IKENWA NNABUOGOR recalls the horrendous injury that hit former Super Eagles’ right back Jero Shakpoke that would have provided permanent answer to the team’s right back position and wonders if his injury was spiritual…
The smiles of assurance on coach Bora Milutinovic’s face when he unknown Jero Shakpoke ran things at Eagles right back in his very short, but eventful stint showed he had provided a permanent answer to that problematic position in the national team.
But all those horribly went up in smoke as the former Sharks of Port Harcourt right back was stretchered off with a badly damaged knee in the friendly against The Netherlands just few weeks to the France 1998 World Cup.
Milutinovic had unearthed this previously unknown player and handed him over the right back role ahead of Austin Eguavoen and he looked too promising to be ignored.
Milutinovic was putting finishing touches on his preparation and tactics as Eagles were locked in friendlies with top countries ahead of the World Cup finals in France.
Players both established, young and new were tried as the Serbian was in search of the best players to better Eagles USA ’94 World Cup performances.
One of such players was Jero Shakpoke, who had only been tried five times prior to the final pre-World Cup against the 1974 World Cup finalists at the Ajax Arena on 5 June, 1998.
With just eight days to the Eagles first game against Spain at France 1998 World Cup, Milutinovic had kept faith with his new boy Shakpoke, who had previously played a few games, and so the Netherlands friendly was for final assessment of the impressive 21-year old.
Shakpoke had just continued to stamp his authority at right back and even surprised himself in the friendly and looked ever promising against the Dutch established stars.
True to type, the youngster kept the fast Dutch frontmen on their toes until 21 minutes into the game the unexpected happened.
Shakpoke was wheeling away in one of his much-talked about overlapping runs on the right flank when Dutch left Arthur Numan ferociously pushed him and he fell in a heap on his shoulder and dislocated it.
Alas! The worse was to follow when he was stretchered out of the pitch and Austin Eguavoen replaced him as the Eagles were thoroughly pummeled 5-1.
That was the end of the former AC Reggiana defender’s dreams of playing in the World Cup and taking his game beyond his modest professional football level.
Not only was it a personal blow to the youngster, Eagles right back position was left yawning and needing perfect bill fitting that Milutinovic craved for.
Milutinovic was shattered; Eguavoen was aging and losing spark, Mobi Oparaku wasn’t the best option and the Serbian was forced to look the way of these two with their just eight days away from Eagles first France’98 World Cup opener against Spain in Nantes.
Shakpoke was not going be the same again after he came back from the horrendous injury that sidelined him for months.
For a player who was only playing for a Croatian side HNK Rijeka, playing in the World Cup was going to be a huge lift for his career as his incredible new-found form would have opened bigger doors for him the biggest global soccer showpiece.
Shakpoke would end up at Rijeka not playing for the 1997/98 season due to the injury and had to move over to Polish side Zaglebie Lubin when he returned.
His club fortunes never got back as he continued to play for lowly clubs and never got to play for any big club until he hung his boots 2012 at Belgian lower division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Now the big question remains, was he jinxed that he had to cop that serious injury just few days to show himself to the rest of the world?
As the question continues to beg for answers, his son, Ruben, has taken the baton from his unlucky father to continue where he was stopped.
Shakpoke junior is currently with English side Aston Villa U18s and showing great promise.
Perhaps, the 17-year-old England cadet star could complete his father’s World Cup mission for either England or Nigeria in the future.
