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OLISADEBE, AN ANIOMA MAN FROM IBUSA WAS THE FIRST BLACK TO PLAY FOR POLAND

 OLISADEBE, AN ANIOMA MAN FROM IBUSA WAS THE FIRST BLACK TO PLAY FOR POLAND


By Emeka Esogbue

From one community, to the other, the Anioma people keep breaking the grounds. For Ibusa, it would seem that the real natural business of the people is setting and breaking global records at will, the very testimony of Ibusa greatness in human resources and endeavours.


From Dr. Collins Nweke who holds the record as the first non-Belgian born person to be elected Councillor in his West Flanders Constituency in Belgium to Chikadibia Ofili, the little Ibusa boy who discovered mathematical formula in UK, there seems no limit to what the Ibusa people can offer the global village. The Ibusa people are raw talents so when you find them, you just grab them with golden opportunity. It is for this reason that Anioma is the bride of the Nigerian nation; the human power house and engine machinery of the country, the very bride that every groom wants to marry at all cost.


Emmanuel Olisadebe is one of the greatest players from Poland and the world. Emmanuel Olisadebe, an indigene of Umuodafe in Ibusa was all that Poland needed and hoped for to go far in the 2002 World Cup hence, he carried the people's hope and expectation. For this reason,  h was the global star from 2002 to 2004. 


Through to the Polish hope he carried, he scored a total of 11 goals in 25 matches, 8 of them in the 2002 World Cup and got Poland to be promoted to the first World Cup in 16 years. 


Born in December 22 1978, the Ibusa-born footballer who once played in the Emmanuel Kwasa Amatokwu-coordinated Ibusa Inter-Village Tournament grew to be classified at no. 29 position in one opinion poll in the list of best football players in the world. 


According to Anthony Nwakogo-Kogos, publisher of Nwaezinmadu online publication, Emmanuel Olisadebe was a student of St. Anthony's College, Ubulu-Uku whose football talent started to manifest at the time. He later joined the football team of the school. He was also a sprinter and was considered highly intelligent in intellectual activities. He was the Senior Prefect of the school whose name was everywhere as also testified to by one of his school mates.


How did it all start? Emmanuel Olisadebe who played professionally for Jasper United at the Nigerian local side was approached by his Manager Jerzy Engel at Poland to play for the Polish national side, once he agreed, he found the Polish pressmen wrapping him with a muffler on training ground. The international race had started. 


As fast as light, and as  sweeping as the wind, Emmanuel Olisadebe was powerful and always with eyes for goal. He was known for studying the position of the goalkeeper before burying the ball inside the bet. At the point of his success, the world wondered why the Nigerian Football Association neglected his talent that Poland easily grabbed.


Emmanuel Olisadebe had twice easily proved himself the highest goal scorer in two seasons with Jasper United, yet the Nigerian Football authority neglected him for the reason no one could tell other than what some described as lack of "god fatherism". 


Although he has retired fully from football and now into construction in Lagos where he now resides, Olisadebe was once everything Poland including marrying a Polish beauty in 2001, the height of his career. He last visited Poland about 6 years ago. 


Emmanuel Olisadebe did not feature for Nigeria but he was nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year in 2002. Olisadebe shook the world of football.

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