by Mark Bassey

Remember Freddy Adu?

I’m sure you do. There was a time everybody hailed him as the next Pele. And that, is the big danger of crowning emerging players, before they even know the rudiments of technique.

In 2004, Adu made the headlines, after he signed for Major League Soccer side DC United as a 14-year-old.

10 years and 10 clubs later, it appears the Ghanaian-born striker is now hosting at the Shadow Room in his native Washington, after the event was advertised on the hangout’s Facebook page.

Adu was released by his last club Jagodina, after he failed to make a single appearance during his six-month spell.

Here is the kicker.

The 25-year-old has only played 59 minutes of competitive football since the end of the 2012 MLS season.

What makes it altogether a sad career, is that he never got the chance to flop at a major club. The biggest teams he has played for are probably Benfica and Monaco. But here is a young man, who seemed to have the world at his feet. A prodigy set for the big stage. Until he was consumed by his own hype.

ifreke

Ifreke Inyang is a public commentator and social media critic who has worked with a number of high profile publications across the country.