To fans of Arsenal and Nigeria’s national teams, the name “Kelechi” is a
recognisable one. He’s often seen at Arsenal games in outfits of different Nigerian
ethnic groups and a talking drum which he beats to cheer his team on. His rich
bass and full stature adds a physicality to his growing reputation as a super-fan
and cult figure.
If he looks like a joker, his doctorate in energy and environmental engineering is
too much of a counterweight. In a true spirit of fandom, he wore an Arsenal
jersey to his graduation from Leeds university in the north of England.
Dr Kelechi Anyikude’s enthusiasm for football is infectious. Speaking over coffee
in central London, his chatter brings back warm memories of growing up in
Nigeria as a young football fan.
Nigeria’s national team the Super Eagles can be credited with instilling a “federal
character” in Nigerians, Kelechi’s says with some mischief.
“Federal character” implies an allegiance to country as opposed to tribal or
religious differences. I’m not sure of its origins, but the divide between tribe and
country in Nigeria’s public and private life runs deep.
Emmanuel Amunike and Daniel Amokachi are two of Kelechi’s favourite Super
Eagle midfielders of all time. Amunike just about eclipses Amokachi only because
he comes from Kelechi’s hometown in Owerri. I ask him if this is the “federalcharacter” he’s likes in players and this made him laugh hard. Tribalism is a
minefield in conversations about Nigeria.
Of the defenders, Taribo West and Uche Ikechukwu come tops but it is his choice
of a favourite goalkeeper—Vincent Enyeama—that surprises. Enyeama is Nigeria’s
most capped player and ex-captain currently playing for Lille. I’d expected Dr
Kelechi to say Peter Rufai from the U.S.A. 94 team, but neither nostalgia nor past
glories have a complete hold on him.
Clement Westerhof is the most successful Super Eagles coach having won more
African Nations Cup than his former team captain and then predecessor Stephen
Keshi. But out of respect for the dead, Keshi comes first. I listen to Dr Kelechi
reel of these names and events as though they were commentary on the running
images in my head. These victories by the national teams were rare moments of
cohesion among Nigerians.
I was 12 years old in 1996 when the country won gold in football at Atlanta
Olympics. The semi-final against Brazil—a team that included Bebeto, Rivaldo and
Ronaldo—had some of the most thrilling football many had ever seen. Late goals
from Ikpeba and Kanu overturned a 3-1 deficit leading the under 23 team to a 4-3
victory and perhaps the greatest Olympic match ever played.
The finals against Argentina (whose team included Crespo, Simeone and Ortega)
could not have been sweeter. Down 2-1 against such a team, even after a win
over Brazil, last gasps heroics could only be hoped for. And this came when
Amokachi equalised in the 74th minute.The game was all but headed for extra time with a dreaded penalty shootout
looming if no winner emerges. But with one minute left till the final whistle, Dr
Kelechi’s beloved Amunike scored and sealed the victory. What followed in my
neighbourhood in Kaduna and all through the country and continent was
unfettered jubilation. Federal Character gave way to Federal Fever.
Dr Kelechi’s support of Nigerian footballers is not consigned to public victories.
He tells of how he’s been to Arsenal ladies games four times so far to see Asisat
Oshoala, the Nigerian international, play. He wants her to know how proud he is
of her in the full knowledge that such genuine support from a fellow Nigerian will
surely boost pride in playing for one’s own country and general well being.
Dr Kelechi bristles when he recalls Nigeria’s bronze at Rio Olympics in August
2016. Coached by an ex-Eagle Samson Siasia and captained by Chelsea’s John
Mikel Obi, it illustrates the belief people have for the Nigerian team that coming
third place seems like the least they could possibly have done.
He is equally excited about the appointment of Gernot Rohr as the technical
adviser. Rohr, who has coached the national teams of Burkina Faso, Niger and
Gabon, is a German who at club level took Bordeaux to the 1996 UEFA finals but
lost against Bayern Munich.
When we spoke in early November, Rohr had just concluded a visit to
Emirates stadium where he had an audience with Arsene Wenger and watched
Alex Iwobi and Asisat Oshoala play—part of his tour of foreign based players. Dr
Kelechi is very approving of the German’s approach so far, but is disparaging ofSunday Oliseh’s troubled and short lived reign as head coach of Super Eagles,
though he still thinks highly of him as an ex-Eagle.
One surprising fact about Dr Kelechi is that he abhors swearing, especially in the
stands during games where gentlemanliness isn’t the watchword.
One unsurprising fact about Dr Kelechi is that he loves the attention. He’s tells of
how, after a recent Arsenal game, close to one hundred people asked to take
photos with him. A few days after we meet, BBC sport will come to house in Leeds
and interview him.
Rather than use all of the public and press attention for his own selfish gains, Dr
Kelechi, unpaid and unelected, has become an ambassador for Nigeria, Arsenal
and football in general. In this, he’s like a mirror that will take in almost as much
light as it reflects.