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| Week 37 Spotlight: Child’s play |
Monday 8 May, 2006
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 Player of the Week: Okaka (Roma)
While the Giallorossi faithful who flocked to the Stadio Olimpico were disappointed not to see the return of Francesco Totti, one man will have been secretly delighted that Roma’s talisman is still on the sidelines.
For 16-year-old Stefano Chuka Okaka, Totti’s eleventh hour withdrawal from the squad with the flu represented the biggest moment of his young career. With a Champions League spot potentially at stake, the Perugia-born striker of Nigerian descent could’ve been forgiven for being a little overawed as he prepared to start a Serie A game for the first time. However, nothing could’ve looked further from the truth.
While his more experienced teammates struggled to find their rhythm against the bottom club, Okaka was a live-wire and had a hand in everything that Roma created. Having seen Samuel Kuffour and Rodrigo Taddei spurn guilt-edged chances of his making, Okaka finally got his deserved assist after 36 minutes. Receiving the ball from a free kick, he rolled it back for Damiano Tommasi to strike the game’s only goal from seven yards.
Luciano Spalletti may be keen to protect his young starlet but Roma’s injury woes have thrown him into the deep end a little sooner than expected. With first round UEFA Cup qualification against Greek side Aris Salonika assured, the Roma tactician wrote Okaka into the record books as the youngest Italian to play in a European competition - handing him a start instead of risking a half-fit Totti.
Fortunately, Okaka seems to thrive on the pressure of the big stage. Since his Serie A debut against Sampdoria in December, Okaka has only been called upon for a handful of substitute appearances but scored his first goal for the Giallorossi against Napoli in the Coppa Italia in December and has already shown enough promise to secure a new two-year deal at the Stadio Olimpico.
Although Okaka will have to settle for watching this summer’s proceedings on TV, by the time the 2010 World Cup Finals come around he may well be in the running for an Azzurri shirt – should he chose to represent Italy instead of Nigeria. One thing is certain – if Totti doesn’t make it back for the Giallorossi’s final game against Milan he’ll have a willing replacement.
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Goal of the Week: Pandev (Lazio)
Goran Pandev has made no secret of his desire to secure a permanent move to Lazio at the end of the season, and his masterpiece against Ascoli certainly won’t have hurt his chances.
The Macedonian hit-man’s 11th goal of the season helped the Biancocelesti to a 3-0 lead in a comfortable 4-1 win at the Stadio Del Duca - and what it lacks in importance, it more than makes up for in finesse.
There looked to be little danger when Pandev received the ball on the edge of the box. However, the ex-Inter marksman artfully evaded three defenders and rounded the goalkeeper with a deft step-over before slotting home from an acute angle.
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Number of the Week: 47
With his brace in Fiorentina’s 5-2 thrashing of Reggina on Sunday, Luca Toni took his season tally to 30 goals – a total not bettered since Antonio Valentin Angelillo found the net 33 times for Inter 47 seasons ago. |
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| Words: Paul Watson |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of Serie A 2005-06, including Player of the Week, Goal of the Week and Number of the Week. More
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