Much has being said about the young Nigerian defender, spanning from his exploits at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in Nigeria to the just concluded Confederations Cup held in Brazil.
This kid, who is owned by Chelsea FC but plied his trade for Den Haag last season on a season-long loan, has emerged as one of the best young defenders around. This has seen him help Nigeria win the last African Cup of Nations, coupled with impressive displays at the Confederations Cup tournament.
The big question now is; does Kenneth Omeruo have what it takes to compete in Jose Mourinho’s squad?
Check out the things that might just make him a shoe-in:
1. His composure: This will no doubt be tested if he makes the cut. Even though we are aware of his composure when the defence is under pressure, this quality of his will be stretched to the wire given the high tempo of the English Premier League. But for a young player with such immense attributes, it will definitely be a big plus for Jose’s team.
2. Tenacity: One thing a coach always looks for in his defenders is their aggressiveness. This is another attribute this kid does not lack. He might look lanky physically, but he is far from being lazy. This, so far, has being his disguise for big strikers thinking they can easily get around him with their physique, eventually he beats them to it. A good example was made of Didier Drogba at the last African Cup of Nations.
3. Body checking: This is one of the priceless gifts he will attempt to bring to the Chelsea fold, as it is something which is rare these days. The team finds it easier if they can wrestle the ball from a player before or after his first touch. And this is one thing he does flawlessly.
4. A fresh option for aging legs: As we all know, John Terry, the Chelsea skipper is getting older and has his best years behind him; Omeruo will give Jose Mourinho new options at the center defence position.
5. Good passer: This is a simple technique in football yet it is one that not many defenders effectively pull off. Omeruo has that in his array of skills, and that will definitely be a plus for him when he resumes his pre-season with Chelsea.
Given the massive array of experienced defenders being paraded by Chelsea FC, he may eventually be sent on loan, but one thing is sure, this player is bound to definitely be a world beater for Nigeria and any club he finds himself.
By Martins Okafor
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This article was first published on 1st July 2013
obimartins
Martins Okafor is a Sports Writer for Connect Nigeria. He has been a sport buff for years, following stories and development in leagues and international competitions. His interest led him to writing stories – reporting on sporting events. He has superior interest in soccer, but knows much about other sports. He plans to have a blog and to advance in sport journalism. You can email him at: obimartins85 [at] gmail.com
Comments (1)
Much has being said about the young Nigerian defender, spanning from his exploits at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup held in Nigeria to the just concluded Confederations Cup held in Brazil.
This kid, who is owned by Chelsea FC but plied his trade for Den Haag last season on a season-long loan, has emerged as one of the best young defenders around. This has seen him help Nigeria win the last African Cup of Nations, coupled with impressive displays at the Confederations Cup tournament.
The big question now is; does Kenneth Omeruo have what it takes to compete in Jose Mourinho’s squad?
Check out the things that might just make him a shoe-in:
1. His composure: This will no doubt be tested if he makes the cut. Even though we are aware of his composure when the defence is under pressure, this quality of his will be stretched to the wire given the high tempo of the English Premier League. But for a young player with such immense attributes, it will definitely be a big plus for Jose’s team.
2. Tenacity: One thing a coach always looks for in his defenders is their aggressiveness. This is another attribute this kid does not lack. He might look lanky physically, but he is far from being lazy. This, so far, has being his disguise for big strikers thinking they can easily get around him with their physique, eventually he beats them to it. A good example was made of Didier Drogba at the last African Cup of Nations.
3. Body checking: This is one of the priceless gifts he will attempt to bring to the Chelsea fold, as it is something which is rare these days. The team finds it easier if they can wrestle the ball from a player before or after his first touch. And this is one thing he does flawlessly.
4. A fresh option for aging legs: As we all know, John Terry, the Chelsea skipper is getting older and has his best years behind him; Omeruo will give Jose Mourinho new options at the center defence position.
5. Good passer: This is a simple technique in football yet it is one that not many defenders effectively pull off. Omeruo has that in his array of skills, and that will definitely be a plus for him when he resumes his pre-season with Chelsea.
Given the massive array of experienced defenders being paraded by Chelsea FC, he may eventually be sent on loan, but one thing is sure, this player is bound to definitely be a world beater for Nigeria and any club he finds himself.
By Martins Okafor
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