“How Can I Be Happy?” Simy Nwankwo Reacts To Beating George Weah And Obafemi Martins Records

Despite playing for one of the smallest clubs in Serie A, the Nigerian international has outperformed two of Africa’s greatest exports to Italy, but it is an achievement that has come with mixed feelings for the Onitsha-born star

Super Eagles star Simeon Nwankwo has sealed his legacy for all times in Italian football, after beating the Serie A records set by AC Milan great George Weah and former Inter Milan ace Obafemi Martins.

But Nwankwo has not had time to enjoy the historical feats, with Crotone’s struggles dampening the occasion for the Nigerian forward.

Simy, as he is fondly called, has contributed 17 goals in 30 league matches for Crotone, with nine of those remarkably coming in his last six games.

That scoring run placed Simy above compatriot Martins – who clocked 11 goals – as the most prolific Nigerian in a single season in the Italian top-flight.

And having found the back of the net in consecutive games against Atalanta, Torino, Lazio, Bologna, Napoli, and Spezia, Simy left Weah behind on five to become the only African to have scored in six straight Serie A matches.

It is an incredible company to keep for a striker who was little-known in his country before arriving in Italy via Portugal.

While individual accolades continue to flow towards Simy, it is ridicule facing his Crotone side on the verge of dropping from the elite league.

The 28-year-old notched 20 goals to power Crotone’s promotion from Serie B last term, but even if he gets as many – he is already only four short – this campaign, it might not be enough to save the Pythagoreans from relegation.

With eight matches left to play, bottom-of-the-table Crotone are a massive 13 points from safety, and the club’s fate appears doomed despite the best efforts of their 16-goal hero.

For a man who places collective success over personal glory, Simy does not know how to celebrate his historic feats in the middle of Crotone’s troubles.

“I do not know what to say,” he told Gazzetta.it when asked if he ever thought he would one day be better than Weah and Martins.

“The truth is that all these numbers are nice, but I’ve never been a person who thinks about these things.

“It’s nice to hear that you have made great numbers and broken records of important players, but my team is last in the standings. How can I be happy? At the end of the season, I will do my own analysis, but not at this moment.”

Now Crotone’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 151 games, Simy’s legendary status in Italy is sealed.

There are more records within reach of the former Portimonense ace. He is just two goals from breaking Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s record as the Nigerian with the most goals in a single campaign in Europe’s top five leagues this millennium.

This post was last modified on April 15, 2021 9:48 am

Imhons Erons

Share
Published by
Imhons Erons

Recent Posts

NPFL: Shooting Stars end ugly 20-year record against Rangers as Remo Stars, Abia Warriors record big wins

Matchday 18 games of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) were played across the country… Read More

2 hours ago

What Tolu Arokodare said after helping Genk set a new club record with dominant win over Anderlecht

Tolu Arokodare has expressed his delight at being part of history-making at KRC Genk after… Read More

3 hours ago

Why PSG will not sign Victor Osimhen

French Ligue 1 champions PSG may decide against signing Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen, as… Read More

3 hours ago

Osimhen: Napoli star drops transfer hint as Man United and Chelsea prepare €75 million bid

Napoli-owned forward Victor Osimhen has sparked transfer speculation with a new comment about his future,… Read More

16 hours ago

Ghana 0-0 Nigeria: CHAN Eagles grab first-leg advantage in Accra against Black Galaxies

Nigeria forced Ghana to a goalless draw in the first leg of the qualifying playoff… Read More

16 hours ago

What Hakimi’s mother said after her son lost the CAF POTY Award to Lookman

Achraf Hakimi's mother, Saida Mouh, has revealed her son has moved on from the disappointment… Read More

16 hours ago