Victor James Osimhen! That’s the hottest name in Italian football right now. Of course second only to the name of the club he represents, SSC Napoli (ably managed by the great Luciano Spaletti).
This Nigerian has just done himself, his family and his people proud. His 22 league goals have largely been responsible for the glorious season Napoli have had in the 2022/23 season, winning the scudetto with 5 matches to spare!
What a season it has been for Napoli. What a season it has been for Victor Osimhen. In the run-up to the title Napoli seemed guaranteed of a win everytime Osimhen played. In fact they experienced a lull in victories when Osimhen became injured. That’s the degree of importance of this great footballer.
At only 24 he had, hitherto, played in Germany ( Wolfsburg), Belgium (Charleroi), France.
The name Osimhen means “mine” (as in God saying “this is mine”). It also translates as representing someone who has the potential to attain spiritual enlightenment; someone that is able to perceive so many things from the world around him. And Victor really perceives goals in abundance!
Victor Osimhen and his mates have made history winning the Serie A title for Napoli after 33 years that the club last won it. It took the arrival of the great Diego Armando Maradona, whose dexterity in the manipulation of that inflated sphere called football was a marvel to behold, for Napoli to win the Serie A then in 1986 (for the first time) and again in 1990. Hence this is only their third title.
Whilst I wouldn’t want to compare Osimhen with Maradona, it is fitting to mention that Napoli in 1986-1990 had some great names in their squad. Maradona was already a world beater and the likes of Brazil’s Careca helped Maradona to share the goal scoring duty. There was also Alemao of Brazil (an already established defender). Gianfranco Zola was also in that squad (although with limited impact, because he was down in the pecking order below Maradona). The present Napoli team is full of “unknowns”. That’s what makes it special indeed.
Perhaps if Osimhen stays long enough in Napoli he will win two more titles and hence surpass Maradona’s record. I cannot imagine how the club would honour him (following the way they honoured Maradona with the name of their football ground changed to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Congratulations to Victor…the Serie A highest goleador (as at today) and the soon-to-be-crowned African footballer of the year 2023!
Congratulations Napoli.
-Rotimi Oladipo writes from the UK
