Although modern football originated in Britain in the 19th century, it has permeated the globe to become the World’s most popular sport, with different countries owning playing styles and identities, producing top players. Football enthusiasts in different generations have watched some excellent players of the game like the great Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, Argentina’s Diago Maradona, George Best, Alfredo Di Stefano, Franz Beckenbauer, and recent fan favourites like Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Neymar Junior, Harry Kane, and Heung Min Son, to mention just a few.

Africa has not been left out in the heroes of the game with world-beaters like Essam El-Hadary of Egypt, Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ of Ghana, Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast, Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o, Liberia’s George Weah who is the current president of his country, Nigeria’s JJ Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, among other legends the continent has produced. But football remains at a developmental stage in many African countries largely due to the failures of its “administrators” and technical competencies of coaching personnel in the continent despite many ex-footballers and supposed experts favouring football management as a “retirement occupation.”

Of course, there are always exceptions to the bunch, and such has been the case of the Saudi Pro League Director of Football, Michael Emenalo, who was at the centre of activities at London Club, Chelsea for over a decade, having joined the coaching staff in 2007.  He later became chief scout, and then assistant first-team coach.

Arguably his most remarkable role at Chelsea was his appointment as Technical Director in 2011 under which he completely restructured the club’s academy, scouting, loan and women’s team setups, and is credited with being a major factor in the club’s success in that era. He also oversaw the scouting and signing of important players like Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N’Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard, and Cesc Fàbregas.

Enemalo later joined French side Monaco as a Technical Director after falling out with Chelsea’s former owner, Roman Abrahimovic. Although his stint at Monaco was short compared to his time at Chelsea, Emenalo is back in the spotlight with a recent appointment as the Football Director of the fast-rising Saudi Pro League. The league got the world talking when Al Nassr signed one of the greatest players of the game— Ronaldo— in 2022 on a deal with the “biggest salary” in soccer history worth close to 200 million euros (nearly $250 million) a year.

The recent wave of other top Europe-based players like Neymar, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte who moved to the Saudi Pro League in the just concluded transfer window is not likely to be a mere coincidence given Enemalo’s new role where his main job will be to supervise the work of player transfer, going by his “star pulling power” and profile from his Chelsea and Monaco days.

The Saudi League is the new bride of world football and it is pleasing to see an African as Emenalo being trusted with the project, particularly a novel aspect of the game. While African football largely run by Emenalo’s contemporaries is yet to reach the “technical height” of the Chelseas, Monacos, and now Saudis, Emenalo’s exploits connote two thought-provoking sides. First, the hope and conviction that Africans can excel anywhere and in any chosen field, including football management. The other is rather a query on why and if Emenalo’s feats can ever be replicated on the homefront for football development in Africa.