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