| back to top |
 |
Babacar N'Diaye is a 25 years old player from Senegal. He sprang to the
eye right in his first matches for 3rd Division ("Regionalliga") side Wuppertaler
SV. Tall and slim he stormed on the left wing or headed the ball into the
opponents net. In many games he was listed as one of the team's best players
and soon he meant the sole excitement for the fans who hope every year
the club might return to the spotlights of football. Again disappointed
many turned their backs and the club has found itself in a severe financial
crisis. No chance to play for promotion, and not much in danger to get
relegated,WSV decided to sell "Baba" in January 98 to Hannover 96, where
he had signed for the next season anyway. Hannover 96 is in a good position
to get promoted to 2.Bundesliga this year after failing very close last
summer. N'Diaye looks like a potential impact player, many see him as a
potential Bundesliga star. He was expected to sign at Mönchengladbach
or München 1860 but he decided in favour of Hannover.
It may have been deceiving but he looked a bit slim in the beginning
by his tallness. So it may be necessary to add some more work on his physical
strenth. Anyway, his future looks bright.We'll see.
You can see him on film! All you need is the RealVideo/RealMedia-Player.
the following links are exclusively in German language, but as far as fotos
and statistics are concerned, the language is international:
Otto Addo is an outstanding Ghanaian midfield player from 3rd divison (Regionalliga)
side Hannover 96. He is 22 years old, great technique, elegance and impressing
commitment. He should become a leading figure of a Bundesliga team once
in the future. His special case: He is the rare example of an African player
who grew up in Germany, went to school here (further than the average footballer)
and speaks the language perfectly. He might be seen playing for the German
national team rather than for Ghana. His talent was already recognized
and he signed with Arminia Bielefeld, a Bundesliga side, for which he will
play in the 98/99 season.
the following links are exclusively in German language, but as far as
fotos and statistics are concerned, the language is international:
Like Otto Addo Gerald Asamoah is Ghanaian. And like him he plays for 3rd
division (Regionalliga) side Hannover 96 since 1996. But unlike Addo he
did not grow up in Germany. He is a determined forward, fighting 90 minutes.
His commitment is one of his great assets while he does not look as elegant
as Addo in his technique. He is only 19 years old and should face a bright
future, looking already quite strong by his physical presence. Like Addo
he was already signed by Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld for the next
season where he will add to a remarkable international blend of players.
the following links are exclusively in German language, but as far as
fotos and statistics are concerned, the language is international:
| Nigerians
in Regionalliga and National Team |
Attention! Some of the descriptions here are not complete and will be further
verified or expanded. So if you like, check again in May, whether more
information could be added!
When Bora Milutinovic took over he wanted to try out many more players
than the core of the recent National team had consisted of, he spoke of
100 players he wanted to see. Some smaller occasions like a tournament
at Hongkong and a friendly at Jamaica were used and a lot of surprisals
were invited. Among the players were some that actually earn their credits
in the German 'Regionalliga', the German 3rd division, that is divided
into 4 regional groups of 18 teams.
The players are quickly introduced here:
1) Darmstadt 98: Amaechi Ottiji. He played for some years at
Greece. It was reported that in the end he could not find a career boost
there and so was motivated to try his luck at Germany. He was recruited
by Regionalliga side Darmstadt 98, south of Frankfurt, and in danger of
relegation. He immediately scored one point-bringing goal after the other
and immediately became admired by the fans. By the coach and the rest of
the team he was critisized for superstar behaviour and after the winter
break he usually was brought only as a substitute, but could keep still
scoring.
He is tall, more than 1m90, on a WWW-page of his former club FC Ionikos,
he is listed as 1966-born, but Darmstadt sources claim he is in the mid-twenties.
He is a real upfront attacker scoring even from most difficult situations,
sometimes like an oversized Gerd Müller although his coach said on
his arrival he needed some more strength.
He became such a conspicious player, not because he is a young talent
but he was successful immediately in a below-average team with important
goals and kept his threat alive until today.
2) 1.FC Saarbrücken: Like most teams mentioned here a former Bundesliga
side dreaming to return at least to 2nd Division="2.Bundesliga". There
are not completely out of the race but promotion is unlikely.
Sambo Choji. He is a young promising talent, yet a little inconsistent.
He is playing forward, altering periods in which he scores weekly with
periods in which he scores seldom. He had to overcome a severe injury but
since last summer he is back and will should be heard of in the future.
According to data found on the interenet he seems to be quite small with
less than 1m70, born 1977 (21 years old). Whether he really was fielded
cannot be confirmed, because the line-up for the second Hongkong match
was not available.
Their second player is midfielder
Stephen Musa, fielded against
Iran during the Hongkong tournament.
3) 1.FC Kaiserslautern II: Pascal Ojigwe. Huge talent
that plays regularly for the second team of Bundesliga side 1.FC Kaiserslautern
which also plays at 3rd Division=Regionalliga. But he is closer to the
Bundesliga than this sounds. He takes part at the training sessions of
the first team and is often on the bench as a substitute player but he
has had only one or two few-minute appearances at a Bundesliga match yet.
He arrived at Kaiserslautern as a forward talent but was used in the Regionalliga
squad on several different positions, defender, midfield, and even forward
again. This should make him a well educated player for the future.
4) Edith Agoye, RW Oberhausen, has been a potential candidate.
Like Okolosi he had been playing at Switzerland before, began strong in
first half of the season but now is out for the second half of the season
because of problems with his heart muscle. This information was provided
by the maker(s) of another outstanding www-club-fanzine for RW Oberhausen,
who will be most likely promoted to 2.Bundesliga. Here you can check about
Agoyes comeback and a second Nigerian player Jide-Michael Olugbodi, who
yet seems to have no chance to play for the first team.
