COMMENTARY

Tunde Oyedoyin
TUMO6566@aol.com
London, UK

Jay Jay Okocha and Rio Ferdinand: Two sons of destiny

verytime I read of Manchester United's £35million bid for Rio Ferdinand, not only does my mind flick back to the questions posed to Jay Jay Okocha at Loftus road in March, just two days before the Eagles met their Paraguan counterparts in a friendly, I also remember the title of the biography of one of the most outstanding healing evangelists America has ever produced, Kathryn Kulman. I really needed to read the story of her life after some of my favourite authors had made many references to her, she had some phenomenal success in her ministry.

After searching every notable christian bookshop and combing the second hand booksellers stands who stock good titles, I nearly ate the book when I managed to find a copy with a friend who agreed to lend me same for some weeks. If Kulman's biography was titled:"Daughter Of Destiny," one could easily describe Okocha's move to Bolton and United's lure for Ferdinand as some acts of destiny.

The reason being that, on that fateful afternoon on the first floor of Loftus road were some furious journalists from-both the electronic and print-waiting for the Super Eagles crew to address the press. After more than 60 minutes delay, chief Onigbinde, Okocha and Daniel Shittu strolled into the room looking cold. Despite having to wait that long for the Nigerian side to show up, when eventually the conference got under way, I was somehow surprised that some of the questions the British journalists were asking Okocha centred on his moving to the premiership.

Surprised in the sense that, they were there basically to see what Onigbinde had to say about the game against Paraguay, being his first assignment since Amodu was given the boot, one would have expected those issues to be the dominant questions. But the were quite a few who more interested on whether the premiership would be the next stop for the nigerian captain. Infact, I'll be correct to say that it seemed to me that some had written the script about his move to a premiership side judging by the number of questions he had to answer on the issue. We couldn't have imagined at that stage that Okocha would be lacing his boots for Bolton Wanderers with effect from august when the season kicks off.

Or come to think about the sweet romance between Manchester United and Leeds' Rio Ferdinand, what an act of destiny I'm tempted to say..This is a player who has featured in the premiership all season, played in the FA cup and Uefa competitions, yet he never looked convincing to the Old Trafford big wigs, talk less of being ready to break the purse for him to cross over from Elland road where his current wages is about £30,000 per week.

What could have happened you would say? were their eyes blinded or what? Since Jaap Stamp was bundled out of Old Trafford, its always been thought that his replacement could be outside the premiership. Even if Sir Alex Fergusson had been looking inwards, it wasn't until the boys got to the Far East that Rio ferdinand really started writing his name in the hearts of the grandmasters of English football.

Many, including the biographer of Miss Kulman were convinced that she was indeed a daughter of destiny judging by the many problems that she had to contend with and so on. But that aside, terrible miracles were recorded in her meetings, some of her gifting and annointing were transferred to the reputable Benny Hinn.In the same vein, here was a Rio Ferdinand who played over 40 games on english soil without causing them to blink their eyes and in just five games elsewhere, his ratings have gone astronomical and his value has soared-that would be the subject of another article.

What about the talented Austin Okocha, from the meeting room of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus road, it appeared his transfer to the premiership had been ordained. Make no mistake about it, that young man is one of the best things on two legs. The way he so mesmerised some defenders during the Eagles build up to the World cup made me write in one of my articles that if some players fail to make the final squad, it isn't because they are not good enough, but the artistry of Jay Jay. On a good day, any defender hoping to impress some agents or managers better not line up against him. He could cause some back pains to anyone.

With the fiesta in Japan and South Korea now over, I knew I shouldn't have devoted much of my article: "the World Cup Is A Window Of Opportunities For Players" to focussing mainly on the Super Eagles players. More than anything, it isn't the African players alone who have benefited most, but players from other continents. but at the same time, kudos to the worthy ambassadors who represented the continent.