By Sab Ekeh

Since the news broke that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be tackling the Polish national football team this weekend, it has become my staple to tease my Polish friends and journalists on how the Eagles will outscore them on the field of play right there in their home ground. My juice line of attack to them has always been that quality footballers of Polish origin have always opted to play for the German national team.

 

I have never been tired of reminding them of our local hero, Lukas Podolski, born and groomed by our team, FC Cologne, which I support and many of my Polish friends. Then, of course, the ex German national team striker Miroslav Josef Klose. Klose is best known for his performance with the Germany national team. He is the top goal scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup ahead of Brazil Ronaldo. He won the Golden Booth in 2006 when Germany hosted the World. Both Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Josef Klose are of Polish origin.

So as I set out from my city of Cologne to take the bus to Poland from the city centre, I find my mind going through the Polish football heritage and slowly turning to their current players like Borussia Dortmund defender, Lukasz Piszczek and Bayern Robert Lewandowski.

Going to Poland by road from the city of Cologne gives one an overview of how similar the scenic landscapes are between Germany and Poland. Except for the road signs and buildings, one will not notice, the difference as you enter Poland. The country is rich in fine culture and extraordinary historical sites.

The Gothic castle is home to the only preserved piece of the Polish Crown Jewels, the legendary sword Szczerbiec coronation sword. Decorated with symbols and floral patterns, the blade is notched to hold a small shield, giving the sword its nickname, the Jagged sword.

Auschwitz – Birkenau. The infamous Nazi concentration camp which has come to define the German-Polish relationship since after the second World war. The immense size of the place is a powerful experience for anyone opportune to visit the memorial and museum in Oswiecim.

The Polish people are friendly and like the Germans very hard working. They are mostly Christians and very good in hand work like construction, technicians, and into small private businesses that help power their economy.

I find out from my Polish friends and those in Poland that they don’t consider the Super Eagles as a strong team and don’t think that the Eagles will go far in the World Cup in Russia and they don’t expect their national team to go far in the World Cup tournament beginning this June.

However, the Polish people acknowledge that Nigeria has a rich football heritage and still remember the names of ex-Super Eagle players like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nkwankwo, Sunday Oliseh, Rashidi Yekin, Finidi George, etc

And in that rich memory is the very one they poached in the name of Emmanuel Olisadebe, from Nigeria who during a successful career with Polonia Warsaw, became a Polish citizen and played for the Polish national football team for years. They hold fond memories of him as Nigeria trade tackles with Poland this weekend.