Emeka Ezeugo, Popularly called ‘Bulldozer’ but now
known as ‘Reverend King,’ after the notorious cleric convicted in Nigeria.
Ezeugo had
most of his professional career at the other side of the world. A career that
span over 15 years, took him to the six continents of the world – from East
Bengal, Kalkita, India, Peru, USA, Dhaka Mohammad among other places.
Not many
football followers considered Ezeugo as a serious player, but he was a surprise
inclusion in Clemence Westerhof squad that won the Nation’s cup for Nigeria in
1994 and the team that played in world cup that same year.
Ezeugo is
one of the toughest players in the world, who took his controversial character
into the field of play. Ezeugo hard tackle and ball winning skills as a
defender and midfielder gave him 11 appearances with the Nigeria National team
from 1988 – 1994.
Perhaps,
Ezeugo was more prominent as an attacker at Connecticut Wolves USA in 1999 and
was known all over MLS as the striker that threatened defenders with hard
tackles and domineering style of play that gave him the nickname ‘Bulldozer.’
You can never go pass Ezeugo without getting a knock or shudder that can pull
you off the game.
Austin Eguaveon, fondly called cerezo. He was so physically
strong and a hard nut to crack in the field of play. With Eguaveon, the right
full back or the central midfield was sealed. You can’t get the ball pass him.
Eguaveon had a very unique ball winning skills. He shield the ball so strong and
his shudder was like an iron hit on any opponent, which made him one of the
toughest football players in Nigeria history.
Something so
admirable about Eguaveon was his goal scoring skills. As a defender he also
scored some important goals. He started his career with ACB in Nigeria, before
he signed for Gents in Belgium. At Gents, he had 77 appearances and scored 10
goals. Then he went over to Kortrijik were he made 95 appearances and scored 7
goals.
Eguaveon made
53 appearances for the Nigeria National team. He was in the squad that won
African Nation’s cup in 1994 and also played at Nigeria’s first world cup
appearance the same year. Eguavon ended his professional playing career at
Silena Wanderers in Malta, after a professional career that lasted for 16 years
from 1985 – 2001.
Nicholas Ukadike is popularly known as ‘Thunder,’ because
of the power behind his shots. When Ukadike shoots the ball everyone stay
clear. Perhaps, he got his nickname from the famous Teslim ‘Thunder’Balogun.
One thing
Ukadike was known for his head boots that strike like thunder on air battle,
which had broken many heads and left many unconscious for days.
Ukadike was
an all in all tough football player, who played anywhere at back four. When
Ukadike chases an opponent to the corner of the field, be sure of his dangerous
sliding tackle, which had stretched off many players from the game.
Ukadike
played for Spartans FC of Owerri, then ACB, ABiola Babes and Iwuanyanwu
Nationale. He also had a short stay with the Nigeria National team in 1983.
