Africa ’s most decorated football
player, Nwankwo Kanu has
joined the ranks of global
figures whose compelling
stories_have been immortalized
on the silver screen (i.e. Pele,
Muhammed Ali,_Maradona and
Mike Tyson). But Kanu takes it a
notch further as his feature_is
to be released simultaneously
with his biography, after the
World Cup_in South Africa. Kanu
considers this movie and book
to be his heartfelt gift to Nigeria
on her fiftieth anniversary, to
Africa and indeed the world.
Titled Lion Heart: The Kanu Story,
the movie is a documentary
feature,_directed by BBC
London-trained Nigerian
director, Bayo Awolaja,
and_produced by Neil Oyenekan
(Dragons Den Nigeria, Taking
Sides, 2002, UK ).
The Executive Producers include
Kanu Nwankwo, Lighthouse,
IBST Media, Worldwide
Management Ltd. and Connect
Marketing. The movie is
currently being filmed in Nigeria,
London, Amsterdam, the USA,
South Africa and_India, and has
a plot that chronicles Kanu’s
inspiring rags to riches_story
from a unique perspective that
delves into his journey into the
world of soccer from his humble
beginnings in Owerri, to his
struggle with a near fatal heart
condition at the peak of his
football career, to his heart
surgery in Cleveland, Ohio, and
back to his tribulations and
triumph at Arsenal, Ajax,
Portsmouth etc.
In addition to his exploits on the
football pitch, the movie also
unveils one of the most
recognisable UNICEF
ambassadors as a mentor,
businessman, husband, and
friend. According to the
Lighthouse Productions CCO, “
this film isn’t just about Kanu
the footballer, we intend to
reveal the Kanu story through
interviews with all the world
renowned players, coaches,
administrators, including his
wife, his child-hood friends, his
doctors and those people that
played very important roles in
his life.
“It’s going to be a three
dimensional documentation of
Kanu’s story according to Kanu,
his fans, and his critics too – it’s
definitely going to be
compelling and well-balanced
because we intend to highlight
the challenges he’s encountered
and how he overcame_them, in
order to inspire many young
Africans with his exceptional
story of hope, determination
and success”
Explaining the plot a step
further, the film director, who
used to work with BBC Wales,
added that “it’s not just about
Kanu and his story, but Lion
Heart: The Kanu Story is a film
with a strong message that will
greatly touch audiences across
the globe, because despite the
fact that his role as a great
sportsman is emphasised, yet
the salient themes in the movie
revolve around determination,
overcoming tribulations,
triumphing over life-threatening
obstacles and circumstances to
soar to heights of iconic
greatness.”
Kanu expressed his excitement
when he spoke about the
project, saying: “I’m a very
private person, but it has been a
very interesting experience to
watch my colleagues, team
mates, coaches, doctors, fans,
friends and family telling my
story in a very passionate
manner. This movie humbles me
– I can see the aspects of my life
that the world identifies with,
and it’s not easy to open up
your life to the world, but then
it is very noble to do so in order
to inspire those who wish to do
the things you have done – at
least so that they can see how
you did it.”
But why do we have to wait
until after the World Cup to see
this movie? And to this Kanu
replied: “The producers have
been working tirelessly for a
very long time now, but I
believe this World Cup should be
part of the film. Whether I play
or not, I definitely want the
experience to be part of the
film…”
Lion Heart: The Kanu Story is
scheduled for a global premiere
in_September, but so far the film
parades an excellent cast of
renowned footballers from
some of the teams Kanu has
played for, alongside coaches,
and revered FIFA officials, all
passionately telling the story of
a true African icon in more than
four languages.
An official movie trailer, posters,
and snippets from the projects
will be leaked to the media soon.
Also, an interactive website is
also in the works, and fans can
participate in fun trivia for a
chance to win a front-row seat
at the London premiere of the
movie.
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