'Wonder Kids' who got lost in the dark world of football

The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions.

Well, surviving in the world of football is no different. It can also prove quite a hard place to live in. Not even kind mother nature spares those who does not prove themselves worthy of their existence. So, there is absolutely no way you can expect anything better from the holy script-writers of Football.

Football can either make you or break you. At one moment, it can make you feel like the best thing that has has ever happened on this earth and in the other, you may well end up being the biggest villain. Surely, it is not a game for the faint-hearted.

“Be the best, or get lost!!” - This the very mantra that works here. Cruel, as it may sound, but sadly that is the challenge that awaits every aspiring footballer. Only the best of the best survive. Many are tipped to be THE next ultimate hero, but only the chosen few reach that coveted “epitome of greatness”.

“Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength.”

Certainly those rare breed of men who used their strength in the “right way” and made it to the peak are worthy of all the adulations, worship and love that they get. Others get the their share of “glimpses of glory”, but often end up losing their way. Unfortunately for these group of young men, the latter has been their fate.

Lukasz Fabianski (Poland) -

Tipped to be the solution for Arsenal‘s goal-keeping woes, he never quite turned the heat on. Repeated mistakes in important matches including one against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals, has meant that he never made it regularly to the first team. Injuries haven’t helped him either. Now, at 26, it looks unlikely that he will be able to catch the top notch goal-keepers of his generations.

Sam Hutchinson(England) -

This former- Chelsea centre back was tipped for great things by even the then Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Hailed as John Terry’s successor, he was considered to be England’s next best thing. However, he fell victim to nasty injuries throughout his short career, and in the end, had to forcefully retire from football in 2010.

John Kennedy (Scotland) -

Another player who could not adapt to injuries. This Scottish sensation retired from football in 2009 after never having quite recovered from a nasty knee injury he suffered, on his Scotland debut in 2004.

John Obi Mikel (Nigeria) -

He hasn’t exactly been a disaster but no goals in 100 odd matches for Chelsea has meant that he never quite lived up to his great hype. His signatures were wanted by both Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer of 2007. In the end, he joined Chelsea in rather controversial circumstances. Even though he has shown glimpses of brilliance, he must keep up the consistency to stay afloat in the top-most level.

Liam Miller (Ireland) -

This ex-Celtic and Manchester United midfielder was quite a sensation in his early days. He had a disastrous stint at Manchester United and following his lack of discipline during his time at Sunderland, meant that he too never lived up to the great hype and expectations.

Junior Khanye (South Africa) -

A skillful South African winger who again did not manage to make the cut. Currently plays for Maritzburg United.

Kerlon (Brazil) -

Kerlon was the top scorer and named Best Player at the 2005 South American Under 17 Football Championship. But his career was plagued with injuries and his brief spells at Inter Milan and Ajax did not prove effective. Currently playing for Paraná Clube on loan.

Evandro Roncatto (Brazil) -

During 2003, he won the FIFA U-17 World Championship with Brazil. He was elected the 2nd best player (FIFA Silver Ball), losing the 1st place to Cesc Fàbregas, and was also a runner-up in the South American U17 Championship. However, the next big step never came and after a few unimpressive stints in Portugal and Cyprus, he is now a free agent without a club.

Franco Di Santo (Argentina) -

Hailed as the next Hernan Crespo, he never could make the cut at Chelsea. He was sold to Wigan in 2010. But still to make the big impact. However, all is not lost for him.

Julius Aghahowa (Nigeria) -

This Nigerian striker burst on to the scene with a goal against Sweden in the 2002 World Cup, and also ended up being the top scorer in the 2002 edition of African Nations’ Cup. An average spell at Shakhtar Donetsk followed by a poor stint at Wigan Athletic meant that all the speculation around him were proved wrong. He returned to Shakhtar in 2009, only to be loaned to PFC Sevastopol.

Cherno Samba (Gambia and England) -

He came to prominence when as a 13-year-old, he scored 132 goals in 32 games for the St Joseph’s Academy, Blackheath soccer team. He started his career at Millwall. With talks of Manchester United and Liverpool chasing him, he decided to stay at Millwall, and thus getting a 2 million pound bid rejected from Liverpool. However, his club career took a topsy-turvy ride and never quite reached the big stage. Having played for England in junior levels, he decided to shift to his motherland Gambia for senior football.

There may be various reasons on why the above players failed. Few may have been unavoidable, but most could have been. Only if they were not subjected to the extra added pressure of performing and matching the greats in each and every match. I sincerely hope that players like Jack Wilshere and Josh McEachran go on to be one of the greatest ever. However, it is my earnest request to let these guys play freely, rather than putting unnecessary pressure on them by giving them extra-ordinary tags or blasting them on the slightest of mistakes.

Would love to hear from you guys too! Cheers!!