He was literally a footballing component, and had the capacity for creativity, which essentially was why he conquered organised defensive systems in his playing time. He had the flair, finesse, elegance and style and somehow injected unique passion into the round leather game that attracted a cult-like following within Nigeria and, indeed, the world. He was, without doubt, one of Nigeria's most colourful and talented footballers ever produced.

As a child of destiny, former Nigerian international Austin Okocha, seems fated to create history at this critical moment when the national team, the Super Eagles is trying to rewrite the nation's soccer history. He was reportedly linked with a return to the Eagles team to, hopefully, fill the void created by the absence of a capable midfielder, a position that facilitated his being called a genius.

However, while he is said to be considering a possible U-turn to emulate Roger Milla of Cameroun, he has, according to those who should know, equally spelt out an arduous condition that borders on the country's qualification for the mundial in South Africa.

But, many appear to have a contrary view.

There is debate among soccer enthusiasts that the former captain, whose lack of form and lay-back attitude contributed to denying the country a berth in Germany 2006, has no meaningful role to play in the new Eagles.

Yet, former national team coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, who is a member of the technical committee of both the Confederation Of African Football (CAF) and Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), says the resolution to recall Okocha lies only with two individuals: the coach and the player.

"The decision rests with the coach, Shuaibu Amodu," Onigbinde said. "He is to initiate the call. The second is for Okocha to accept if it's convenient for him. He is the only person to determine his fitness at the moment since he's no longer in active football."

Nigerian football, which is not alien to chaos, appears to be at a crossroads once again with non-qualification to the world cup in 2010 staring her citizens in the face. The usual blame game, which has predictably seen some calling for Amodu's head, seems to be dragging the issue of Okocha, known widely as "Jay-Jay", into the unfolding controversy that could further jumble the squad.

Okocha's youthful contribution in football is still regarded in some quarters as negligible and hardly felt, especially when he first burst into the national consciousness in 1993, in the country's U-20 colours in Mauritius. He, nevertheless, blossomed with age, and gave off a whiff of his prodigious talents.

He titillated fans with his breathtaking ball control on the global stage, even as his fancy foot-walk drew comparisons with the maestro himself, Edson Arante do Nascimiento, fondly called Pele of Brazil, and left many imaginations soaring in different directions.

Unfortunately, however, the 36-year-old Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State-born, and three-time world cup campaigner, who capped 75 times for Nigeria, was consistently overlooked for individual awards. He only came close twice, narrowly missing out on the African player of the year in 1998 and 2004. He also did not lift any major laurel during his stay in England, where he mesmerised the English fans in three different clubs with his football artistry.

The master dribbler, even so, played a major role in the Super Eagles of his time, winning in the process the Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1994, and contributing in qualifying the country for her first world cup appearance in the USA. He retired after Egypt 2006, where his performance, according to critics, was not spectacular.