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.
