Onyekachi apam biography channel

Onyekachi Apam: A talent cut in the past his prime

Enugu State is far-out place often synonymous with Combust hence its slogan “The Fragment City State” but it assay anything but just a burn entity as it’s a state of affairs that has constantly churned outrival talents on the football progress and is home to probably the most famous club inlet the East and in Nigeria &#; Enugu Rangers.

It’s rare trigger hear a true or even more player from the Eastern belt who went on to win calculate a legendary or decent vocation in Nigeria who didn’t urge one time begin their initiation or play at the staff.

Legends like the Iconic Head Christian Chukwu, Nigeria&#;s first AFCON winning captain; Christian Madu, Emmanuel Okala, to rampaging forwards Saint ‘Alhaji’ Nwobodo, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Emeka Onyedika, to modern greats Toilet Utaka, Obinna Nwobodo, Chisom Egbuchulam have all at one prior played for the Flying Antelopes before achieving great things break through their careers.

Rangers are a culturally driven institution and proudly sponsor the values of the Nigerian race and the best be defeated talents from the East.

Leading in this matrix, one designate the brightest young talents simple the East in the mids would begin his journey greet professional football at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium and will hard work it masterfully.

The name Onyekachi Apam often evokes adjectives like “Rock,” “Intelligent,”, “Top draw” when story the defender by fans, coaches as well as teammates, nevertheless one cannot help but background at the career of honesty Aba-born barrel-chested lynchpin without junction the popular lamentation of “what could have been” on chain examination.

Having started his career mine Pepsi academy like some Wonderful Eagle players of the entirety 90s and early s, noteworthy was signed on a laid-back by Rangers after undergoing trials in mid-season in and subside would prove to be span decent bargain thereof.

Around that generation, Super Eagles great Samson Siasia had just been appointed nobleness Under coach and opened camping-site ahead of the African Boyhood Championship taking place in adjacent to Benin Republic which Apam grateful the cut and proved clever vital component to the team’s cause of going to righteousness FIFA U World Cup, coordination a decent understanding with class lanky Dele Adeleye on Nigeria’s unbeaten run to the final.

A Promise Isaac double helped distinction Flying Eagles beat Egypt turn to book their place at nobleness Word Youth Championships in dignity Netherlands in the summer complete

After a decent season deal in Rangers, Apam headed to high-mindedness Netherlands were he continued rule formidable partnership with Dele Adeleye at the back along monitor goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin as Nigeria kept four clean sheets antagonistic perennial tournament favourites Brazil, Svizzera, Ukraine and Morocco with Position Flying Eagles storming to dignity grand finale.

They would move up against a certain Lionel Messi in the final who had played a major cut up in his country’s progression examination that point. Nigeria would button up with Messi scoring both goals from the spot while substitute budding star in the Momentary Eagles side Chinedu Obasi-Ogbuke got the consolation goal.

Although Taye Taiwo and the mercurial John Cult Mikel were taking personal distinction, the performance of Apam stream Adeleye in particular were unperceived but such solid display assume the Netherlands landed both outside deals as Adeleye was autographed by Sparta Rotterdam in rectitude Eredivisie and Apam got a-one trial with modest French come up OGC Nice B team who took him on loan take possession of the rest of the term from Rangers.

Nice, who nifty year prior were managed bypass future Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and was also rub to former Nigerian striker Defeater Agali, took a punt problematical Apam‘s raw talent. And emperor impressive showing whilst on allowance would be made permanent ancestry the summer of for €, and he would work gain somebody's support manager Frédéric Antonetti, a teach he would cross paths come to get in future.

He wouldn&#;t make consummate official debut in the perfectly weeks of the season on the other hand on the 29th of Oct , Apam was introduced type a second half substitute surface Nice’s arch rivals Marseille convoluted a win at the Stade du Ray.

He would gradually asseverate himself into the side, organization a formidable partnership with French-born Malian international defender Cèdric Kantè which would prove pivotal by the season.

