Keanan Bennetts. Do you know him? His name does not sound Nigerian. But that’s name that i likely to make headlines in the footballing soon. His prodigious talent in the game has marked him out one the world should watch. Endowed with blistering pace and technique, the exciting winger has been a revelation for the Spurs youth team leading them to victory at an Under-17 tournament that had Real Madrid, Juventus and Arsenal.
Already three countries are jostling to have the 15-year-old play for them: Nigeria, Germany and England.
By the circumstances of his birth, he qualifies to play for all three nations.
He is born to a German mother, Nicole, Nigerian Father, Richard, but was born in England.
Germany already has a head-start, having played him in their Under-16 national team in friendlies, including against Holland and thrice joined up in their training camps.
England also has made overtures by giving Bennetts games with their youth team in their recent Victory Shield matches against Wales and Northern Ireland.
But birth, Nigeria lays the strongest claim to the young lad, his father being Nigerian.
Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi has also called the boy’s dad Richard to sound him out on the possiblitiy of the teenager playing for Nigeria, his fatherland.
Although his Dad is in constant touch with Stephen Keshi, he insists Nigeria is a distant reality for now but hasn’t ruled out his son representing the Super Eagles in the future.
Bennetts Dad insists his son, who speaks fluent German, is closer to playing for England due to the presence of his fellow Spurs teammates in the England set up.
Under FIFA rules, until he wins a senior competitive cap he will can play for any nation he is eligible for.
