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Tag: Simeon Nwankwo

  • Simy still scoring for Crotone

    Nigerian striker Simeon Nwankwo, fondly called ‘Simy’, is still firing on all cylinders in the Italian Serie B for FC Crotone and would certainly be one of the contenders for a striking spot in the Super Eagles’ squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    About this time last year and precisely on 19th April 2018, Nigerian striker Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo hugged the headlines following his spectacular overhead kick for FC Crotone in a Serie A clash against Juventus.

    The goal was the talk of the town for several weeks  since it compared favourably with Cristiano Ronaldo’s  stunning  overhead kick  in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final for Real Madrid against his current club, Juventus.

    Such peculiarities have further enhanced the sterner stuff Simy is made of and the good news is that the Super Eagles’ striker to Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup is still firing on all cylinders

    In  this current campaign in the Serie B,  Simy has so far scored 12 goals in 28 league matches for his side and he relishes the prospect of finishing the season on a high.

    “It has been a very great experience for me in the Serie B,” said Simy, apparently still enjoying his baby-sitting duties, since his voice notes were accompanied with the caws of his adorable daughter Belmira Chimdezirim. “When we (FC Crotone) came to Serie B, I knew it was going to be difficult because it’s a new environment for me and, to be honest, I met on ground a very competitive league because the level is high.

    “You have more matches to play and it is a tough league to play in due to the fact that we have a lot of players with Serie A experiences.

    “This is football and everything is always challenging and one must be ready to play in the tough leagues and in the top football countries where the standard is high; and it has been a very good experience here in the Serie B.”

    Of course, the tough gets going when the going gets tough and Simy has shown over time that he is of great refinement hence his scoring form with FC Crotone did not surprise anyone.

    “Scoring goals is as a result of hard work and this can only come with consistency over a period of time,” remarked Simy who was the Portuguese ProLiga top scorer before he berthed in Italy. “So, one must be consistent in training as well as during matches. And I would say hard work and consistency pays.

    “Of course, there are times you don’t score but you still have to ensure you work well and be at the service of your team.

    “But at the same time as a striker, people would still judge you on the number of goals but I believe that once I work hard, the goals would always come, and that is what I’ve always done and I will continue to do.

    “The only thing that gives me joy on the pitch is when I put the ball at the back of the net and I’ll continue to strive by scoring more goals in order for me to finish the season stronger and on a higher note.”

    Described as one of the most intelligent strikers with FC Crotone, Simy enjoyed rave reviews in the ProLiga on his way to Serie A for his proficiency in front of the goal post and ended on the high as the top scorer with an impressive 20 goals.

    “The 2015/2016 season (with Gil Vicente) was my best so far in terms of numbers goals I scored and coming to Italy for me was a step up in my career; so I had to take the opportunity of achieving my boyhood dream of playing in one of the European top leagues,“ Simy told our correspondent after scoring his first ever goal in Italy against Hella Verona in the Coppa Italia. “But honestly, playing in Italy is a different challenge for me; it’s totally a different environment but I’m working hard to settling down.”

    Last year, he scored some ‘special goals’ include a text-book effort against SPAL.

    “It has always been a good experience playing here in Italy,” he said. “I was so thrilled about that goal against SPAL because I was unlucky hitting the post in some recent games. I’d scored a couple of goals last year before injury took off the team.”

    Incidentally, Simy’s current rich vein of form has coincided with the period most players are jostling to be part of the Super Eagles’ squad to the forthcoming African Cup of Nations Egypt 2019.

    Last month, Coach Gernot Rohr said he was ready to look-in on every Nigerian player ahead of the trip to Egypt in June and there are reasons for Simy to be upbeat as one of the country’s best performers in the period under review.

    He speaks further: “Of course, the national team is a dream for any player and I’m not indifferent to that. I’ve been there before and I know what it means to represent Nigeria and play for the Super Eagles.

    “The coach is right (about invitation to the national team) and it boils down to consistency and performance; and he has to choose and decide what he wants.

