BY SAB OSUJI

Nwankwo Kanu, a former Super Eagles Captain and winner of Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games with Nigeria's U23 Dream Team, has continued to harvest successes and piling more feathers on his already saturated cap.

'Papilo', as he's fondly called, is current Executive Committee Chairman of Enyimba International FC and has just been appointed  by Ethiopia as an Ambassador for their 2029 AFCON Bid Committee.

The former Arsenal of London leggy forward says the honour of him being appointed into the Ethiopia 2029 AFCON Bid Committee is a 'good advert for Nigeria'.

"Of course, it's a great one, knowing that a Prime Minister of a great country like Ethiopia wants the Legends (of the game of football) to come", starts the U23 Dream Team 1 Captain who became the first African player to win the Olympic Games Soccer Gold medal following Nigeria's incredibly fairy success at Atlanta 1996.

"The Ethiopian Prime Minister invited us to come. When we got there, we saw a young man who has a great vision, who loves football and there and then, he appointed us as Ambassadors of Ethiopia for their Bid for the 2029 AFCON Hosting Right.

"For me, I believe its a great thing and I thank God for that because you have to be somebody before they can recognise you and that's good for Nigeria that Kanu is being recognised and appointed as Ambassador of Ethiopia 2029 AFCON Bid", Kanu said.

The UEFA Champions League winner with Ajax Amsterdam spoke on the sidelines of the climax of the inaugural Nwankwo Kanu U19 Inter State Football Tournament at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba.

Apex Krane emerged maiden winners of the tournament with a 3-0 emphatic thumping of Campos FC in the thrilling final grab the N1m star prize.

He said it was a fitting final, saying it was part of his own way of giving back to the society and providing a platform for the youth to be scouted by clubs to develop their careers.

"It's not about the money. Instead, it's all about the talents", Kanu restates.

"Creating the chance, or platform for the youths. But at the same time time, when you put more money, things happen. And I believe that the next edition of the tournament will be better than this".

A product of the famous Government College Owerri and having gotten his football career underway at Federal Works Utd Owerri before he was snapped by Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Nwankwo Kanu, who won the FIFA U17 Cup with Golden Eaglets in 1993 in Japan under Coach Fanny 'Talent Incubator' Amun, Kanu reflected on his sharp transition from playing active football to football management.

"It's always good to play the game", he began with inviting smile.

"It is always good to know the game, understand what it takes to put the right people at the right place. For me, I'm proud of the team I have. I'm proud of the staff and I'm proud of everybody.

"But it hasn't been that easy, and it wasn't never going to be a straight work in the park. But at the same time, you really have to focus on what on what you know that's good. And at the end of the day, everybody knows what happened in and out.

"But we don't want to complain or say much about that. Football is football. The most important thing is to have a good structure which drives the entire team".

Kanu would further reveal his prime motivation for floating the U19 Football Tournament.

"If you know me very well, you will know that I've been supporting the young ones.

"Don't forget I was also a product of grassroot football. I've a football academy where we try to give the young ones the right path in the game. Most of them have even super stars now. Each time I come around to see them train and play. So, this like a 'give back to the society'. Its like a scouting program and at the same time business-wise because, whoever wins goes home with N1m".