Despite bursting onto international scene at the right age (23), Osaze remained the player he was at Bendel Insurance (2000-2002) and Belgian club La Louviere (2002 -2004) – very shy and reserved.
At the Egypt 2006 finals, where the striker cemented his place in the Eagles, he was celebrated for his amazing dribbling technique, quick passing, shooting, and movement off the ball.
His performance for French side Lille, a club he joined from La Louviere a year after the Egypt 2006 finals, and country did not go unnoticed in Europe as the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and AC Milan reportedly sought his signature.
However, Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow moved to the front of the queue for the forward to sign him for a reported $14m four-year deal on July 16, 2007.
And since then, Osaze has delighted his fans with his performance on the field of play, the same way he has exasperated them with his off-field behaviour. Meanwhile, his Twitter account has become a potent attacking weapon anytime he is hurt or feels strongly about an issue. Apart from that, the player has used his Twitter page to state his mind on issues damning the consequences.
He was involved in a catalogue of bust-ups with the Super Eagles coaches, the latest being Stephen Keshi. Keshi excluded him from his South Africa 2013 squad and Osaze replied with ferocious tweets.
Conversely, the player had displayed a high level of professionalism and desire to lead West Brom to victories, respecting the Baggies authorities until his recent Twitter rants.
But despite that, the Tunisia 2004 and Egypt 2006 bronze medallist did not allow his questionable off-field behaviour to overshadow his quality when fielded for international matches. Also, he gave 100 per cent on the field for West Brom until the modest English Premier League outfit rejected his transfer request to join struggling Queen Parks Rangers during the January transfer window.
Osaze released a series of outbursts against the club after his transfer request was rejected. The fans who once adored him reacted angrily and he has since lost their respect.
The player reportedly said he was “deeply hurt” and “offended” by what he regarded as a lack of “common respect” from management.
“At this stage of my career, this opportunity may not come around again,” Express.co.uk quoted him as saying.
“A new challenge, a new opportunity and a chance to play under one of the most respected managers (Harry Redeknapp).”
According to reports, Osaze said he wanted to leave to ensure security for wife Sarah and new-born son Noah.
The journey to becoming a ‘bad boy’ started when German coach Beri Vogts selected him for the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup squad.
During the qualifiers for the championship, the player, who was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, delighted Vogts and the fans with his attacking prowess.
However, after the competition, Osaze’s capacity to cause trouble surfaced with alarming regularity.
The Beijing 2008 silver medallist fired the first salvo after Nigeria’s quarterfinal crashing at Ghana 2008 when he launched a scathing attack on Vogts. Why? Because the 1974 World Cup winner denied him regular starts during the tournament.
Osaze pulled the trigger yet again mocking coach Shaibu Amodu for the same reason he attacked Vogts after the country’s third-place effort at Angola 2010. He went on to dismiss the former Orlando Pirates of South Africa manager as a technically deficient coach.
He did not spare Amodu’s successor Swede Lars Lagerback after the Eagles’ first round exit at the South Africa 2010 World Cup after he was relegated to the role of bit-part player during the event.
Of course his running battles with coach Samson Siasia have been well documented.
The frosty relationship between Siasia and Osaze began when the player stayed away from a friendly against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Abuja in 2011.
On his Twitter page, he accused Siasia of having “issues”, saying he walked out because of an injury.
He wrote, “Unlike me my finishing in training today was good. Hearing something that Siasia is angry I left. He needs to think a bit or he got issues.”
Osaze’s attitude infuriated Siasia, who consequently excluded him from the high-profile friendly match against Argentina and the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
It took the intervention of the Nigeria Football Federation President Aminu Maigari, who initiated a meeting in London, for both parties to resolve their differences.
But Osaze would be back again very soon, this time against the press after he was criticised for not giving his best in the Gabon-Equatorial 2012 qualifier against Guinea in Abuja. Nigeria failed to qualify for the competition.
Osaze wrote on his Twitter account, “No one is happy with this result. Our journalists are enemies because you don’t give them money or very primitive. Could be both.
“I was quoted in Tribune Newspaper. If even one of the word was from me make thunder fire me and if not thunder fire their editor !
“To some naïve naija fans. Advice not to read and believe naija press cos most of them are useless as well as some of our ungrateful fans.”
The player’s long history of feud took another dimension in December when Keshi axed him from his squad to the South Africa 2013 finals.
An enraged Osaze once again took to his Twitter account to express his grievances at being left out of the squad.
Apart from coaches, the gifted but temperamental player also fired broadsides at Atlanta’ 96 Olympic Games gold medallist Victor Ikpeba, Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo and the Nigeria Football Federation in a series of tweets in what he termed his attempt to clear his name after reports claimed he was dropped because of his arrogance.
He claimed recent Eagles captains were only concerned about themselves, making the team lack a leader. This angered Yobo, who promptly replied the West Brom player saying, “Osaze has been reckless, disrespectful to most people. He’s not a kid, he should grow up because we cannot continue to babysit him. He is responsible for his problems.”
naijaobserver
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