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GOLNOIR
EMANUEL OLISADEBE POLAND
Poland made the 2002 World Cup as a unknown but well organized team. But the eyes of the world were on one man in particular, and not just because he was the best player on the squad.
Nigerian born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe, took up Polish citizenship, married a Polish woman and put the entire national team on his muscular shoulders taking the squad to the 2002 World Cup. As one of Poland's former players once said, without Olisadebe, there would be no World Cup for Poland.
Emmanuel came to Poland in the late 90s and in the 1999-2000 season sensationally led Polonia Warsaw to the Ekstraklasa (the Polish Championship) for the first time in 54 years. His play so electrified that the president of the country and Jerzy Engel, the head coach of Poland's national team set out to make the seemingly impossible, happen: Make Emmanuel a Polish citizen so that he can play for the National Team.
When he was first approached by Engel, Emmanuel admitted he thought it was a joke. But when Engel insisted that he was serious he considered it.
"In the end, the decison was not difficult," said Emmanuel. "I felt that I had been overlooked by Nigeria. I wanted to have a long international career. Poland gave me that chance and I took it. There was no way that I was going to wait until I was 30 just to play ahandful of games for my country of origin."
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski processed Emmaneul's citizenship papers in a day and Poland had its first Black player.
And boy did he play.
Emmanuel scored 7 times in his first 9 games in a Poland shirt including the goal that clinched Poland's first World Cup in many years where he scored the opening goal against the United States. He became a national sensation in a country that harbors a dark, racist past, an aspect of life that Emmanuel has had to confront.
However he loves his adopted country and considers himself a Pole, having long ago given up any ambitions to play for Nigeria.
"I play for Poland. I no longer dream of playing for Nigeria. Those feelings have passed," he said. "I want Nigeria to win -- but just as a fan."
Polish football is none the better for it.
"Oli" fighting for the ball against Norway (from polishsoccer.com) 
Emmanuel, put Poland on his back and took them to the 2002 WC (from polishsoccer.com)
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GOL NOIR
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