Troost-Ekong’s El-Capitano Extraordinaire

By IKENWA NNABUOGOR

William Troost-Ekong is everything a captain should be and the Al-Kholood central defender is living every bit of it and enjoying his game.

The former Bursaspor hardman leads his men with the confidence and guile of a four-star general, while maintaining his steel and toughness; he’s perfectly modeled his game after.

Troost-Ekong became a natural successor to Ahmed Musa, the centurion, who retired with his head firmly fixed on his shoulders, after stop gapping in the role while Musa struggled with the harsh demands of the beautiful game.

It wasn’t a mountain high enough for the towering Dutch-born star to step into Musa’s shoes when it was his time to grab the baton and it’s been as good as it gets with each passing game.

Troost-Ekong’s style is reminiscent of the Big Boss Stephen Keshi, Eagles’ departed captain who led his men, by example and took “bullets” for everything he represented as he captained the national team.

What about Keshi’s goals? Troost-Ekong brings them to our memories once long again after the country mourned the extraordinary leadership of their departed hero whose tenure also had scripts of run-ins with the apex football authority NFF especially on issues bordering on players’ welfare.

He has also exhumed those magical hands and fingers of Keshi, whose deceptive looks created confusion in the camp of opponents, while it warmed the hearts of fans who thronged the stadiums to catch glimpses of them.

While Troost-Ekong may not have the full confidence of finger-pointing Keshi, he makes up for that for his admirable organization of his back line and his general responsibilities.

Troost-Ekong has made fans to enjoy defensive play in Eagles again, the department that broke a little in the golden era when Eagles reached fourth best in FIFA’s rankings.

On the flip side of 30s, age may not be too kind for the combative defender but he will surely hang on for far too long before he calls time.

Meanwhile, his leadership symposiums and seminars are also online now for new central defenders to try to be and lead and play like him.