    “I think I have to work hard to get back into the team and this has to come with consistency and performance. I have to focus on doing well with my club and let’s see what happens. But the fact remains that I’m a Nigerian and I’m always available to represent my country.“

    Days after his 26th anniversary, Simy, against all the odds though on the strings of some spectacular goal form with Crotone, finally got his first international call up ahead of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

    He was handed his international debut in the 1–1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo in a pre-World Cup tune up match in Uyo and was subsequently named in Nigeria’s final 23 man squad for Russia 2018.He made his first appearance at the tournament when he came in as a second half substitute in the 2-0 loss to Croatia in Kalingrad and was also played as a substitute in the ill-fated 2–1 loss to Argentina.

    Despite his cameo appearances in Russia, Simy who would be 27 on May 7 said that Russia 2018 was lifetime experience and a major fillip to his career.

    “Going to Russia was great all around and playing at the biggest global championship was a special experience and a dream come true for me,” he admitted. “This has helped me grow in some ways and get me focussed for the best years of my career because I’ve been well exposed to the highest levels. “I’m so grateful I had the chance to be at the World Cup, but as I usually say, what is gone is gone and I just have to keep my eyes on the future.

    “The beauty of football is that there is something new to work and fight for and I’m now looking at the next hurdle ahead of me, and this is just about it and I’m doing the best as much as I can,” he noted.

  • Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo: Nothing compares to joy of fatherhood

    Super Eagles’ star and FC Crotone of Italy’s Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo, fondly called Simy, is counting his blessings, especially with the birth of his first child in October. He shares his new-found joy in a conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Super Eagles’ striker to the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup, Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo says he’s relishing his new job of childminding, following the delivery of his first adorable baby girl on 13th October.

    Certainly, fatherhood starts soon for Simy barely a year after his celebrated marriage to beautiful Chidinma Chinenye and he revels in the joy of beholding a baby even as he counts his blessings in the outgoing year 2018.

    “It’s been a beautiful experience for me being a father and everything changed the moment she stepped into our family,” the 26-year-old forward, who dedicated his second goal of the season in FC Crotone’s home game against Salernitana on  28th October to his baby, explains in an interview with The Nation. “It’s been beautiful two months so far being a father and we pray it continues to be like this.”

    Of course, fatherhood is not as simple as A-B-C since a new baby, for instance, does not come with essential manual guide usually received when you procure a new car or a new cell phone; but Simy seems prepared for the challenges ahead by serving off his babysitting duties with relish.

    “Babysitting is a beautiful job; I’m already babysitting and that shows how ready I was and committed to it,” he offers with glee like a child just handed his first toy box. “I don’t think it needed much preparation; I’m just facing it the way it is. I’m enjoying myself and time with my baby. I’m glad she is here.”

    Unlike some dads who were present during the delivery of their children, Simy did not enjoy such luxury as his baby girl he affectionately calls ‘Princess’ came to the world thousands of miles far away from his base in Italy.

    “The process leading to the birth of our baby was very beautiful and smooth;  my family and I are very grateful for this,” he states.“ I can say it was a very calm and healthy process before the birth of our baby. We are very grateful for this.

    “Unfortunately, I was not anywhere close (to the labour room) because I was in Italy and my wife was delivered of our baby in the US; that is thousands of miles away. So I was not in the labour room but  all the same,  I’m grateful to God  for being a father for the first time.”

    Of course, it has been well argued that babysitting is merely a duty that is time-bound while parenting is for the long haul and this is well articulated on an online platform: ‘Babysitting has a finite amount of time associated with it. An hour, for the night or a weekend. Parenting, however, is a state of being that begins on the very first day your child is with you and ends when you die. Seriously, it’s like a spit-shake, and spit-shakes are for life.”

    Yet, Simy says he’s  ready for the long haul  in the business of  fatherhood: “I’m feeling great because it (being a father) is a special thing and blessing because it’s our first baby.  I’m very grateful and honoured. It is something I can’t just explain. It’s a special feeling for which I’ll forever be grateful to God.”

    Surely, there is significance about names given to a child at birth as noted on www.quora.com:“Your name is an artefact of your parents’ lives, their culture, their personal histories and their dreams for their child. Your name has importance to you and your family, your community, and all humanity, identifying you in space and time.”

