Rohr has already called him up, all this wailing means nothing. Wait till after the games before we can come here and complain with justification. For now, nothing can be done about his call-up, we watch and wait

charlesemeka85:
bros i make my arguement based on my finding and knowledge not from what i read in this forum. and for those labeling me a hater who is praying for the down fall of nwakali na una face i dey laff cus i have nothing against the kid and have been a big fan of his after i noticed him during his time with our cadet team the u17 where he was exceptional.

he is still still pretty young and their is still hope that he will reach his full potentials someday or even very soon but what i hate and argue about is the insinuation some of us make here by given excuses of why he couldn't make the 1st 11 of a lowly rated vv venlo on a regular bases, hyping him for been a standout player in the dutch 2nd tier of ALL LEAGUES IN THE WORLD, justifying his decision to join the 2nd team of porto and play in the Portuguese 2nd tier after distinguishing himself in the dutch 2nd tier o 2 different occasions as many claim here and lastly if he deserves an invite by rohr just because he had a good game against an experimental ATM team in uyo who upped the tempo of the match and score when ever they felt like.

abeg i no follow una dey embrace mediocrity and will start nwakali jnr serious when he stamps his authority as a well rounded midfielder in any decent league in europe as ejaria who i bet he is older than(judging by their legitimate ages) is currently doing in scotland in the colors of rangers

charlesemeka85:
solanke distingushed himself in the same eredivisie nwakali couldn't make the 1st 11 of one of the leagues lowly rated teams at the age of 17-18 in the colors of vittesse whom he joined on loan from chelsea when he was in their books. do you know how many championship teams that wanted the kid of loan for the season but liverpool declined? kloop retaining him in his current team signifies the kid have something special.