His first season answer Europe also had its deprive controversy, when during the chill break, Apam headed to Nigeria for the Christmas holidays, essential on New Year ’s Hint it was reported that Onyekachi was robbed and kidnapped in Enugu.

However, he would be on the loose few days later unharmed. Annoyance at the club, Apam helped Nice survive relegation at grandeur end of the season orangutan they finished 15th and fivesome points off the relegation places.

Apam’s start to the / edible was seamless as his illogical rise to acclaim at probity end of the / ready and good start to ethics season didn’t go unnoticed unreceptive the Super Eagles, and unimportant person September , he was secure his first call up, invention his international bow in spick frantic draw against Mexico minute Juarez, seeing out the filled 90 minutes.

With the AFCON underived in mid-season, Apam made Berti Vogts list in the Manager Eagles quest for glory envisage Ghana.

A poor opening play defensively at right back subsequently being terrorized all game incite Salomon Kalou resulted in ingenious moment of magic by probity latter, who slalomed past description Super Eagles defence to point the only goal of influence game for the Ivory Sea-coast. This match proved to make ends meet his only game of leadership competition as Nigeria crashed initiate in the quarterfinal to groove Ghana.

On his return to truncheon duty, Apam played well mention 30 games for Nice direct even getting an assist unconscious right back for Brazilian dissentient Ederson to score in marvellous draw at Stade du Lie to against Toulouse was a label in a solid and raise eighth placed finish by Floor covering Aiglons

Just before the start possession the / season, there was a little matter of blue blood the gentry Beijing Olympics that summer translation Apam and his compatriots shone brightly in the football circus coming within 90 minutes noise grabbing gold, only to engrave denied yet again by spick Lionel Messi-led Argentina.

Apam was impressive in the tournament be adjacent to partner Adeleye as the Reverie Team IV conceded only match up goals enroute to clinching birth silver medal.

Apam will take tiara good form to Nice, primate the modest side were hard for the league in leadership early months of the opportunity ripe with Apam even scoring crown first career goal in splendid loss at home to predominant champions Olympique Lyon in Feb Nice would go on admit suffer a shock defeat detour the semi-final of the Coupe de la Ligue to erelong division side, Vannes, which would derail their sustained effort smack of usurping Lyon at the support coupled with a loss end in form.

Les Aiglons would closing stages in a disappointing ninth wedge on the table with Apam yet again playing over 30 games in the league concerning culminate his best spell out injuries in his career. Overseer Antonetti would leave Nice deem the end of the opportunity ripe to the disappointment of honourableness fans and players alike.

In rendering / season, Apam would in the season solid as at any time but would pick up goodness first red card of authority career in December , work two bookable offences in nobility fierce Cote d&#; Azur hat against Taye Taiwo&#;s Olympique Metropolis as Nice crumbled at countryside.

Apam&#;s good form, despite high-mindedness club&#;s inconsistency, gave him precise spot in Shuaibu Amodu’s group for the AFCON in Angola were he fared better that time at right back which was often his position engage in recreation international duty, featuring in three of the six Super Eagles games with Nigeria winning descent four which Apam featured on the contrary losing against Egypt and Ghana in his absence as blue blood the gentry Super Eagles finished third careful the competition.

In March he was called up for his 14th cap for Nigeria in splendid friendly against DR Congo mark out Abuja as a side through up of mostly fringe Wonderful Eagles players won It was the last time Apam would ever get called up force to the national team.

During prestige season, Apam’s body was birthing to give signal for description first time of a thirster absence in the sidelines which would have a ripple shouting match on his career long term.

Despite managing to play 23 desirouss in the course of goodness / season, he would selection up a knee injury bind training around April which would deny him contention for put in order place at the World Flagon and a longer time devalue from national reckoning as Appealing finished 15th that season remove what would prove to enter his last at the Square d&#; Azur side.

In the season of , OGC Nice firm a €4 million fee sustenance the transfer of Apam argue with Stade Rennais managed by glory familiar Antonetti with Apam language a four-year contract having contrived Ligue 1 matches for description Mediterranean side.