    Incidentally, Simy’s Igbo ancestry in eastern Nigeria is renowned for choosing special names that reflect the significance or circumstance that surrounds the birth of a child hence it came as no surprise the depth of names given to Princess at her christening.

    Simy says further: “I was very happy when I first saw her; I felt a special blessing because she is just a beauty to behold.  At that moment, I knew how blessed my family and I was. So, we are thankful for everything.

    “Her name is Belmira Chimdezirim  Nwankwo.

    “Belmira is a Portuguese name and it is the simple meaning of a beautiful woman.

    “Chimdezirim  is Igbo name for her;  which means ‘God has written my destiny’ and it also goes with my family name, Nwankwo.

    “The choice of those names was very simple; she is a beautiful woman and God made her the way she is and we pray the name is going to follow her anywhere.”

    Of course, Simy has been sharing his new-found joy everywhere, and it would be recalled that he took to a social media platform when he grabbed his second goal in his ninth game of the season for FC Crotone saying: “First goal for my princess. Thanks for bringing a new meaning and direction to our lives, we love you.”

    Indeed, Simy can afford to look back at 2018 with profound satisfaction despite the vagaries of life because apart from the arrival of Chimdezirim in October, his profile went on a high with the Super Eagles.

    On 28th May, he made his long- awaited international debut for the Super Eagles in the pre-World Cup friendly 1–1 draw against DR Congo at the Nest of Champions in Uyo and was later named in Nigeria’s final 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    At the tournament proper in Russia, he made his first appearance in the 2-0 loss against Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium where he came in as a second half substitute for captain John Mikel Obi.

    He also made a flint appearance as substitute for Obi again in the ill-fated 2–1 defeat to Argentina at Saint Petersburg Stadium. His first goal for Nigeria came in September in the makeshift friendly in Monrovia to celebrate the official retirement of former African and World Footballer of the Year  and President of Liberia , George Weah.

    “One good thing is that God’s blessing is a continuous thing,” Simy concurs. “Once God blesses you with something, it (God’s blessing) always yield fruits and good ones for that matter.

    “I believe she (Chimdezirim) is the fruit of God’s blessing.  I pray and I believe the same blessing will continue to multiply in my family.”

    Of course, it’s presumed that whoever God blesses must be a blessing to others and Simy, in an earlier interview with our correspondent, espoused his love for charity with the setting up of The TNF-Tochukwu Nwankwo Foundation.

    “Yes, I agree with you that most footballers usually set up a foundation on retirement but I started TNF now rather than later owing to the numerous encounters I have experienced with regards to immense hardship and suffering in our respective communities,” states  Simy who began his professional football career in the Portuguese  LigaPro with Portimonense about six years ago.

    “You will be astonished to know the number of less fortunate youths in my local government (Orumba North LGA of Anambra State) that are in need of assistance and guidance today; this is what has propelled me to start this initiative now.

    “God has been faithful to me and I envisage using TNF as a platform to inject faith, hope and charity into our communities.

    “My definition of charity is the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing with the less fortunate and you can rest assured that 100 percent of all we will do is to be a charitable organisation.”

    Yet charity begins at home for Simy as he enthuses about the kind of home he wants to build with his young family: “Oh! The number of children we would like to have?

    “That would depend on so many factors and most especially how many God decides to give to her; and of course, how many we can have the capacity to train.

    “We just don’t want to have children for the sake of certain numbers; we want to be there for them. We want to have kids to be able to cater for. We want to have kids that we want to be able to look after.

    “We just want to take it easy and see how far we can go. Now we want to enjoy the company of our little Princess because that is what matters most now,” he notes.

  • Anxiety as Rohr drops four Eagles Wednesday

    As the Super Eagles of Nigeria continue its World Cup build-up, Head Coach Gernot Rohr will announce the four players that will not fly out with the rest of the team to England on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Rohr shelved the decision until after Monday’s international friendly against Congo DR to enable him have a clearer picture of the players that would make the team.

    At the moment just 29 players are currently in camp with the exception of Victor Moses who has been asked by Rohr to wait for the team in London.

