Chelsea player, John Mikel Obi’s ruggedness may work against the progress of Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the African Cup of Nations competition, which kicks off in Ghana on January 20.
Mikel was on the rampage on Tuesday when he was sent off during Chelsea’s Carling Cup’s victorious outing over Everton.
Chelsea had opened the scoring with a curling strike before John Mikel Obi was dismissed, following a sliding tackle on Phil Neville.
As the enfant terrible of Nigerian football continued to enter referees’ black books, former Eagles’ team manager, Chief Mike Umeh, has warned Eagles handler, Berti Vogts, to be strict on the former Lyn of Oslo player in Malaga.
Umeh cautioned on the playing pattern of the Chelsea midfield star, saying that he may cause the Eagles big problems in Ghana.
The former Rangers chairman said, with an air of anxiety, that the spate of rough tackles that have seen Mikel in brawls during Premiership games and, oftentimes, attracting red cards to the bargain, is an indication that the player is taking things for granted.
"I’m really afraid for the youngman. Mikel has suddenly become a player that is always on the offensive…not playing the ball but getting into brawls. He has had more red cards than most of his colleagues in Chelsea. He would even get into issues that do not concern him directly and, for a young player like him, he does not need it for his career," Umeh noted.
The former team manager further explained that he forsees a situation where, if Vogts does not caution him on his style of play, he might cause problems for the Super Eagles, giving the fact that his colleagues from other teams in the Premiership already understood his temperament and may just feast on it.
"The Nations Cup in Ghana is one many Nigerians are hoping the Eagles would do well to win, but we cannot wait for only prayers to see us through. The Bible says we must work first and then pray. So, it is the responsibility of coach Vogts and his technical crew to be very critical of the style of play of the the players and, especially Mikel, if they want the team to succeed.
"Many may think I don’t like the youngman, but the truth must be told in good time to save Nigerians the pains of shock when it happens. His style of play is not helping his career and he might end it abruptly if care is not taken. I truly fear for his career because, before long, other players would be out for him."
Chief Umeh noted that the Mikel who shone like a million stars during the FIFA Undre-23 World Championship in ‘Holland 2005’ and was loved by the rest of the world, even when Nigeria lost to Argentina, has suddenly become a different player in Chelsea and is now seen as a bad boy.
On September 12, last year, Obi made his first start for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League against Levski Sofia and took a powerful shot, which the goalkeeper failed to save, and Didier Drogba pounced on the rebound. Obi received many positive comments for his performance in the match.
However, since being sent off in a match against Reading in October 14, 2006, Obi was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training. At the time Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was also believed to have strong reservations about his lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge, and the club were reportedly considering offloading him.
Obi was dropped for over a month, during which his father, Michael, voiced his concerns over his son’s behaviour. After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Obi earned a recall for Chelsea’s Champions League group away game against Werder Bremen on November 23, 2006. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6–1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on January 6, 2007. He also scored against Nottingham Forest in the following round of the competition.
During Chelsea’s triumph in the League Cup in 2007, Obi was sent off in injury time, after clashing with Kolo Toure. The incident was followed by a huge fracas, in which Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal were sent off. Sesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard were booked, and Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger were involved in a scuffle on the pitch.
Obi’s height and great strength, allied to good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, allows him not only to disrupt opposing attacks, but also to spread the play effectively. With Claude Makelele getting to the tail end of his career, Obi is beginning to look like the future of Chelsea F.C., and finally displaying the potential which persuaded Chelsea to pay £12 million for him.
Obi was sent-off for the third time in his career in September 2007, when Mike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card but the three-match suspension was upheld.
He was also sent off in the semi-final of the Carling Cup against Everton for a challenge on Phillip Neville.
On Tuesday in an FA Cup semi final, the Nigerian prodigy was again sent off the field for a fourth time in 16 months, with his studs-up challenge on Phil Neville 10 minutes into a pulsating second period.