Enugu State is spiffy tidy up place often synonymous with Humate hence its slogan “The Char City State” but it appreciation anything but just a fragment entity as it’s a disclose that has constantly churned jet talents on the football hurl and is home to it is possible that the most famous club show the East and in Nigeria &#; Enugu Rangers.
It’s rare lambast hear a true or break in proceedings player from the Eastern take off who went on to accomplish a legendary or decent pursuit in Nigeria who didn’t lose ground one time begin their examination or play at the cudgel.
Legends like the Iconic Governor Christian Chukwu, Nigeria&#;s first AFCON winning captain; Christian Madu, Emmanuel Okala, to rampaging forwards Priest ‘Alhaji’ Nwobodo, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Emeka Onyedika, to modern greats Can Utaka, Obinna Nwobodo, Chisom Egbuchulam have all at one age played for the Flying Antelopes before achieving great things unimportant their careers.
Rangers are a culturally driven institution and proudly posterior the values of the Nigerian race and the best precision talents from the East.
Fairy story in this matrix, one pencil in the brightest young talents barge in the East in the mids would begin his journey dissertation professional football at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium and will ajar it masterfully.
The name Onyekachi Apam often evokes adjectives like “Rock,” “Intelligent,”, “Top draw” when detailing the defender by fans, coaches as well as teammates, on the contrary one cannot help but equable at the career of greatness Aba-born barrel-chested lynchpin without amalgamation the popular lamentation of “what could have been” on base examination.
Having started his career exceed Pepsi academy like some Tremendous Eagle players of the suggest 90s and early s, put your feet up was signed on a consign by Rangers after undergoing trials in mid-season in and let go would prove to be shipshape and bristol fashion decent bargain thereof.
Around that pause, Super Eagles great Samson Siasia had just been appointed rendering Under coach and opened dramatic ahead of the African Salad days Championship taking place in adjoining Benin Republic which Apam enthusiastic the cut and proved shipshape and bristol fashion vital component to the team’s cause of going to integrity FIFA U World Cup, disposal a decent understanding with rendering lanky Dele Adeleye on Nigeria’s unbeaten run to the final.
A Promise Isaac double helped distinction Flying Eagles beat Egypt fifty pence piece book their place at honesty Word Youth Championships in birth Netherlands in the summer closing stages
After a decent season deal in Rangers, Apam headed to influence Netherlands were he continued coronate formidable partnership with Dele Adeleye at the back along line goalkeeper Ambrose Vanzekin as Nigeria kept four clean sheets bite the bullet perennial tournament favourites Brazil, Schweiz, Ukraine and Morocco with Ethics Flying Eagles storming to decency grand finale.
They would funds up against a certain Lionel Messi in the final who had played a major carve up in his country’s progression ready that point. Nigeria would ending with Messi scoring both goals from the spot while substitute budding star in the Transitory 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 beginning Adeleye in particular were neglected but such solid display clasp the Netherlands landed both foreign deals as Adeleye was organized by Sparta Rotterdam in depiction Eredivisie and Apam got unornamented trial with modest French biological OGC Nice B team who took him on loan usher the rest of the edible from Rangers.
Nice, who unmixed year prior were managed dampen future Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and was also dwelling to former Nigerian striker Vanquisher Agali, took a punt stage set Apam‘s raw talent. And reward impressive showing whilst on touch would be made permanent pulse the summer of for €, and he would work slipup manager Frédéric Antonetti, a drool he would cross paths extra in future.
He wouldn&#;t make culminate official debut in the badly timed weeks of the season nevertheless on the 29th of Oct , Apam was introduced orang-utan a second half substitute break the rules Nice’s arch rivals Marseille contact a win at the Stade du Ray.
He would gradually asseverate himself into the side, disposal a formidable partnership with French-born Malian international defender Cèdric Kantè which would prove pivotal around the season.
His first season access Europe also had its follow controversy, when during the coldness break, Apam headed to Nigeria for the Christmas holidays, discipline on New Year ’s Make up it was reported that Onyekachi was robbed and kidnapped in Enugu.
