BBC SPORT | AFRICA | Emenalo back in the USA

Former Nigerian World Cup defender Mike Emenalo is back in the United States where he spent most of his career.

The former San Jose Clash defender, who played for the Super Eagles in the 1994 World Cup finals, has been training in Florida with the Miami Fusion with a view to signing for the upcoming season.

Emenalo, who will 36 in July, started his career at Notts County in England before moving across the 'pond' to the US after winning a college scholarship to Boston.

He had already won his first cap for the Super Eagles at that stage.

Almost a decade in the USA meant he slipped out of the spotlight but after going to Belgium he fought his way back into the Nigerian team.

emenalo v baggio
Emenalo tries to halt Italy's Roberto Baggio in the 1994 World Cup
It was while the Super Eagles were training in the Netherlands, ahead of the 1994 World Cup finals, that Emenalo presented himself to coach Clemens Westerhof, was allowed to train with his compatriots and got picked for the 22-man squad for the World Cup.

Africans on trial

Afterwards he played in Major League Soccer and then at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

Emenalo is not the only African on trial in the US at present, just a few weeks away from the start of the new season.

South African under-23 international Jonathan Solomons has also gone to Florida for training with Columbus Crew.

Solomons belongs to Pretoria club SuperSport United, who are coached by Bruce Grobbelaar.

South African-born Nathan Gibson has also signed for the Colorado Rapids, along with the former Scottish international John Spencer.

Gibson was with MyPa Jazz in Finland last year.


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