    As gathered the players will be informed after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday morning.

    Later in the evening, the Eagles will depart for London aboard a chartered flight.

    Meanwhile there are indications that Crotone of Italy striker Simeon Nwankwo will make the 23-man list after impressing Rohr with his performance in Monday’s friendly against Congo DR.

    “I was quite impressed with Simy. His performance shows that he is a natural forward. So let us see how it goes from here,” Rohr said.

    Nwankwo who scored seven goals for Crotone last season forced saw one his efforts hit the woodwork in the early minutes of the encounter.

    Some of the players that stand no chance of making it are Stephen Eze, Junior Lokosa, Uche Agbo while the battle for the third keeper is between Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Ajiboye.

  • Simeon Nwankwo: I’m not ready for Super Eagles

    Simeon Nwankwo: I’m not ready for Super Eagles

    Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo fondly called Simy has not been in the thick of action for FC Crotone in recent weeks after copping an injury soon after scoring his first Serie A goal in the 3-1 away loss to Atalanta early this year; and he would be the first to admit that his performance is below par and has no worry that the Super Eagles’ Franco-German coach Gernot Rohr has not looked into his direction for international duties, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    A year ago, Simeon Tochukwu  Nwankwo -simply known in the football world as Simy- was undoubtedly, the name on the lips of followers of the Portuguese Pro Liga as he fired on all cylinders scoring goals with remarkable ease; and deservedly  was crowned as the top scorer with an impressive 22 goals at the end of the season.

    FC Crotone by the way, are struggling in their debut season in the Italian Serie A despite being one of the oldest clubs in Italian football. The Calabria-based side, according to an online encyclopaedia, was founded in 1910 as Milone Crotone and participated in several minor leagues including Prima Divisione (which later would be known as Serie C).

    Following World War II, a new club, Unione Sportiva Crotone replaced the previous one, playing seven seasons in Serie C but the club was relegated in 1963 to Serie D and they returned to the third division the following year, remaining there for fourteen consecutive seasons, missing promotion in 1977 when finishing third behind Bari and Paganese.

    In 1978, following the Italian football league reorganisation, Crotone was relegated to Serie C2 and the following year was declared bankrupt. A new club, Associazione Sportiva Crotone, began competing again in the Prima Categoria (eighth division). Crotone was promoted to Serie C2 in 1984–85, but only for one season. The team’s name was changed to Kroton Calcio, and the club was promoted again to C2 after the 1986–87 season, where it played until 1991.

    A second bankruptcy led to the foundation of Football Club Crotone Calcio with Raffaele Vrenna as chairman, starting in the Promozione (7th level); Crotone gained successive promotions to Serie C2 and C1, winning in the play-offs against Locri and Benevento, respectively.

    Under Antonello Cuccureddu, Crotone first reached Serie B in 2000, returning to the second level two seasons later. Again, in division two in 2004, after disposing of Viterbese in the promotion play-offs, it remained in the category until the 2006–07 season.

    After being beaten by Taranto in the 2008 play-offs, Crotone returned to the second division the following season, defeating Benevento. The team was promoted to the Italian top flight (Serie A), for the 2016–17 season for the first time in its history.

    The club’s stadium is reportedly named after Ezio Scida (with a capacity for just 9,547-seats), probably the club’s biggest football star, who died in a car crash at the age on 30, on his way to an away game in 1946. The town’s most famous son is Rino Gaetano, one of the most appreciated Italian singers and songwriters, was also killed in a car accident at the age of 30, in 1981.

    Crotone adopted his greatest hit Ma Il Cielo E’ Sempre Piu’ Blu (“But the Sky Is Always Bluer”) as their anthem and it is performed at the stadium ahead of every game.

    Though the sky is yet to be ‘bluer’ for Simy at FC Crotone as he struggled with his goal scoring form while the club wallows in the relegation zone, he was of the opinion that there are still reasons to be happy.

    “I have no regrets whatsoever for leaving Portugal to Italy,” stated Simy in his usual philosophical hue. “In fact, the experiences I have gained here in Italy have been nothing short of outstanding; Serie A is a top league in the world and having the opportunity to play here is wonderful.

