Football
No one comes close in terms of talent: Ambrose Vanzekin reminisces on facing Lionel Messi
Former Nigerian goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin reminisces about facing a young Lionel Messi in the Olympic finals, discusses his academy to nurture young talents, and shares his experience playing against other football legends.
Image Credits: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Some 17 years ago, former Nigerian goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin was playing against Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano in a bid to win the Olympic gold for Nigeria.
Regarded as one of the most talented young goalkeepers to have being discovered from the Nigerian scouting network at the time, such was his ability that he had established himself in the NPFL before the Beijing tourney.
Having now hung up his gloves, the former Warri Wolves safe hands has devoted his time and resources to tutoring young players in his hometown Warri, to learn the ropes of the round-leather game.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Ambrose talks about his formative years with the Nigerian teams, facing Messi for the second time at the Olympics final, and setting up the Ambrose Vanzekin Academy.
The early years with the Nigeria teams
"I got into football very early with the Nigerian teams", Ambrose told SportsBoom.com.
"Even before the U-17 World Cup, I was at the U-17 AFCON, so I was that early with building myself for the very stern tests. I tasted the whole categories of the Nigeria teams before I got to play Messi in that final."
Leo Messi: "No one came close"
"I didn't know Messi much before I first faced him," the seasoned NPFL campaigner who also turned out for Bendel Insurance and Plateau United said when quizzed on how he would describe Messi as a person and as a player.
"But when we met in that game, I felt confident, I was just relaxed, I didn't allow the calibre of players that Argentina team paraded at that time get me nervous or scared."
"I just wanted to enjoy myself and make Nigerians happy."
"It was not just Messi, they had Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, a lot of really world-class players was in that team. But in terms of ability and talent, no one came close to him."
"It was really a nice experience playing against Messi, unarguably the best player ever. When I look at that game again, all I can feel is happiness notwithstanding."
"Despite his huge talent, he was a very humble guy. He wanted to do everything right, do much more than he was meant to do."
"Keeping him out in that final, you can look back at it now and say I did something right. Yet, It is not surprising to see what he has gone on and achieved."
I remember when I ran into him close to the Games Village. He was with Mascherano and Riquelme. I told him we would meet in the final and we had a laugh over it. And really, we went on to meet in the final. The goal was just inevitable, I didn't spot Di Maria just in time
Ambrose Vanzekin
The Ambrose Vanzekin Academy: A work in solid progress
Nowadays, Ambrose has gone about nurturing kids who are under the age of 15 in a football academy he has set up in Warri.
"I am doing everything possible, and within my strength to make sure the young kids get this chance that they deserve."
"It is not easy at all, I will tell you, my brother. We know the condition of things here in Nigeria. But we keep working and we implore well-meaning individuals to step in and help to uplift what we already have in progress. God willing, we can achieve a lot."
"Of course, we're more than happy to welcome sponsors into our fold. Anyone who has something to add to growing and developing these talents is a welcome addition," he added.
Since he broke loose from the shackles of long hours huddled up in a hot classroom learning Mandarin Chinese and Pinyin at the famous Confucius Institute, UNIZIK, Emmanuel Chinaza has embraced sports and football in particular, and it helped that he grew up in the football-crazy city of Anambra.