Brand new Mikel

Mikel Obi’s low scoring rate has attracted
criticisms but the Chelsea midfielder
seems to have rediscovered his scoring
boots for the Blues and the Super Eagles,
reports ’TANA AIYEJINA
Seven years, 185 games, one English
Premier League goal. That is the story of
Nigerian midfielder, Mikel Obi at English
giants Chelsea.
Mikel has been a part of Chelsea since the
summer of 2006. And having played 282
games, winning the FA Cup four times,
the Europa League once, the Champions
League once and the Premier League
once, Mikel has had a successful career.
But one thing had eluded the 26-year-old
Nigerian over the years until September
21, 2013 — his first ever Premier League
goal.
The goal finally came that Saturday
against Fulham, when Frank Lampard’s
84th minute corner kick was headed
down for Mikel by skipper John Terry and
the Nigerian blasted home frfom inside
the six-yard box to the joy of manager
Jose Mourinho- who has often been
accused as having changed Mikel’s
attacking style to a more defensive
approach- and Chelsea owner, Roman
Abramovich.
The goal sealed a 2-0 win and brought
back the Blues to winning ways, having
not won since their second league match
against Aston Villa.
Mikel’s last goal in England before then
was in the 2006/07 season.
“I have been trying to reach him to no
avail. I’m absolutely delighted because I
always tell him he can do it whether at
club or national team level, but he has to
move closer to the goal area,” the man
who is being credited to have ‘revived’
Mikel, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi
said.
Mikel actually started scoring again under
Keshi, after a four-year goals drought,
and the former Nigerian captain is
hopeful that his midfielder keeps the
scoring touch.
“He (Mikel) has done it on one or two
occasions with the national team and
there should be nothing special about his
scoring for Chelsea. But a lot also
depends on how Mourinho wants him to
play for the club. I am sure the goals will
start pouring in for him now”, he said.
Even though he had represented Nigeria
at the 2003 U-17 World Cup and scored a
goal as the Golden Eaglets crashed out in
the group stage of the tournament,
Mikel’s awesome talent caught the eye
two years later at the U-20 World Cup in
Holland.
A mainstay in Coach Samson Siasia’s
midfield, Mikel served as the engine which
powered the entire Flying Eagles team to
the final, only to lose to a Lionel Messi-
inspired Argentina side 2-1.
His ball holding and dribbling skills,
excellent distribution of passes and
leadership qualities stood him out in a
Nigerian side that also paraded talented
players like Taye Taiwo, Chinedu Obasi,
late Adefemi Olubayo, Dele Adeleye and
several others.
These qualities didn’t escape world
football ruling body, FIFA, who named the
Jos-born player second only to the
inimitable Messi for the Adidas Golden
Ball for the tournament’s best player.
Besides, Mikel also had an eye for goal,
converting a penalty kick in the crucial
final group game against Switzerland help
the team qualify for the second round.
After his performance in Holland, it was
apparent that Mikel’s Norwegian club, Lyn
Oslo, would no longer be able to hold on
to their prized jewel.
Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006 and after
initial glimpses of his attacking prowess,
he scored two FA Cup goals in his first
season. Lots of his fans were caught in
awe as the player gradually withdrew from
his attacking style to a more defensive
role.
The story was not different even at
national team level. The 26-year-old
scored at the 2006 and 2008 Africa Cup of
Nations but had to wait four years before
he hit the back of the net again in a 2013
AFCON qualifier against Liberia in Calabar,
courtesy of a penalty kick.
However, traces of the old attacking Mikel
began to show at the 2013 AFCON in
South Africa, with the midfielder given a
more attacking and free role by Keshi.
“Keshi gave Mikel a free role in the
national team. He can move forward as
he likes because there is a capable backup
in Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi. The coach wants
more scoring options,” Ben Alaiya, Eagles
media officer said.
He added, “In today’s football, all that
matters is the totality of the game. It’s a
collective effort where everybody must
make a contribution. Godfrey
(Oboabona), a defender, scores for his
club and the national team. So, I think
Mikel’s scoring is an addition for the
squad.”
Mikel set up several goal moves as Nigeria
claimed the African title for the third time.
Reveling in his new-found form, Mikel
headed to Brazil with a fresh drive and to
the relief of his fans, he scored a superb
goal for Nigeria in the 2-1 defeat to
Uruguay.
Former Golden Eaglets captain, Shegun
Fetuga, says Mikel’s latest goal is a good
omen ahead of the final 2014 World Cup
qualifiers against Ethiopia.
He said, “We saw him score for Eagles
and now that he has started scoring in
the Premier League, it will boost his
morale. I am happy that the positive
development is coming at a time we will
be playing Ethiopia for a ticket to next
year’s World Cup.”