HENRYS CAREER WAS GLORIOUS SAVE FOR THAT HAND OF GOD
The world is awash with the retirement of the legendary
Thierry Daniel Henry from active football. His glittering 20 years club career where he played for Monaco, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls resulted in him scoring 300 goals in just over 600 appearances in addition to the 51 goals he scored for France. Henry also lifted more than 35 major individual and team trophies including the World Cup and European Championship for France, the Champions League and La Liga with Barcelona, the Premier League and FA Cup at Arsenal, the French League at Monaco and the MLS Shield with the New York Red Bulls. In England, Henry lit up the Premier League during his spell at Arsenal in an incomparable By Moses Ekunu manner. His presence alone in the pitch ensured that Arsenal was guaranteed of at least a point and the sight him was enough to traumatise any defender. In the 2003/04 season at Arsenal, he was the Invincibles and the Invincibles were him where they went for 49 games unbeaten. His recent announcement of retirement from playing football has been greeted with mixed reactions. Praises In England, where Henry made his name in world football, everyone has been singing praise for him. Defenders everywhere will be breathing a sigh of relief that he has hung his boots up, he was certainly the toughest opponent I ever faced and possibly the best player the Premier League has seen were the words of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. Alan Smith from Sky Sports also described Henry as the most devastating player in Premier League history. Former Liverpool and Manu Striker Michael Owen described Thierry Henry as being "simply unplayable." Generally, speaking, the mood in England has been of praise all the way. In Uganda, the story was no different; Henry was a self-made super star. Technically, he wasn't as naturally endowed as Eric Cantona, Totti, Raul Gonzalez or Robbie Fowler. Yet in the end, neither was more pleasing to the eye or more prolific than Thierry were the words of Aldrine Nsubuga Senior one of ugandas sports pundits. A certain Eric Santos Opaach from Zombo also had some interesting sentiments to share; Thierry Henry, even though i wasnt an Arsenal Fan, you taught me how to make defenders busy throughout 90 minutes, you were a true genius. It is therefore no doubt that the premier league fraternity adored this French international. Critics In France however, where Henry was born and where he started his footballing career, he is not a popular figure at all. Not even the 51 goals he scored for the national team have helped him. His retirement has received very little positive reaction but mostly muteness. Emmanuel Petit former French International recently criticised the French media for their ill treatment of Thierry Henry. In 2010 when Luis Suarez used his hands to save a goal against Ghana, he returned home as hero. It was a different story for Henry, following that handball incident against Ireland. The French press painted a bad image on him and Henry has since not spoken to the French media. Some racism activists suggest that Henry is not being loved at home because of his colour but that is all subject to debate. Talking about that handball incident, the reaction from Ireland has been quite interesting. Only people he shouldn't expect a card from are the Football Association of Ireland. Unless the card is red were the words of Mikill Pane from Ireland. Young boys in Green from Northern Ireland described Henrys retirement as Good Riddance. 104.1 Radio advised Henry to take it HANDy on his retirement! Clearly that hand of god incident is a black spot in Henry career and it is proving significant. mosesekunu@gmail.com