    “Yes, we (FC Crotone) haven’t done well but ‎this is football; we still have games left to make a push and finish the season strong. It won’t be easy to say the least but we are working really hard in training and confident we can pick up vital points in the coming weeks.”

    Unfortunately, Simy has not been in the thick of action for Crotone in recent weeks after copping an injury soon after scoring his first Serie A goal in the 3-1 away loss to Atalanta early this year.  He would be the first to admit that his performance is below par and has no worry that the Super Eagles’ Franco-German coach Gernot Rohr has not looked into his direction for international duties.

    “Frankly, I’m not ready for the Super Eagles and I’m not expecting being called up since I’m not playing regularly now for FC Crotone,” admitted the multi-tasking Simy who has person for music; internet and charity. “Though I should have been (invited) in the past, I believe things will be different next season; I’m in a new country and a new league of a higher level and standard.

    “So, I’m going through my period of adaptation; it has been difficult bu d at the same time a wonderful experience because it helps in making me a better person and player; the objective now is to develop my game further and always be ready to help my team,” he explained.

    In the meantime, Simy has been   very active away from the pitch by ploughing his resources and energy to his pet project, The TNF- Tochukwu Nwankwo Foundation.

    A guy with deep-thought about philosophy of life, he said he has long imbibed the spirit and letters   of Gamaliel Bailey (1807-1859), the American journalist who stated inter alia: ‘Never respect men merely for their riches but rather for their philanthropy; we do not value the sun for its height but for its use.’

    The TNF according to Simy, was created to show gratitude to God for blessing him so much and also an opportunity to share with the down trodden in the society, adding this charitable gesture would rather cement his career than being a distraction.

    He explained: “Yes, I agree with you that most footballers usually set up a foundation on retirement but I started TNF   now rather than later owing to the numerous encounters I have experienced with regards to immense hardship and suffering in our respective communities,”

    “You will be astonished to know the number of less fortunate youths in my local government (Orumba North LGA of Anambra State) that are in need of assistance and guidance today; this is what has propelled me to start this initiative now.

    “God has been faithful to me and I envisage using TNF as a platform to inject faith, hope and charity into our communities. When I came for the last Christmas holidays, I came across a 4-month-old child that’s in critical condition with no access to finance to get treatment.; this is just one of many examples of why it didn’t make sense to wait till retirement hence I decided to start now; saving and changing lives is what drives TNF.

    “This is a lifetime project so the earlier I start the TNF starts he better; I don’t believe TNF will be a distraction but rather a motivation and will only propel me to be the best I can be on and off the field. I have made a commitment and will balance the two accordingly.

    TNF was launched three years ago, and Simy said he was happy that so many persons have been touched and he is encouraged to do more: “The objective of setting up TNF is to create a unique platform to engage and empower underprivileged youths, saving and changing lives through health, education and Sports   and this is what I called the TNF’s HES strategy.

    “My definition of charity is the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing with the less fortunate and you can be rest assured that 100 percent of all we will do is to be a charitable organization.

    “We set up officially in October 2016, so TNF is a pet project and during festive seasons, we embarked on charity services to the widows and orphans; we also promoted the importance of education, shared hundreds of TNF exercise books to the kids‎ and gave a couple of scholarships

    “We also produced customized TNF football jerseys that were used for a tournament in my hometown; also in January 2017, we embarked on a health project of assisting a 4-month-old infant diagnosed of hydrocephalus, so I believe we have done quite well for a start.”

    Cool and breezy in words and attitude, Simy admitted his mother humane disposition simply rubbed off on him and would eternally be grateful for the role she played in his upbringing.

    “I always have this beautiful memory of a lovely mother who gave everything for her family going through lots of hard situations of life with my dad to take care of their children,” remarked Simy when pressed after posting a photograph with his visiting mother on his Instagram page.

    “I’m just so proud; and lucky for the family that choose me because we can choose our friends but not our families.

    “My mother has been my biggest support and Inspiration through her prayers; and humility; and I hope to keep getting better to keep her joy,” he said as emotions flashed across his face like the sweep of sun-rent clouds over a quiet landscape.