Michael Eneramo: Born in Esperance

The North Africans did not go to Timbuktu in search of gold, but rather found the overland route to Makurdi without a compass to land in a gold mine.

The gold mined was Michael Eneramo, but not without its rawness that needed quick polishing.

The destination was Tunisia, the Land of Carthage, which was home to the giant Esperance, multiple champions of the Tunisian league and the FA Cup. Esperance was never short of quality gold and saw Eneramo as potentially the most important thing that could happen to blood and gold.

After all, the intellectuals were right, as the former Lobi Stars hitman would surprisingly end up “buying” Esperance with his goals.

It was not an easy road for the rookie whose goal tally and, most importantly, great prospects for the local team, Lobi Stars, opened the doors of Esperance with a bang.

Zambian superstar striker Kenneth Malitoli left a silhouette that both management and fans had turned into a monument leaving a huge mountain to climb for his replacement. There was nothing Malitoli didn’t do in Tunisia, except run for mayor of Tunisia before walking like a king.

That was the void for Kaduna’s rookie giant to fill. Unknown, raw, untested on the big stage, Eneramo was going to carry the hopes of thousands of Esperance faithful on his young shoulders.

Were you prepared for the test of this great hobby, management and Malitoli?

Eneramo was going to do the unthinkable, the fans watched and waited, the pressures reached crescendos. Eneramo was going to be loaned to USM Alger to prepare enough for the high expectations. Esperance knew the gold they mined in Makurdi and they would not let it go, as they usually refused to waste time harvesting quality.

Eneramo was only rough and needed quicker polishing in Algiers to get a finished product. There was no time for that at Esperance as the quality lived there in a natural habitat, forcing a loan deal.

Eneramo started like a house on fire against the multiple Algerian champions, faithful to the beliefs and expectations of Esperance. Goals visited him instantly when he arrived in Algeria, many, enough for a quick return.

Scoring 13 goals in 24 appearances was a great test passed without blemish and the time was destined for Tunisia.

The polishing was enough, complete by Esperance’s estimations, as Eneramo came back to quickly clinch the league title.

The Esperance was not done with him preparing to kill, another loan to Saudi Arabia was quickly organized on purpose.

Eneramo arrived in Riyadh for Al-Shabaab almost like a turbaned sheikh, but his spell was as quick as it had begun. Shortly after eight games and one goal, Eneramo was quickly called upon to take over fully prepared. Eneramo would return to restart an Esperance voyage that would be a great reference forever.

Was Napoleon Bonaparte close to doing what Eneramo did in Esperance?

Even the moons and stars defended the greatest striker to ever grace the blood and gold of their history. The enormous Nigerian heritage that had been enjoyed and propagated in Esperance knew no better heights than the immense contributions of Eneramo.

League titles, FA Cup honors and individual honors became commonplace as Eneramo galloped towards goals.

Five League titles, three FA Cup titles and a two-time goalkeeper, equaling Malitoli’s record of winning them consecutively.

Eneramo thus became the third player in the history of the Tunisian team to consecutively win the top scorer award.

Esperance ran, Eneramo galloped, the defenders trembled, the goalkeeper sinned more by recovering the ball from the back of the net. The club’s honors fell, delirium enveloped the fans, Tunisia stood still, Eneramo attacked again and again.

Was he ever looking away? The phone lines were busy, offers were flowing, the club’s scouts were visiting, observing, but not yet signing the dotted lines. Eneramo held on, kept hitting, the Tunisian FA lines intensified, Eneramo thought about home.

The FA continued to attract even the president of Tunisia, who accelerated citizenship as the FIFA World Cup sang “This is Africa” in 2010. The pride of the country burned in him and forced the late coach Shuaibu Amodu to extend a hand.

He turned green and white for Tunisia, who left Abuja not without Eneramo’s equalizer in the Super Eagles’ 2-2 draw in the 2010 World Cup qualifier.

He agonizingly missed the train to the World Cup in South Africa, but was good enough for nine more matches for his country. Two more goals for the Eagles were enough for the devastating forward.

Back in Esperance, the intellectuals finally agreed to send him to Türkiye when Sivaspor brought him.

The echoes of Eneramo continued to resonate even in the caves and mountains of Tunisia several years after his departure. Since then, none have come close to matching his crazy scoring career, nor have any come close to his individual records.

Its last shadows were painted red and gold when Eneramo returned to Tunisia for business, fun and another. The great beyond was the most unlikely place for Eneramo and Esperance, but human mortality came sooner than expected. .

Eneramo collapsed on the field while playing a local match in Kaduna and was declared dead on arrival.

Esperance mourns its superhero because it is very difficult for them to say goodbye to yesterday.

Good night Eneramo!