Kanu wins MVP against Burnley

Kanu wins MVP against Burnley
By Romanus Ugwu

Monday, December 7, 2009

Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) following his impressive performance in Portsmouth’s all-important first emphatic victory this season over visiting Burnley last weekend.


Kanu


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Although the Nigerian international who came off the bench to provide the needed bite for the Fratton Park side did not score, he was however instrumental in Pompey’s victory, winning the coach’s praise.

According the report: “Portsmouth brought on Kanu to provide some authority at the other end of the pitch. Having been on the pitch for just six minutes, the impressive Nigerian stuck out one of his famous long legs and found Hreidarsson, overlapping into Burnley’s penalty area. The left-foot finish was far more convincing than his tumble in the first half.”

Expressing delight at the performances of the Nigerian forward, manager Avram Grant said: “Football has changed in the last 10 years and we need to look for intelligent players like Kanu. He may be 35 but he can come on and change a game with one move.”

Burnley manager, Coyle offered no excuses after seeing his team lose for the seventh time in eight away games this season. “We were here for points and we’re obviously leaving with none from a game we offered a lot to, but we can’t switch off as we did, particularly for the first goal,” he said. “It was a soft goal. From our point of view we had numerous chances to be in front, so we’re disappointed.

Meanwhile, it was a mixed feeling for Super Eagles duo of Onyekachi Apam and Taye Taiwo, as the former not only given a matching order but also watched his club, Nice fall to the more fire power of the Olympic de Marseille side parading the latter.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth director of football, Avram Grant, believes players with Kanu’s craft are a dying breed, after the Nigerian veteran’s cameo inspired his side to a 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

The 33-year-old set up Hermann Hreidarsson to break the deadlock for Pompey at Fratton Park as his clever passes gave the Clarets defence a major headache when he came off the substitutes’ bench after 59 minutes.

Kanu has started just twice for the Premier League strugglers this term but his strong reputation as an impact substitute has seen him called into action from the dugout 13 times.

Asked why the former Arsenal man did not start against Burnley, Grant said: “It’s very easy — he’s 55 years old. He’s 60 next year.”

But the Israeli believes the ex-Inter Milan and Ajax star adds a dash of flare to Pompey’s play, which he feels a decreasing number of players possess in the modern game.

He said: “Football has changed a lot in the last 10 years — it has become more athletic and more aggressive.

“But I think we need to look for intelligent players like Kanu because in one move he can change the game, like he did for the first goal.

“He’s highly intelligent and thinking about the game and he’s very good for the team.”

While Grant sang Kanu’s praises after the game, Burnley boss Owen Coyle did not feel the Nigerian international was responsible for the south coast club, who failed to pay their players on time last month, taking the points.

The Scot said: “Kanu is a quality player and is obviously paid vast sums of money, but that’s a different topic.

“He gave everybody a lift but I don’t think he completely influenced the game. We lost concentration at the two goals and that is a disappointment for me.”

Coyle’s side have taken just one point from eight matches on the road this term and are only being kept in 13th spot by their record of five wins, one draw and one defeat at Turf Moor.

Given that Portsmouth went into the weekend bottom of the Premier League and seven points adrift of safety, this was a game the Clarets would have expected much more from.

But Coyle is confident his team’s rotten luck on the road will turn, as they prepare for trips to Wolves and Everton over the festive period.

He said: “Again, there were a lot of positives to take, but it was another game away from home we haven’t won and it just adds fuel to the fire.

“They’ve made a rod for their own backs but the only way to sort that out is through hard work.

“They have to keep producing the level of performances they have and keep passing the ball. The chances will come and hopefully, we can take them.

“I’m disappointed because I thought we deserved something from the match.

“But we have to continue picking up points at home and looking to get points on the road to go with that.”