Sport

Carl who? 21 things about the new Super Eagles goalkeeper

August 20, 2015 5:00 pm

Carl Ikeme will now compete with Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama for a place in the Super Eagles.

The 29-year-old was named in manager Sunday Oliseh’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania on September 5.

But what do you know about the keeper whose father was born in Nigeria?

Is Carl the short form of Carlos or Giancarlo?

Was he named after Karl Marx (never mind the ‘K’ start) the sage or Carl Lewis the sprint legend?

Enjoy the trivia on Carl Onora Ikeme!

9 LOAN SPELLS WITH 8 DIFFERENT CLUBS

At times, he was the forgotten man at Molineux.

Always a bridesmaid never a bride, Ikeme was for years a reliable back-up who looked as though he’d never quite make that step up to become Wolves’ number one.

And nine loan spells with eight different clubs had Ikeme wondering if his time would ever come.

“There were a few times I thought it might not happen,” he said.

“It was tough going out on loan. I always wanted to be here. It was a good thing as I got to play games but at the time it seemed like I was getting shipped out again.

“I always believed I was good enough to play for Wolves, it was just whether that opportunity would come.

“You spend a lot of time in hotels and away from home which isn’t ideal. But it was a means to an end; I knew I needed experience for people to trust me as a goalkeeper.

“I just knew I would get that opportunity again at Wolves and luckily I did and I’ve ended up playing ever since.”

Spells at Leicester City, QPR and Middlesbrough gave him a taste of Championship football and in all Ikeme played 50 games on loan.

“Being on loan isn’t like in the reserves. You’re playing for three points, managers are fighting for their jobs, people are fighting for relegation or promotion, you fight for a cause.

“Yes you’ll make the odd mistake but it’s all part of the learning curve for when you come back to Wolves.”

DREAMS FROM MY FATHER

Ikeme has two personal ambitions.

One is to play in the Barclays Premier League with Wolves. An injury to Vincent Enyeama could make the other a reality.

“It’s not my choice if it was my choice to get picked I’d pick myself for every international game,” he said.

“My father was born there and a lot of my family are still in Nigeria so it would mean something to myself and my whole family. But the main thing for me is worrying about my Wolves form.”

Yeah, that calls for worrying because…

DROPPED ON SUNDAY

Ikeme was on the wrong end of Kenny Jackett’s ruthless streak when he became the latest to be sidelined by the no-nonsense Wolves manager.

Despite being the most consistent performer since Jackett took over in summer 2013, Ikeme was surprisingly dropped – for the first time in three seasons – for Wolves home game against Hull on Sunday.

Arsenal loanee Emiliano Martinez made his league debut for Wolves instead.

The keeper has made a couple of clangers in recent weeks and he was at fault for Blackburn’s goal in Wolves’ 2-1 win at Ewood Park last weekend.

“It’s a big call,” Jackett said.

“I’m very confident in both goalkeepers. Emi Martinez is a top-class goalkeeper.

“Carl Ikeme hasn’t done a lot wrong, but it’s a football decision and one I felt confident in.

“Carl was disappointed. Since I’ve been here, which is just over two years now, he has been the No.1 when fit. He’s got to really work hard to regain his place.”

If Ikeme’s first-team exile continues in the coming weeks then it suggests he is being judged as not good enough to be Wolves’ keeper in the long run.

THE NEW NEUER?

One aspect of goalkeeping that has changed in recent years is the increasing need to play the ball like a footballer.

But can our own Ikeme feel comfortable in a Manuel Neuer-style ‘sweeper’ role?

“Neuer’s like a centre midfielder,” Ikeme said.

“But you have to be more comfortable with the ball now.

“The main thing for a goalkeeper is to keep the ball out of the net but you’re getting a lot of them coming through now who are very comfortable with the ball at their feet.

“Your keeper’s always your spare man so you’re expected to move the ball well. We do a lot of work at it in training. But it’s always different on a match day when there’s a crowd.”

A TALL ORDER, THOUGH

The respected website on players’ performance stats, www.whoscored.com, listed concentration and penalty saving as Ikeme’s strengths.

His weakness was given as long passes so he may well bury the thought of being the next Neuer!

Ikeme i need to work on my delivery — I hope Alloy Agu helps me with my ball delivery

Before you want to believe or disbelieve their assessment, here is what they have on Vincent Enyeama.

Strengths: Long passing, strong; Concentration, strong; Shot stopping (Reflexes), strong, Penalty saving, Strong, Saving close range shots, strong.

Weaknesses: Catching crosses!

QUOTES

“If you’re not aiming for the Premier League you shouldn’t even be playing. Anybody who plays football wants to play in the Premier League and I’m no different.”

“I’ve been called all the names under the sun. It’s just part of the fun of being a goalkeeper.”

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

Ikeme progressed through Wolverhampton Wanderers’ academy and made the first team squad in their 2003–04 Premier League season?

He was born in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England?

Ikeme was initially invited by former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, but failed to make the team due to an injury sustained at the time?

He has been with Wolves since July 1, 2003, and his current contract runs until July 30, 2017?

Midfielder Sheyi Ojo is the other ‘Nigerian’ in Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 18-year-old wears jersey number 20?

Former Manchester United goalkeeper, Tomasz Kuszczak, left Wolves for Birmingham and the departure made Ikeme the most senior keeper at Wolves?

On March 2014, Wolves made a complaint to Walsall and the Football Association after Carl Ikeme and George Elokobi reported racial abuse from home fans at a League One match at the Banks’s Stadium?