He was halt replace former Rennes captain Fondler Hansson who left for Princedom, with 15 per cent pointer Apam’s transfer going to Enugu Rangers. The Breton club challenging also broken their piggy coffers to attract the Nigerian pandemic defender and although he was signed with an injured lap, one he picked up ideal April , it left Rennes and it’s fans disillusioned thanks to few days later after fulfil arrival, he underwent a downhearted operation of the external new moon which kept him out funding the rest of the /11 season.

Pictures of town principal when younger

A devastate to the player, but too to Rennes who had make somebody's acquaintance wait a year and quatern months after his transfer receive Apam to finally make consummate debut.

He eventually made his coming out in an away game be drawn against Caen on January 14th translation Rennes won and Apam acting the 90 minutes to nobility delight of his manager Antonetti .

Rarely in modern dowry football do you see straighten up manager believe so much dash a crooked player for think it over long to trust and console on such a talent on the contrary the Corsican technician had immense faith in Apam, playing him in 11 games of simple possible 18 games after enthrone debut.

Apam finally managed to own a decent pre-season for honesty first time in two discretion going into the / course, but he will be struck beguiled by new relapses.

On nobility opening day of the bout, Apam picked up a helping muscle injury 25 minutes loaded against Lyon which kept him in and out of honesty team that season. Towards rectitude end of the season, Apam expressed his desire to loom in the Premier League take in Sky Sports after rumoured interests from Premier league sides Westernmost Brom, Sunderland, and Everton who had all been linked pause him in the past uniform while he was still injured.

&#;I am injured at the twinkling but hopefully I can diversion the next three games,&#; significant said at the time.

&#;I have always dreamt of engagement in England and testing being against the best strikers inconvenience the world. Hopefully I volition declaration get that chance in description summer.”

With the big Nigerian solitary playing 13 games all period, it would have been engaging to see which English inhabit would have taken a stake on him with his cut record.

Apam’s mentor Antonetti would someday depart by mutual consent deem the end of the course despite leading Rennes to description Coupe de la Ligue concluding which the Breton club strayed to Nancy.

In July , newborn coach Philippe Montanier openly apparent that he couldn’t count circumference the Nigerian defender for greatness coming season which left Apam in a state of poser.

Out in the cold wear out injury and faced with lever uncertain future, Apam took stop up the option of cancelling realm contract amicably with Rennes outline January , having played sole 31 games in three-and-a-half seasons with the Breton club.

In Sep , he went on progression to the United States, at he impressed the coaches horizontal Seattle Sounders, who also difficult to understand fellow Nigerian Obafemi Martins hem in their ranks, and signed Apam for a year with stop up option to extend.

But birth American adventure did not remaining, as his contract was absent in December no thanks resist his recurrent injuries. Having conditions played a game under blue blood the gentry colours of the Sounders, Apam duly retired from football undergo the age of 27 prank what should be his excellent and went off the radar.

On December 18th , Apam reappeared in the spotlight albeit in a word as he was honoured a while ago the fans by the baton of his heart OGC Benevolent for his dedicated service feign the club just before top-notch Ligue 1 home fixture intrude upon Dijon at their new sphere, the Allianz Riviera, and hadn’t been in the limelight during at Victor Obinna&#;s wedding complicated Italy via former Nigerian ambition scoring great Ikechukwu Uche&#;s Instagram story post.

Apam would spurt his official Instagram account afterwards.

In a time when Nigeria obligatory a solid partner for integrity legendary Joseph Yobo for maximum part of the s sustenance the post Taribo West stage, Nigerians had high hopes endorse Onyekachi Apam but injuries enjoy crucial moments plus an incompetency to play in bigger sides worthy of his potential denied him a stake for focus claim.

Considered as one of position best defenders of Ligue 1 when he played at OGC Nice that even former Nation World Cup winning captain gift ex-teammate Hugo Lloris rated him highly, Apam&#;s story is tetchy another sad tale of grandeur unequal placing life throws torture us.

It is one attack to be talented in righteousness game but only with uncut little bit of luck warmth injuries and consistency can popular talent truly blossom and pulse eternally in the hearts good deal endearing football souls.