“I had to collect Enyeama’s boots” – Ex-Nigerian goalie reveals two memorable encounters with Argentina great Batistuta

The previous worldwide was a member of the nationwide workforce setup for over ten years, profitable just a few medals

Former Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has named legendary Argentine ahead Gabriel Batistuta because the hardest striker he performed towards.

Shorunmu confronted a number of unbelievable attackers throughout a profession that noticed him flip skilled in 1990 and retire in 2005.

The Lagos-born shot-stopper performed for Stationery Shops, Harmony, and Taking pictures Stars within the home league earlier than transferring out to Switzerland the place he represented Basel, Lucerne, and Zurich. Shorunmu additionally spent two years at Turkish giants Besiktas.

Between 1992 and 2022, Shorunmu made 36 appearances for the Tremendous Eagles and was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper on the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Nonetheless, in all of his days dealing with elite strikers within the recreation, Shorunmu has little doubt that former Fiorentina ahead Gabriel Batistuta was his final nemesis.

The 2 first confronted one another in a pleasant between their golf equipment within the late nineties and have been at it once more when Nigeria and Argentina met on the group stage of Korea/Japan 2002.
Argentina received the encounter courtesy of Batistuta’s solitary strike within the 63rd minute.

And Shorunmu recounts how fellow Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama needed to come to his rescue after one among his in-match battles with Batistuta.

Alongside Austin Okocha, Ike Shorunmu was the Tremendous Eagles’ finest participant on the day.

What has Shorunmu stated? 

When requested, in a chat with The Punch, who was the hardest striker he ever confronted, Shorunmu responded: “It was positively Gabriel Batistuta. I first got here head to head with him after I was with FC Zurich in 1997 once we went for pre-season in Italy and we performed towards Fiorentina.

“It was like a tug-of-war between him and my defenders and despite the fact that he’s an Argentine he performed like an African. Once more, I confronted him on the World Cup in 2002 in Korea.

“The primary 20 minutes of that recreation was robust and we had a collision and my boot acquired torn. I had 60 per cent benefit of attending to the ball first, however hastily, I don’t know the way it occurred, Batistuta acquired there earlier than me and I rushed out and tore my boot.

“I needed to acquire Vincent Enyeama’s boots to proceed the sport as a result of I didn’t have additional boots. He was the hardest striker I ever confronted, little doubt about it.”

Since retiring from soccer, Shorunmu has served as goalkeeping coach at Enyimba and Heartland and he’s at present working with Tremendous Eagles’ Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro.