Former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain, Vincent Enyeama has taken another look back at his career progression ad recounted how moving to Israel at the early part of his heyday opened several doors of opportunity for him, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although he recalls that he snubbed offers from Arsenal of England and a couple of other clubs in the English Premier League, then later missed a deal with Bolton Wanderers, Enyeama insists he had no regrets about picking Israel instead, as he believes that choice offered him the chance of regular playing time in his very first season of moving to Europe.
After helping Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Enyimba of Aba win the CAF Champions League back-to-back, Enyeama started his overseas expedition at Bnei Yehuda of Israel in 2005 and 2007 saw him move on to Hapoel Tel Aviv, where he spent four years.
As he looks back on his career path, the 37-old shot-stopper, who moved to France in 2011 to join Lille Metropole, where he spent seven years, during which time he was once named Best African Player in 2014, Enyeama believes snubbing offers from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur helped him get a good foundation, because they wanted him as a second choice goalkeeper.
He first attracted interest from Arsenal after his remarkable performance with the Eagles in a single appearance against England at the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, and The Gunners’ both North London rivals showed similar interest after he stopped Lionel Messi from scoring against Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He recounted how he snubbed Arsenal back then, because he was keen on regular playing time, not a second-fiddle role, with a similar scenario playing out when Spurs came calling, but when he eventually felt he was ripe enough for the EPL, he missed out on a deal with ex-Eagles’ captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha’s former club, Bolton Wanderers, but Enyeama insists he has no regrets for his inability to ply his trade ion England’s highly-prestigious top-flight league.
Enyeama told ESPN: “Arsenal wanted me for second choice, but I was not interested. I also had an offer from Tottenham that wanted me for second choice also and I wasn’t interested. For me, I was at the stage where I preferred playing even if it was for one of the smallest teams.
“That is what the agents that were involved told me. That Arsene (Wenger) wanted me but he is not so sure because of my height and things like that. People have their choices and I respect their choices. I am still wondering why I didn’t sign (for Bolton Wanderers). It was a trial that went so well. They even told me I was going to get jersey number 35.
“All that was left was just to do the medicals. I was supposed to be number three, because Bolton had two goalkeepers already, with Jussi Jaaskelainen as number one. But I don’t regret it because it gave me the opportunity to go to Israel. I am so happy that I went to Israel because it opened doors for me.”
