By Simbo Olorunfemi
Few, if any, will dispute the fact that January is the best month of the year.
It might be two-faced in the manner of Janus, the ancient Roman god it is named after, but just as January offers a close rear-view of the most recent past, so does it open the door of opportunities by way of renewed hope into the future.
It offers us a chance to begin again, no matter what the past might have been like or brought to our table.
It must be on account of its unique and strategic positioning that makes January the the first month of the year, and a truly special one.
Well, it just happens that January is also my month of birth, which makes it even more special.
But for as long as I can remember, one extra thing that makes January even more special is the African Cup of Nations, which holds every other year in the month.
While it has been a rollercoaster ride for the Nigeria in the tournament, with memorable wins and losses, on the balance of play, that has never quenched the fire of excitement that comes with starting the year with AFCON.
I have had my share my of memorable moments, starting with my first watch, which saw Nigeria winning the trophy.
That win tattooed a permanent place in my heart for Segun Odegbami, who continues to do so many great things, making great impact in and out of the field of sports year after year. I can bet that he is in Morocco, even now.
But my all-time Nigerian Football Idol is Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Big Boss. Skippo. One of only 2 Africans, and the only Nigerian to have won the AFCON as player and Manager of the Eagles. (Some will say Christian Chukwu won as Player and Assistant to Westerhoff). But so did Daniel Amokachi. So, it is not quite the same.
Stephen Keshi was in a class of his own.
I followed Stephen Keshi’s Football career from start to finish. Heard about his time at At Finbarrs, before we started following him in the local league – ACB, Lagos and NNB Football Club, Benin from where he left for Cote d’Ivoire, and then onto Europe (Belgium and France), rising to become the Captain of Anderlecht in Belgium, leading the line for a new generation of Nigerian footballers that were going to make their mark in Europe and the world.
The crowning glory for that generation was winning the African Nations Cup in 1994, qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup for the first time and leaving a solid impression with their performance at the tournament.
Stephen Keshi, having assisted Shuaibu Amodu to qualify Nigeria for the 2002 World Cup, even if they were controversially deprived of the opportunity to take the team to the tournament, will then coach the National teams of Togo and Mali at different times. He even qualified Togo for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2006.
Stephen Keshi set a record, being the first African coach to qualify two African nations – Togo (2006) and Nigeria (2014) for World Cup Finals, which won him the CAF Coach of the Year on the two occasions
The high point for Keshi was in 2013 when he led a team of Nigerian footballers, made up of 6 young, home-based players such as Sunday Mba and Godfrey Oboabona, and foreign-based players like Victor Moses, Vincent Enyeama, Emmanuel Emenike, Brown Ideye, Mikel John Obi and Elderson Echiéjilé, who few gave a chance, to win the African Cup of Nations for Nigeria.
He would eventually leave the job under controversial circumstances, take on the job again and let go again.
Stephen Keshi (Big Boss) was such a charismatic and influential leader, which probably led some to misunderstand him. He could often appear aloof, which some mistook for arrogance. That is one of the reasons I liked his partnership with Dan Amokachi, who is more forthcoming and outspoken.
I remember him chuckling when I told him I found Amokach quite complementary to him and a fiercely loyal partner. I canvassed for him to bring him back on his return to the team.
One question I forgot to ask Keshi was how he felt on those days when Nigeria had crucial matches to play on January 23rd, which was his birthday, and if that was more of a motivation or pressure, as it was for some of us who shared the same birthday with him.
So, January is special. Has always been. African Cup of Nations. Stephen Keshi, whom I shared first name and birthday with.
The African Cup of Nations, just like our Birthday, always brings with it memories of the great Stephen Keshi
Big Boss would have been 64 in another few days. January 23rd. But he left too soon.
