kanu Uche; the Umuaka born high profile footballer you never knew.
2 min read
Kanu Uche Anokwute! Does the name ring any bell? Perhaps no and perhaps yes to many people but the fact remains that this is a story of an unsung football hero, whom most of the people who watched him during his football years, never knew he was an Akalite. Kanu Uche is an Achara born Akalite who has played football and retired with amazing records to his own credit. Kanu according to the documents he forwarded to Umuaka Times, played football for about 30 years before he retired.
Umuaka Times has it that the football veteran had in the past played for Kano Pillars FC from 1999 to 2000. Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 2000 to 2004 and Sharks of Port Harcourt FC in 2005.
Other clubs played by Kanu Uche include Bayelsa Utd FC from 2005 to 2006, Dolphins FC in 2006, Gombe Utd FC and Unicem Rovers in 2009. To crown it all, Kanu Uche also played for the home based Super Eagles a number of times in 2003.
Kanu as he was popularly addressed by his fans, started his football career in Umuaka where he played for his village Achara before going to the city to play for several club sides across the country. The Umuaka Times reporter who interviewed Kanu Uche recently, asked him why nobody knew about him and his achievements during his football career years. He responded and said; “I don’t blow my trumpet and I do not like to make noise. You can go and verify my claims. Those who know me know all about me.”
The football career of Mr Kalu Uche did not start and end in Nigeria. He went international where he also displayed his football skills while playing for Smouha FC (Egypt), Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) Hapoel Nazareth Ellit FC(Israel) where he and his fellow footballer Mobi Okparaku (MON) played together. Kanu finally disclosed to Umuaka Times that some top footballers like Samson Chucky and infant terrible, Ndidi Anumunu were his team members at Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Today Kanu has retired from active football game. He recently quit his job with a construction firm and went into property consultancy business.
