Action man Sunday can run all week
Football Italia - August 1999
New Juventus signing Sunday Oliseh could possibly have the toughest job in world football this season. The 24-year old Nigerian will have to replace Didier Deschamps as the defensive lynchpin in the Juventus midfield. Oliseh joins Ancelloti's army from Ajax in a five-year deal and will form a formidable partnership with Dutchman Edgar Davids. The accomplished midfielder spent two years in Amsterdam, winning one championship and a domestic Cup after joining from German club FC Koln. In 1994 he mad history when he became the first Nigerian to play in Serie A when, as a raw 21-year-old talent, he turned out for Reggiana. He played reasonably well, but the Emiglia club's season ended with relegation.
Early indications this summer suggested that Oliseh would be playing in the Olimpico next season for Roma rather than the Bianconeri in foggy Turin. The capital club agreed a fee with Ajax, but Juventus managed to get Oliseh's signature. Roma president Franco Sensi wasn't amused and declared that the player was his; "Oliseh is Roma's, we've already agreed a deal with Ajax."
However Juventus, as cool as ever on the transfer market, were sure they had their man. Sensi fumed that Oliseh had agreed to play for Roma, a claim that the player denied: "Sensi knows that when I spoke to him I did not promise to sign for Roma. I only told him that I would get back to him as soon as possible once I had decided whether to accept or decline his offer. No one can own me without my consent. I'll decide my future. I'm a man of my word and I intend to keep to it. Joining Juve is the best possible outcome for me at this moment in time."
For the third time in recent history Juventus had allegedly 'stolen' a player who seemed destined for Roma. First it was with Portuguese international Paulo Sousa and then formaer Napoli defender Ciro Ferrara. Oliseh has over 30 international caps and he scored a memorable winner in the 1998 World Cup when Nigeria defeated Spain 3-2 in Nantes. The boy has certainly come on strongly since his debut in 1993 against Ethiopia and he was a member of the 1994 Nations' Cup winning side. He was also part of the 1996 Olympic team that collected gold and squeezed past Ronaldo's Brazil in the semi-finals.
His two years at Ajax have seen him develop into a class act and his understanding of football has cultivated immensely since his last shot at calcio. He knows how to tackle, he knows how to pass and imitating Deschamps will not be necessary.
