Arthur Okonkwo: 2 key attributes Super Eagles goalie picked up from Van der Sar

Arthur Chukwuezugo Okonkwo has revealed the two key qualities that attracted him to former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, with the Super Eagles newcomer looking to draw inspiration from one of the Premier League’s most accomplished goalkeepers, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper grew up watching Van der Sar after his father, a Manchester United supporter, introduced him to the Dutchman’s performances during his formative years.

For Okonkwo, however, the attraction was not simply about Van der Sar’s reputation or the trophies he won at Manchester United and Ajax.

The Super Eagles goalkeeper, who stands at 6ft 6in, believes there are similarities between his own physical profile and that of the former Netherlands international, making Van der Sar a natural reference point for his development.

“I think I like his style of play because he’s a very tall goalkeeper. I’ve always been tall, even in the youth teams. I’m 6ft6in,” Okonkwo said in an interview with AY Suga.

“I really liked his game, and I try to model my style after him.”

While Okonkwo also admitted that he watched Nigeria legend Vincent Enyeama growing up, he explained that limited access to the former Super Eagles captain’s club matches meant Van der Sar became the stronger influence.

“I also watched Enyeama as well growing up. But he didn’t play in England, so it was hard to watch him consistently. I could only watch the World Cups,” he added.

With Okonkwo now competing for a place in Nigeria’s goalkeeping department, there are two major characteristics of Van der Sar’s game that particularly stand out as influences on the young goalkeeper.

2 attributes Arthur Okonkwo picked up from Van der Sar

1. Aerial dominance and using his height

The most obvious connection between Okonkwo and Van der Sar is their physical stature.

Okonkwo is 6ft 6in, while Van der Sar was also an imposing goalkeeper whose height became an important part of his ability to command his penalty area.

Van der Sar was very effective when dealing with crosses, using his reach and positioning to dominate situations in the air. His size was not merely a physical advantage but something he incorporated into his overall goalkeeping technique.

That is an important quality for Okonkwo to develop as he attempts to establish himself with the Super Eagles.

Rather than simply being a tall goalkeeper, the Charlton Athletic loanee can use his frame to make himself bigger in one-on-one situations, attack crosses and give his defenders greater security when opponents deliver balls into the box.

Okonkwo’s own explanation suggests that this physical similarity was one of the reasons Van der Sar appealed to him from an early age. His challenge now is to translate that admiration into consistency for the Super Eagles.

2. Calmness and composure

The second major quality is less visible than height but just as important.

Van der Sar was renowned for his calmness, positional intelligence and composure, while also possessing the technical ability to play with the ball at his feet. His distribution and ability to participate in build-up play became particularly valuable during his time at Old Trafford after a tough spell at Juventus.

That calmness is another quality Okonkwo has displayed in his own development.

The goalkeeper has previously spoken about not allowing the pressure of matches to overwhelm him, describing his pre-match nerves more as excitement and anticipation. He has also emphasised his desire to keep learning and improving as he settles into international football.

Okonkwo is still at the beginning of his Super Eagles journey, but his admiration for Van der Sar provides an insight into the type of goalkeeper he wants to become.

His duty now is to convert those influences into performances that can help him compete for Nigeria’s No.1 shirt.

For a goalkeeper who has already set his sights on winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, developing those Van der Sar-inspired qualities could be an important part of that journey.