pastorjohn.org: Kanu's Story as told by The SUN Newspaper

Kanu in dancing mood after scoring the only goal of the match

FA Cup hero, Nwankwo Kanu, has hailed Portsmouth's Wembley victory as the greatest moment of his life. The Nigerian forward, who has also won the UEFA Champions League with Ajax Amsterdam and the UEFA Cup with Internazionale, scored the only goal of the game on Saturday to sink Cardiff.

However, Kanu has insisted that lifting the Cup with Pompey had surpassed his previous accomplishments in football.
"They call me king," Kanu, who also scored Pompey's winner in their semi-final victory over West Brom said. "So, I had to deliver, and hopefully, I did.

"I have to thank God, who made it possible for me to score the only and winning goal of the match. This is the best moment of my life. I started the game and I won the Cup for Portsmouth. In fact, I haven’t felt like this before."

Kanu, who hit the post with an early chance in the final of the FA Cup on Saturday, added: "I kept my head cool and I scored. You have to take your chance and that's what I did.
"Portsmouth are not one of the four big clubs. In fact, no one believed we were going to do it, but we did."

The leggy Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ captain looks set to remain at Fratton Park for an additional year, as he eyes to participate in the UEFA Cup.
"I hope the fans, Harry (Redknapp) and everyone at the club will remember this day and sign me for another contract," he said.
"I love the supporters and I want to be part of the team that will play in the UEFA Cup.
"That is football, you keep waiting and finally you have to make a decision. I have got a year contract already. I will be here for another year.
"Being in Europe means a lot to the players because most of them haven’t been there before or won medals."

Saturday’s victory is one of the high points in the chequered career for the 31-year-old Nigerian. The two-time African Player of the Year made his mark with Dutch side, Ajax, where he won the Champions League in 1995 and thereafter led Nigeria to win an Olympic gold in Atlanta in 1996. In the semi-final match at the Atlanta outing, Nigeria trailed Brazil 3–2 before Kanu scored a last-minute equalizer and went further to hit the golden goal in the fourth minute into the extra time to give Nigeria a stunning victory.

Shortly after the Atlanta feat, doctors discovered that Kanu had a heart problem, which caused him to pass under the surgeon’s knife. As he struggled to returned to top form, he moved to Inter Milan where he played only a dozen games over a period of three years before heading for Arsenal in 1999, where he enjoyed a resurgence, winning two FA Cups and two Premier League titles between 2002-04.

After the emergence of Thierry Henry in the Arsenal’s squad, Kanu was denied a new contract in the Arsene Wenger’s team, a factor that led to his move to West Bromwich Albion in 2004 before Portsmouth picked him up two years later on a free transfer. And Redknapp, the Portsmouth’s manager, has now received the ultimate reward for that move.
"When he missed the early one, I thought that maybe it was going to be one of those days," said Redknapp, who just won his first trophy in his 25 years of coaching.
"When we took him on a free transfer from West Brom, everyone thought we were mad. West Brom released him, but he has been great for us. Just great!" the happy manager added.