Watching the grand masters perform in mainstream
football match is like going to the gallery to see the beautiful works of some
ingenious artists.
To see someone perform football skills that have never
been seen before is truly amazing. The genius thinking that lead to the
invention and creation of skills ‘outside of the box’ come from years of
training in football freestyle.
Players like Austin J J Okocha would do things
during the match that you would never have even dreamed of. And if you think
Okocha is truly great, then you haven’t been opportune to see Alabani Siasia
play.
Alabani would do things that you wouldn’t have even
known was possible until he did it – that’s the difference in a good player and
a true legend. These are the grand-masters of the game; the reason thousands of
spectators throngs into the stadium arena in Nigeria and abroad wherever they
played.
Let me share a little about these 3 Grand-masters of
Freestyle football in Nigeria, in case you haven’t seen any of them perform
their some worth terrific skills and tricks.
Austin
JJ Okocha:
Many say freestyle football is a South American and Dutch thing, not until
Pele, a world Freestyle Grandmaster, saw this rare gem from Africa perform both
in the African Cup of Nations and FIFa World Cup in 1998. How Austin JJ Okocha
mesmerized opponents with back flips, juggling the ball overhead players and
performed such incredible leg-over that twisted the waist of many defenders;.
It was such a football maverick that endeared fans as well as convinced PSG to
splash $17 Million sign-on fees on him.
Some sports analysts say Okocha play too much to the
gallery, but Nike commercials called it “Playing Beautifully.” Brazilian great freestyler, Rolandinho confessed that he
watches Okocha’s match videos, but sometimes, it was difficult to replicate
those complicated skills and tricks he perform during match situation. Click video below towatch some of Okocha’s
amazing skills
Alabani
Siasia:
Defenders
were always being scared of being disgraced, because you wouldn’t know what
next Alabani Siasia would do with the football. It took him only 15minutes to
convince both Coach Joe Erico and the management of Julius Berger FC to sign him
during his short stay in the Nigerian league.
Alabani could move the football with any part of his
body. He juggled the ball with his head, shoulders, buttock, and knees and
perform trick that held everybody spellbound, including fellow players and coaches.
He was a delight to watch.
Alabani would put up such circus juggling act in a
match situation; juggling the ball with his mouth while waiting for opponent to
draw close. But would they, we only saw defenders withdrew back anytime Alabani
held the ball.
In case you don’t knew, Alabani is the younger
brother of Samson Siasia, former Super Eagles and now, Nigeria U23 national
team head coach. Alabani took his skills and tricks to Germany Bundesliga,
where he played for Bremen; but suffered many rough tackles from defenders,
which got him injured and forced him out of the game.
Ndubusi
Okosieme:
Fellow
players usually say Ndubusi Okosieme could not only dribble physical beings,
but could also dribble invisible spirits on pitch. A prolific winger who played
for Flamingoes and NNB in the 80s and 90s. Light up both the Flying Eagles and the senior national team that got fans yearning for more.
Okosieme moves with the football with so much ease.
He often runs to the tinny touchline, he performs incredible double dutch
skills that left the opponent wondering how he got the ball pass him. Okosieme
could juggle the football while on a full speed run.
At eighteen yard box, under intense pressure,
Okosieme would flip both his right and left legs and trick many defenders to fall
flat on the ground; some twist their ankles or waists in the process. Okosieme
is another terrific freestyler who injury forced out of the game at his prime.
