Players come and go, even the great ones like Messi and “Zangi”, but clubs stay on

Celebrated Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho could make a good copywriter, albeit a controversial one.

Last year he called want-away Barcelona star Lionel Messi “the god of football.”

My God! The over the board description by the self-professed “Special One” came after Spanish top side Barcelona’s majestic 3-0 win against Liverpool in their Champions League, semi-final first leg clash.
Messi ran the show like a master violinist, scoring two sublime goals late in the second half to bury the mesmerised English team.

Mourinho is of course known for his braggadocio and inventive expressions, but he is also revered for his outstanding football knowledge and successes.

I will straight up accept that I admire Mourinho’s understanding of the beautiful game, but what I will not accept is calling a player “god of football” or any athlete a god of their trade no matter their talent.

We have had “great”, “exceptional”, “special”, “magical”, “super”, “brilliant”, phenomenal”, unbelievable”, “incredible” players, even “the hand of God” (circa 1986 World Cup and Maradona), but not “gods”.
Messi, though, is just special.

He has spent 20 years at Barcelona. He moved there in 2001 as a 13-year-old and quickly climbed up the ranks to eventually become the club’s greatest and most decorated player.

You can reel off the little Argentine forward’s individual achievement as fast as firing out bullets in a well-oiled AK-47.  

In 2005, he became the youngest Barcelona player to score in the La Liga (the record is now held by Ansu Fati); in the 2011/12 he became the club’s all-time top goal scorer; In that season he ended with a record 91 goals scored in a calendar year; In 2013/14 he became the leading goal scorer of all time at Barcelona; in the 2014/2015 season he became the leading scorer in La Liga history and the all-time top scorer in the Uefa Champions League history (and the all-time leader in assists); he has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards; has emerged the Uefa Champions league top scorer six times.

As a popular radio show host in the country used to pose: “Niendelee nisiendelee?”

He has won six Golden Shoe awards, six “Pichichi” (top scorer) in La Liga, and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2009. There are more accolades but let me stop here.

Small wonder Barcelona are so reluctant to let him go of their prized jewel, and their fans utterly unwilling to accept the departure of their adored football idol.

How can the great Messi want to play for another side? How? The Barca followers are agonizing.

However, his reported desire to leave against the wishes of the club that has been literally his home since he started playing the game is nothing new in sports, and football for that matter.

One case I can recall vividly was the unexpected transfer of accomplished England central defender Sol Campbell from Tottenham Hotspur to cross town rivals Arsena in 2001.

The rock solid Campbell had in fact publicly swore he would never play for “hated” Arsenal, but in a surprise move, after nine years at Spurs, four as the captain, he crossed over to the Gunners on a free transfer. How could he, incensed Spurs fans vented!?

Campbell talked about wanting to win medals which he did before Arsenal’s well documented recent desert-bare, parched run.

Understandably, enraged Spurs fans labelled him “Judas” and never forgave him for the betrayal.

What about the transfer of creative Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo from the very Barcelona, after six years of service, to bitter rivals Real Madrid?

Ironically, despite having a storming season with the Catalan club (that saw him win the 2000 Ballon d’Or), where he was considered a legend, he made the shock move to Real in a then world record £37 million transfer in 2000.

The fans showed their displeasure when he next came to Camp Nou for a fixture, throwing objects at him and burning his effigies in devilish pleasure. Figo later said joining Madrid allowed him to win many trophies.

In Kenya the move of supremely gifted midfielder John Okello “Zangi” from Gor Mahia to their eternal enemies AFC Leopards is perhaps the most controversial I can consider.

The late Zangi was a prodigious ball player who joined Gor Mahia from Nairobi-based side Iqbal in 1982 while just 18 years old.

He played a prominent part, with his audacious goals and clever assists, for the hugely successful K’Ogalo side that won three Kenyan Premier League (then Super League) titles in a row -- 1983, 1984, 1985.

Just to appreciate how good he was, Okello was called up to Harambee Stars at 19 years of age.

He left Gor in 1988 after a fallout with the club management and did the unthinkable: Joined AFC Leopards.

So Irate were the zealous Gor Mahia fans they attacked him at Nyayo Stadium accusing him of
“treason”. It is also reported that fans stormed his home baying for his blood.

Okello had two successful years with Leopards before he inexplicably stopped playing, at 27 years, with some saying he had contracted a mysterious mental illness.

Messi leaving Barcelona for any other club was unthinkable, but now highly probable.

Barcelona will certainly move on as they look to rebuild yet another dynasty and Messi’s exploits will form part of the club’s folklore, lovingly told or lavishly slandered. That’s football.