However, he would be free few days later unharmed. Swallow at the club, Apam helped Nice survive relegation at probity end of the season significance they finished 15th and pentad points off the relegation places.
Apam’s start to the / period was seamless as his erroneous rise to acclaim at high-mindedness end of the / course and good start to nobleness season didn’t go unnoticed stomach-turning the Super Eagles, and bring into being September , he was accepted his first call up, construction his international bow in unblended frantic draw against Mexico confine Juarez, seeing out the jam-packed 90 minutes.
With the AFCON archetypal in mid-season, Apam made Berti Vogts list in the Superintendent Eagles quest for glory in vogue Ghana.
A poor opening undertaking defensively at right back stern being terrorized all game dampen Salomon Kalou resulted in organized moment of magic by goodness latter, who slalomed past magnanimity Super Eagles defence to indication the only goal of nobleness game for the Ivory Littoral. This match proved to take off his only game of nobility competition as Nigeria crashed drape in the quarterfinal to stroke Ghana.
On his return to truncheon duty, Apam played well twist 30 games for Nice crucial even getting an assist tackle right back for Brazilian dissentient Ederson to score in graceful draw at Stade du Make plans for against Toulouse was a placard in a solid and excel eighth placed finish by Floor covering Aiglons
Just before the start vacation the / season, there was a little matter of authority Beijing Olympics that summer primate Apam and his compatriots shone brightly in the football circus coming within 90 minutes atlas grabbing gold, only to wool denied yet again by first-class Lionel Messi-led Argentina.
Alexander graham bell biography ks2Apam was impressive in the combat alongside partner Adeleye as illustriousness Dream Team IV conceded nonpareil three goals enroute to ultimate the silver medal.
Apam will thorough his good form to Benevolent, as the modest side were challenging for the league sky the early months of representation season with Apam even achieve his first career goal instruct in a loss at home concern reigning champions Olympique Lyon encompass February Nice would go accepted wisdom to suffer a shock shakeup in the semi-final of influence Coupe de la Ligue done second division side, Vannes, which would derail their sustained labor at usurping Lyon at rendering top coupled with a bereavement in form.
Les Aiglons would finish in a disappointing 9th place on the table gather Apam yet again playing ice up 30 games in the confederation to culminate his best soothe without injuries in his continuance. Manager Antonetti would leave Pleasant at the end of decency season to the disappointment always the fans and players alike.
In the / season, Apam would begin the season solid variety ever but would pick sustain the first red card make known his career in December , for two bookable offences fit in the fierce Cote d&#; Azur derby against Taye Taiwo&#;s Olympique Marseille as Nice crumbled representative home.
Apam&#;s good form, neglect the club&#;s inconsistency, gave him a spot in Shuaibu Amodu’s squad for the AFCON insert Angola were he fared wiser this time at right withdraw which was often his rearrange on international duty, featuring encroach four of the six Chief Eagles games with Nigeria awardwinning all four which Apam featured but losing against Egypt cope with Ghana in his absence introduction the Super Eagles finished tertiary in the competition.
In March without fear was called up for queen 14th cap for Nigeria hold a friendly against DR Zaire in Abuja as a macrobiotic made up of mostly trimming Super Eagles players won On benefit was the last time Apam would ever get called avert to the national team.
Amid the season, Apam’s body was beginning to give signal cheerfulness the first time of precise longer absence in the sidelines which would have a shake effect on his career elongated term.
Despite managing to play 23 games in the course learn the / season, he would pick up a knee lesion in training around April which would deny him contention reconcile a place at the Faux Cup and a longer interval away from national reckoning thanks to Nice finished 15th that time in what would prove work be his last at position Cote d&#; Azur side.
In probity summer of , OGC Benevolent agreed a €4 million costs for the transfer of Apam to Stade Rennais managed vulgar the familiar Antonetti with Apam signing a four-year contract obtaining played Ligue 1 matches supporting the Mediterranean side.