Another player to be mentioned here is
Gabriel Okolosi, fielded
against Iran and Jamaica. He lost his job at Regionalliga side 'SVW Mannheim'
during the winter intermission. It has been a typical problem for African
players in Germany. You find this story very often. Players get critisized
for not running enough. The way of criticism insults them (to make the
story a bit less complex as it is) and they act foolish and damaging to
the team effort. Foolish means here: foolish from the German coaches point
of view. Often this leads to they get kicked out like the Liberian Sawieh
at Eintracht Frankfurt, who refused to play for the second team, where
the coach wanted him to play after one or two weak performances in the
first squad. German coaches who worked in Africa, recommend not to treat
and criticize African players the same way as Germans are but to approach
them a little different to avoid problems occuring by the cultural differences.
Only this way you could profit from assets that are inherent in the African
culture and a reason why you hired the man. But most German coaches think
different: Who wants to work in Germany has to cope with the German way
of thinking. They want to treat all players the same. This is important
to them, because otherwise they fear problems among the squad with the
European players feel set back when treated different. For a further contemplation
of this problem look out for a The Shot That Passed right Through The Net
- relaunch of an articel on Anthony Yeboahs problems at Eintracht Frankfurt
some years ago (will be put again on the web somewhen this year).
Okolosi now plays at FC Baden, a 2nd division club in Switzerland (Suisse).
There he tries to help the club to get promoted to the 1st division, but
it will be difficult.
The only other Nigerian National in Germany playing better than 3rd
division is
Jonathan Akpoborie, forward with a very good reputation
and regularly fielded Bundesliga player for VfB Stuttgart.
Ojigwe was the only player of the listed here who passed the first
35-players-cut for the Germany-Nigeria friendly (April 22nd) training camp.
But in between he was injured and now the official 22-players-cut features
Musa and Okolosi again. We'll see.
| Players
at the African Cup Of Nations 98 who play at German clubs |
hopefully complete:
Algeria: -
Angola: Miguel Perreira (forward). Schalke 04 (Bundesliga).
Training with the professionals but rarely used as a substitute. Better
perspectives for the 1998/99 season to have some appearances in the Bundesliga
Burkina Faso: Kassoum 'Zico' Ouedraogo (forward). VfL Osnabrück
(Regionalliga Nord /3rd level). Some problems there. Uncertain future,
although one of the more conspicious players of the tournament. Do you
now what has become of him? mail, please.
Cameroon: Alphonse Tchami (forward). Hertha BSC Berlin (Bundesliga).
Did not play as expected in his first season but is fielded now regularly
and improving. Will stay for the 98/99 season.
D.R. Congo: (probably) -
Egypt: Hany Ramzy. Werder Bremen (Bundesliga). Reliable Bundesliga
defender for years. Will change to champions Kaiserslautern and will be
joined by Egypian teammate Samir Kamouna (defender).
Yasser Radwan. Hansa Rostock (Bundesliga). Fast talented midfield player,
a regular for his team.
Ghana: Samuel Kuffour (defender). Bayern Munich. Talented defender,
fielded in many matches.
Alex Nyarko, strong regular midfield player for Karlsruhe, strong with
his head, a few errors, will probably leave the relegated side.
Abedi Pele (midfield). Munich 1860 (Bundesliga). No need to comment.
Charles Akunnor (midfield). Fortuna Köln/Cologne (2nd Bundesliga).
talented central midfielder. Yet there has not been faith in Africans to
give this position to in Bundesliga, but he will play for Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)
next year.
Guinea: Taifur Diane (forward). FC Homburg (Regionalliga /3rd
level). Talented player, for some time in Germany, but had some troubles
with some clubs and coaches (was reported that way). Now has become a constant
player on this level and will change to another Regionalliga side, 1.FC
Saarbrücken.
Pablo Thiam. 1.FC Köln (Bundesliga). Defender or wing player.
Also in Germany for a long time as a son of a diplomat working in Germany.
Will play for VfB Stuttgart (Bundesliga) in 1998/99.
Côte d'Ivoire: -
Morocco: Abderrahim Ouakili (Munich 60, Bundesliga). (Forward
or midfield). Came from 2nd division (Mainz) in winter and proved himself
as good enough for Bundesliga where he might turn out as a regular key
player for his team next year.
Rachid Azzouzi (Greuther Fürth, 2nd Bundesliga), reliable midfielder
with Bundesliga experience.
Mozambique: -
Namibia: Due to the list there is Phillip Gairiseb at FC Penzberg,
what must be 4th or 5th division.
South Africa: - (in the World Cup later D.Buckley played
some minutes, who is a talent at VfL Bochum, Bundesliga, and already had
a few appearances as a forward)
Togo: Bachirou Salou. (forward, MSV Duisburg). The number 1
African player in Germany in the 1997/98 season. Will leave Duisburg to
join Borussia Dortmund 98/99.
Sheriff Touré. (midfield, 1.FC Nürnberg, 2nd Bundesliga).
Once became subject to strange practices of Eintracht Frankfurt to make
him sign but then disappeared as a talent in youth teams, amateur teams
and on the bench. Was unsatisfied with his situation. Unclear where he
will play next year. Perharps will head towards Marseille.
also listed: Ratéi Takpara (Bengarden, 4th division? or less?)
Tunisia: Zoubeir Beya. midfield. Key player for SC Freiburg
(2nd Bundesliga). The club was promoted to the Bundesliga where Bey will
stay 98/99.
Mehdi Ben Slimane. (forward). Same club, same future as Beya.
Zambia: -