Diego’s soccer odyssey

By Ikenwa Nnabuogor

Donald Agu chose to steal into the Nigerian football league circle from little known Colliery Comprehensive Secondary School, Ngwo, Enugu, and confidently not from the more popular high schools in the same Coal City more illustrious players Jay Jay Okocha (National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu), Uwa Ogbodo (College of Immaculate Conception CIC) and Utaka brothers (both from Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw, Enugu) chose their career paths from.

From Colliery boy to Bundesliga tough guy, Donald Nnaemeka Agu stood up to be counted among for the beautiful things he did with the round leather before he called it time with his illustrious career, returning to homeland Enugu where manages his academy.

Just fresh out of high school, Diego defied his young age to stroll into the Rangers’ back four despite the array of stars the foremost national League side boasted in his hey days, Diego was never a player to look like a jellyfish, he was a Blue Marlin that caught the eye of the handlers.

Diego soon became a tough nut in the rear for his boyhood club, oscillating well as a full back both on the right and left, except stop gapping in the goal, he was a rock.

Traditionally a left back, Diego strayed to the right side of the rear to do business as his brilliant left foot never slowed down his versatility to handle both jobs as he continued to keep the front men from the opposing team at bay much to the delight of the home fans.

Rangers’ gaffer Mathias Obianika, a true lover of his protègè, gambled on his newest star on their trip to Lagos to face Super Stores as first choice Azuka Asomugha was indisposed and left behind in Enugu, at left back for his debut baptism of fire and Diego came out of it smelling of roses.

His Rangers’ journey had already begun before it had even started for the young gun and by the time Asomugha returned, Obianika, who would have none of not playing his boy, moved him to right back. He would return to his traditional left back role while his sweet sojourn at Rangers lasted.

With a kind height fit for night club bouncer, at princely 1.85 metres, Diego hunted with his head pretty well in the air keeping the opposing heads in check as competition for honours in the league thickened. Strongly built like a tank manned by a happy US soldier sent to the Gulf during the Gulf War, Diego was tough to shake off the ball while he delightfully mopped up again to initiate yet another round of attack.

The lure of Europe was the next stanza of the folklore for the upcoming defender and by the time his flight landed in Germany, Diego was on another mission different from the tough ones he embarked on in Serbia (then Yugoslavia) and Italy.

FC Augsburg opened it’s arms for their newest and first ever African acquisition in 1996 as Diego began his German mission on a sweet footing, commanding his space as if his life depended on it till he was off to bigger challenges at top side Eintrant Frankfurt.

Sadly, Frankfurt doused Diego’s flames as he just hung on not having opportunity to prove his Augsburg performance was worth it.

Another German side, in the lower rungs, SSV Reutlingen came to his rescue and he breath again showing himself in the rear for the German side and proving he was worth some more look ins.

With German football winding down for him, Diego headed east in Bangladesh to pick up the pieces of his home stretch reaching career.

Back home now and handing his own academy, Diego’s still have unfinished business with football and he might one of the most successful academy managers, who knows?