Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, has recalled with pains how injury cost him a place in Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup squad, Completesports.com reports.
Shorunmu, 52, told Complete Sports exclusively that missing Nigeria’s second FlFA World Cup finals appearance was The downside of his career.
“I was playing for FC Zurich of Switzerland then,” starts the onetime Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) shot-stopper.
“It was a local derby match against Grasshoppers. It was the second to the last match of the season and I sustained an arm injury.
“It was so bad that I didn’t just only miss the Super Eagles World Cup in France, but also stayed out of action for six months. And you know, in football, goalkeeping is a special area that once you are out and the reserve keeper comes in and does well, it becomes difficult for you to reclaim your position.
Shorunmu during his time at FC Zurich colours
“But I was lucky that after I recovered, the FC Zurich coach restored me to my psition.
But in truth, that was the biggest downside of my career.”
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Shorunmu made 72 appearances for FC Zurich in all competitions as well as 36 caps for the Super Eagles.
That year, 1998, Super Eagles were engulfed in goalkeeping crisis leading to Peter Rufal been called up at the last minute, forcing Dodo Mayana to honour the giobal feast of football after receiving an unexpected phone call to that effect while winding off in a night club in Spain.
Shorunmu is now a coach and has served as Super Eagies goalkeepers trainer twice, as well as managerial spells at Enyimba, Heartland and FC Ifeany Ubah.
By Sab Osuji
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COMMENTS
But u later came back and cost us afcon 2000 defeat to Cameroon with your no calculation display,because a good goalkeeper will never take that type of goal’s u took against them,even akpeyi is far better than u mr mam
Why didn’t you trade positions with him them. Rubbish talk