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Poland's hopes of advancing out of Pool D at the World
Cup will largely depend on the play of Nigerian-born
striker, Emmanuel Olisadebe.
Olisadebe, who became a Polish citizen in July 2000,
was instrumental in Poland qualifying for its first
World Cup in 16 years, scoring eight goals in nine qualifying
games.
"Oli" or "Emsi" as he's known,
has the rare ability to run at full pace while carrying
the ball and can overwhelm an opposing fullback line
with his pure speed.
"There are many players who add glitter to the
team," said Poland coach Jerzy Engel said of his
23-year-old star. "Olisadebe is one of those who
stand out, like Luis Figo in Portugal or Zinedine Zidane
in France."
After scoring 20 goals in 66 games with Warsaw's Polonia,
where he played under Engel, Olisadebe moved to Athens'
Panathinaikos in 2001 and guided them to the Champions
League quarter-finals.
If learning a new language and enduring cold winters
in Poland wasn't difficult enough for the young Nigerian,
facing racism was. As the only African-born player on
the team and one of few blacks in the Eastern European
country, Olisadebe has played through much adversity.
But the shy, soft-spoken forward says his time in Poland
has gradually gotten better.
"Poles are good and bad. Some throw bananas on
the pitch and chant "blackie" when I play,
and some congratulate me and want my autograph when
they meet me on the street," he said.
"But each day there seems to be more of those
good fans."
In fact, he's become one of the most visible athletes
in Poland, acquiring a string of endorsement deals and
being named the country's top player in 2001 by Poland's
top soccer magazine, Pilka Nozna. More and more, he's
considered one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe.
"The guy came a few years ago from Africa and
was completely unknown," raved Engel. "Today,
he is a fully shaped player with an indisputable position
in Europe."
Certainly, Olisadebe's abundant skills and experience
dealing with adversity will benefit his squad at the
world's biggest tournament.
"I'm not thinking about the World Cup as a form
of promotion for myself," he said in an interview
with a Polish newspaper. "For me, what counts most
is a chance to make history for your - and now also
my - nation.
"I want Poles to be able to say in the future
that I have left my trace here."
With files from Associated Press and Reuters
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