Top Ten: Bargain African buys
Michael Weightman
Posted on: 21 January 2011 - 15:25
Football
The World Cup last year demonstrated just how far football in Africa has come. A brilliantly organised tournament was enhanced further by Ghana’s run to the quarter final, and only a lick of paint of the cross bar stopped Asamoah Gyan sending the Black Stars into the semi final. The stock of the African players has risen as has the price and wage demands. Essien, Drogba, Yaya Toure all cost their clubs over £20 million, further proving the quality that is coming out of the continent. But not all players will cost such an excessive amount and there have been some bargains over the years; so Sport.co.uk takes a look at 10 African players that didn’t cost the earth.
1. Cheik Tiote
The Cote d’Ivoire midfielder has taken to the Premier League like the proverbial duck to water and has been a key factor in the Magpies impressive return to the top flight. The Ivorian was previously at FC Twente under Steve McClaren and was again an integral part of the team that won the Eredivise title. At £3.5million it looks like great business from the Toon and if the good performances continue, Alan Pardew may have trouble holding onto the competitive midfielder.
2. Lucas Radebe
There could be an argument that Radebe has been the most influential African player ever to play in England; I mean who else has a rock band named after them?
On the pitch the South African played 200 times for Leeds and reportedly turned down moves to Manchester United and AC Milan while at Elland road and pulled in a crowd of nearly 38,000 for his testimonial in 2005.
Radebe will always be part of the club in the form of a hospitality suite that bares his name and their Mascot ‘Lucas the Kop Cat’ is a tribute to the defender; not bad for a man costing just quarter of a million.
3. Jay Jay Okocha
The man so good they named him twice came to Bolton after the 2002 World Cup following his release from Paris Saint Germain. The Nigerian was brought in to add some much needed flair to Sam Allardyce’s side, but mainly to add some experience to a Trotters team battling against relegation. The gamble paid off as Okocha’s 7 goals helped ensure Premier League survival and even had Big Sam dancing on the pitch on the final day. As captain of the side he helped Wanderers to their first final in 9 years in the League Cup and helped turn the club into a recognised Premiership force. An ill fated spell at Hull has done little to tarnish the reputation gained at Bolton and all football fans should be thankful of that.
4. Nwankwo Kanu
Already with a Champions League and UEFA Cup to his name, Arsene Wenger brought Kanu to England just over a decade ago in a deal worth just over £4million. One of the most memorable moments from the Nigerian was his hat trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in which the Gunners came back from 2-0 down. He added two league and FA Cup medals before leaving for West Brom in 2004. The lanky striker never showed his true form at the Hawthorns and many an eyebrow was raised when Harry Redknapp took him to Portsmouth two years later. However the crafty Cockney’s gamble paid off as Kanu hit 10 goals in his first season and the winner in the F.A Cup final a year later.
5. Abdoulaye Faye
The Stoke City centre half has never commanded a huge transfer fee throughout his career, but has consistently performed at the highest level. Another Sam Allardyce discovery, Faye was part of the side that turned the Reebok into a fortress and qualified for Europe via the league. The defender followed his manager to Newcastle and although he had a solid first season on Tyneside he found himself on the move again in 2008, as Tony Pulis paid £2.25million to bring him to the Britannia. Still a part of the set up at the Stoke, Faye looks to be sticking around for a few more years yet.
6. Kolo Toure
When Arsene Wenger paid ASEC Mimosas £150,000 for Toure in 2002, not even he would have thought it to be such a sound investment .Partnering Sol Campbell at the heart of the ‘Invincible’ defence, Toure quickly established himself at Arsenal and added two FA Cup winning medals during his time in North London. Many will be questioning why Toure is in the list when he cost current club Man City a hefty £16 million; but from an Arsenal perspective a £15.85 million profit and the best years out of the player certainly demonstrates the blueprint of a perfect bargain buy.
7. Marouane Chamakh
A free transfer arrival to the Emirates this summer, Chamakh looked to be the missing link from the Arsenal squad in that he was a forward that could actually head the ball. The Moroccan international had a promising start to his Arsenal career and netted his first goal in the 6-0 win over Blackpool. The pedantic amongst you will argue that he was in fact born in France, however 50 caps for the homeland of his parents is enough qualification for sport.co.uk and the fact he didn’t cost a penny, simply adds credence to the argument.
8. Bruce Grobbelaar
Although signed by Liverpool pre Premier League, the £250,000 invested in the Zimbabwe goalkeeper proved good business for the Reds as Grobbelar repaid them with 14 years of service. The highlight of which has to be the wobbly legs in the 1984 European Cup final as Liverpool defeated Roma on penalties. There wasn’t much Grobbelar didn’t win at Anfield and although his late career was tainted with match fixing allegations; there’s no doubting the eccentric ‘keeper was ultimately a good thing for English football.
9. Peter Ndlovu
Maybe not the household name that many were expecting, but Zimbabwe’s record goal scorer was a popular figure in the early Premiership years. He immediately endeared himself to the Coventry fans by scoring away at Arsenal and then smashing the winner against Aston Villa at Highfield Road.
Ndlovu went on to represent Huddersfield, Birmingham and Sheffield United and carved a decent career for himself in his 12 seasons in England. May not be remembered as one of the greats, but certainly a good servant to the game in this country.
10. Tony Yeboah
After a successful loan spell Leeds paid £3.4million for the Ghanaian’s services in 1995 and Yeboah was soon paying back that fee. The forward is competing with Matt Le Tissier for the greatest collection of goals in the Premier League and the volley against Liverpool is still a sight to behold 15 years on. Although his stay in England was brief, Yeboah did net 24 times in just over two years at Elland Road and is still loved by the Leeds faithful today. Some would say it was the goals that did it, but the striker’s omission of his love of a Yorkshire Pudding has firmly ingrained Yeboah in their hearts.