| Nicknamed "The Cat", Vincent Enyeama is one of the | | | | a player but also a leader which helped his team not |
| most favorite players in the Nigerian National Squad by | | | | only avoid relegation and but also contend for the |
| both fans in his country and coaches. For several | | | | state cup final. His consistent improvements are results |
| years he had been the undisputed first choice by | | | | of a superb training system that include not only |
| Nigeria's coaches in goal for the squad. Born on | | | | physical conditioning but mental training as well to keep |
| August 29, 1982, he had been the top goalkeeper for | | | | his focus intact every second of a match. |
| the Super Eagles since he took over from Ike | | | | His consistent performance for his commercial clubs |
| Shorunmu in his country's final match at the 2002 FIFA | | | | earned him a substitute spot for the 2002 World Cup |
| World Cup. | | | | where he played for only one match which was |
| Beginning his soccer career at an early age of 16 with | | | | against England. During that last group game, he |
| the semi-professional club Ibom Stars, he continued to | | | | steadied is nerves and kept his composure to keep a |
| improve his skills until he was signed by the major club | | | | clean sheet and salvage a draw against the |
| Enyimba Aba where he played for three seasons | | | | powerhouse English squad. Since then he became his |
| from 2001-2004. During his stint at that club, he won | | | | coaches' top choice for goalkeeper when Ike |
| the CAF Champions League twice. However, he was | | | | Shorunmu retired from international soccer. |
| always substituted before penalty shootouts by his | | | | He had consistently contained his country's goal during |
| coach. Not knowing the real reason behind this, but | | | | the 2004 and 2006 African Cup of Nations. He had a |
| accepting the fact that he probably was not good | | | | very memorable 2010 sequel of the tournament when |
| enough for penalty kick stoppages, he work doubly | | | | he stopped three penalties in the quarterfinals against |
| hard and mentally trained himself to prepare for such | | | | Tunisia but unfortunately lost to Cote d'Ivore in the |
| events and not falter. He moved to FC Heartland for | | | | semi-final. |
| the 2005 season before transferring to Israel. | | | | The goalkeeper who had been substituted before |
| In Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, a minor league club in Israel, | | | | penalty shootouts early in his career became the hero |
| he had a very productive first season showing his | | | | for many of Nigeria's international games. |
| feline-like physical abilities and athletic skills. In his first | | | | In the first group stage match against Argentina in the |
| season there, his contributions on the pitch helped his | | | | 2010 World Cup, had a superb performance by |
| team qualify for the Israel State Cup and achieve | | | | stopping and saving a variety of shots from some the |
| fourth place in the Israeli Premier League which, in turn, | | | | top goal-scorers in the world such as Lionel Messi and |
| qualified the team to the 2006 UEFA Cup. He stayed | | | | Gonzalo Higuain but could not save the game-winning |
| with the club for two seasons and in 2007 moved to | | | | header from Gabriel Heinze. Still, with that loss, he was |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv where he is currently connected. | | | | named Man of the Match for his spectacular |
| Although his team did not have a good 2007-08 | | | | performance. |
| season, Vincent Enyeama continued to grow and | | | | Even in the face of defeat, an athlete who had shown |
| improve not only his goalkeeping skills but also his | | | | great resilience and desire against a mightier opponent |
| leadership skills as well. At one time when his club | | | | is always given due recognition. Enyeama, who chose |
| wasn't performing well, he wrote his team a letter | | | | to be better than who he was before by consistently |
| asking them to work together and fight for each other | | | | learning, is one goalkeeper who has etched his name |
| and the club. He had not only continued to improve as | | | | as one of the best in the world of soccer. |