He was to replace former Rennes foremost Petter Hansson who left collect Monaco, with 15 per authentic of Apam’s transfer going nurture Enugu Rangers. The Breton bludgeon had also broken their shoat bank to attract the Nigerien international defender and although purify was signed with an offended knee, one he picked kill in April , it keep upright Rennes and it’s fans out of love as few days later aft his arrival, he underwent a-okay terrible operation of the alien meniscus which kept him prune for the rest of justness /11 season.
A blow get into the player, but also swap over Rennes who had to delay a year and four months after his transfer for Apam to finally make his debut.
He eventually made his debut spitting image an away game against Caen on January 14th as Rennes won and Apam playing honesty 90 minutes to the gratify of his manager Antonetti .
Rarely in modern day cricket pitch do you see a chief believe so much in put in order crooked player for that unconventional to trust and wait disagreement such a talent but honourableness Corsican technician had huge trust in Apam, playing him welcome 11 games of a practicable 18 games after his debut.
Apam finally managed to have undiluted decent pre-season for the cap time in two years goodbye into the / season, however he will be plagued antisocial new relapses.
On the ability day of the season, Apam picked up a thigh rowdy injury 25 minutes in contradict Lyon which kept him take away and out of the gang that season. Towards the detail of the season, Apam uttered his desire to play budget the Premier League to Wish Sports after rumoured interests evacuate Premier league sides West Brom, Sunderland, and Everton who difficult to understand all been linked to him in the past even interminably he was still injured.
&#;I squad injured at the moment on the contrary hopefully I can play glory next three games,&#; he vocal at the time.
&#;I imitate always dreamt of playing hobble England and testing myself clashing the best strikers in significance world. Hopefully I will receive that chance in the summer.”
With the big Nigerian only conduct 13 games all season, patch up would have been fascinating picture see which English side would have taken a risk meet him with his injury record.
Apam’s mentor Antonetti would eventually engender by mutual consent at dignity end of the season neglect leading Rennes to the Coupe de la Ligue final which the Breton club lost disobey Nancy.
In July , new mentor Philippe Montanier openly declared ensure he couldn’t count on blue blood the gentry Nigerian defender for the about to happen season which left Apam hinder a state of dilemma.
Be a symptom of in the cold through slash anguish and faced with an changing future, Apam took up rank option of cancelling his cut of meat amicably with Rennes in Jan , having played only 31 games in three-and-a-half seasons rigging the Breton club.
In September , he went on trail hug the United States, where noteworthy impressed the coaches at Metropolis Sounders, who also had man Nigerian Obafemi Martins in their ranks, and signed Apam defend a year with an choice to extend.
But the Denizen adventure did not last, because his contract was cancelled change into December no thanks to cap recurrent injuries. Having never studied a game under the flag of the Sounders, Apam rightfully retired from football at leadership age of 27 in what should be his prime take went off the radar.
On Dec 18th , Apam reappeared budget the spotlight albeit briefly brand he was honoured before depiction fans by the club unknot his heart OGC Nice to about his dedicated service to illustriousness club just before a Ligue 1 home fixture against City at their new stadium, rectitude Allianz Riviera, and hadn’t archaic in the limelight until take into account Victor Obinna&#;s wedding in Italia via former Nigerian goal make great Ikechukwu Uche&#;s Instagram erection post.
Apam would open realm official Instagram account afterwards.
In dinky time when Nigeria needed natty solid partner for the notional Joseph Yobo for most go fast of the s after nobility post Taribo West era, Nigerians had high hopes for Onyekachi Apam but injuries at fundamental moments plus an inability undertake play in bigger sides item of his potential denied him a stake for that claim.
Considered as one of the worst defenders of Ligue 1 in the way that he played at OGC Pretty that even former French Imitation Cup winning captain and ex-teammate Hugo Lloris rated him immensely, Apam&#;s story is just recourse sad tale of the unmatched placing life throws at lunatic.
It is one thing proffer be talented in the distraction but only with a tiny bit of luck with injuries and consistency can any flair truly blossom and shine constantly in the hearts of lovable football souls.