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Baba, Wisdom underline the need to support each other

Stan Rayan

— Photo: Vipin Chandran

EXUDING CONFIDENCE: Baba Tunde has promised to bring the hunger back in the Viva Kerala ranks.

KOCHI: Ten years ago, he played against Ronaldinho in a World Cup final. Wisdom Abbey was one of the stars of the Ghana team which finished runner-up to Brazil in the under-17 World Cup in Cairo in 1997.

“Not only did we play Ronaldinho, there was also Iker Casillas, the Real Madrid player who is one of the world’s best goalkeepers today, in the Spanish team which we beat in the semifinal,” says the 27-year-old.

But while Ronaldinho’s career took the highway to fame after that 2-1 victory — he is currently the planet’s best player — Wisdom’s was caught in football’s great maze.

Today, Wisdom is in the Viva Kerala team but he is not a hot property here.

Problem area

“He is a very good mover but his finishing is not up to the mark, especially against strong opponents,” says the Viva coach A.M. Sreedharan.

Early last week, Viva was even planning to send Wisdom back. But with the AIFF bringing in a new rule the other day, allowing its Professional League teams to carry an extra foreigner, the Kochi club changed its mind.

Sad story

But there is a tinge of sadness on his face when he says, “we wasted our best years in Ghana.”

“Ghana players were unknown outside those days. And whenever a foreign side showed interest in us, our home clubs demanded huge amounts from the new teams, virtually making it impossible for us to move out,” explains Wisdom, who played for Heart of Oaks, Ghana’s Premier League champion, for four years.

“I got many good offers from foreign clubs but I couldn’t go during my best years.”

Three weeks ago, at the Durand Cup’s first round in Delhi, Viva’s first major outing with Wisdom, the Kochi side lost 1-4 to Salgaocar Goa. Wisdom found his way nicely through the Goan side early but messed up things inside the box.

“That loss was a big lesson. All we need to do now is to play together, move together and support each other. We need to get to know each other better,” he says.

Wisdom is looking forward to partner Baba Tunde in the attack. Baba, Viva’s best player last season, moved to Salgaocar a few months ago but is now back in Kochi.

“There is too much politics in Salgaocar. I found life very uncomfortable there. So, when Viva asked me whether I’d like to come back, I said yes,” said the Nigerian who played a crucial role in carrying Viva to its maiden National League.

“But Viva has changed a lot, the old hunger is missing. That could be because many of the boys who’ve been with us for long are not here now. Only three or four remain. I’ll try to bring the hunger back,” said the 22-year-old.

“And I’m missing Anilkumar, my old teammate, very much. I speak to him almost every day. He’s also not very happy with Salgaocar, he just gets about 10 minutes in matches,” said Baba. Viva had taken Anilkumar on loan from KSEB last season and he, along with the Nigerian, made a formidable pair in the attack.

Coach Sreedharan hopes the arrival of another forward, Awudu Adama from Ghana last week, would bring about some competition for the two frontline berths. “Now, nobody will take things easy.”

There is another Ghanaian, the tall defender George Tutu, who will be coaxing them to stay focused.

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