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Soccer Corner: Spurs hero Nayim savors Singapore before London landmark
It was almost a quarter of a century ago, but Nayim remembers as if it were yesterday: his wonder goal to win Real Zaragoza a major European final — at the expense of Arsenal
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span>It was almost a quarter of a century ago, but Nayim remembers as if it were yesterday: his wonder goal to win Real Zaragoza a major European final — at the expense of Arsenal.
Nayim, now 52, made his first visit to Southeast Asia this week to play in the legends’ event of the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) Soccer 7’s.
This weekend, he’ll strap on the boots again to take part in a nostalgic game to mark the official opening of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which replaces the old White Hart Lane home ground at his former English club.
Nayim certainly endeared himself to the Spurs’ fans 24 years ago with his sensational 40-yard winner to deny their North London rival glory in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in Paris. The most famous goal of his glittering career gave Spain’s Real Zaragoza a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
The midfielder’s speculative effort from the right side caught David Seaman off his line. The Gunners’ and England goalkeeper could do little to stop the ball from hitting the back of the net, with only one minute remaining of extra time.
“It was two years after I left Spurs, but I knew Arsenal well, having played against them for five seasons in England,” Nayim said.
“They used a high defensive line, with the goalkeeper playing like a sweeper, so I said before the game that they should try to shoot from the halfway line.
“I was keeping an eye on Seaman the whole night, and in extra time I tried it. The city of Zaragoza went crazy thanks to the goal, and I’ll always remember going back there as champions.”
Earlier in the game, Nayim was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Arsenal’s Paul Merson. He was in the process of being stretchered off before jumping to his feet, and insisting on playing on.
Another twist of fate saw Nayim being switched from the left to the right side of midfield in extra-time to accommodate penalty-kick specialist Geli. Nayim is a natural right-footer.
Singaporean fans were keen to take photos with Nayim at the SCC Sevens where his team Bruce James Select lost on penalties to eventual Masters’ winners Bangkok Airways in the semifinals.
He’d come to Singapore at the invitation of former Geylang United and Penang midfielder Martin Tierney, a Scotsman who is well known for organizing masters’ tournaments in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Despite the heat and humidity, Nayim showed he’d lost little of the touch that saw him play 144 league games at Spurs between 1988 and 1993 after moving from Barcelona, and win the 1990-1991 FA Cup, having a hand in both goals in the final against Nottingham Forest.
“I didn’t know a word of English when I arrived at Spurs,” said Nayim, who now speaks impeccably, with a slight London accent. “I joined at the same time as [England’s 1990 World Cup hero] Paul Gascoigne, who would become one of the best players in the world. He could do everything […] he was incredible.”
He was the only Muslim player in the first season of the Premier League in 1992-1993. He was born Mohammed Ali Amar, but always known as Nayim in a 16-year professional career that ended in 2000, and saw him earn caps for Spain’s age-group sides.
Nayim still lives in his hometown of Ceuta, which is an autonomous Spanish territory on the African mainland, near Morocco. He takes a short helicopter ride across the Mediterranean Sea if he needs to get to Malaga and other parts of Spain.
The eldest of Nayim’s children, Youssef, hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, as a promising teenage midfielder at Real Zaragoza.
Nayim said: “I still play twice a week back home in Ceuta. You never fall out of love with football [soccer] and playing matches, even as you get older.”
At the masters’ event in Singapore, Nayim shared the field with World Cup-winning German center-back Klaus Augenthaler, who was part of Franz Beckenbauer’s triumphant side at Italia 1990.
Southeast Asian soccer legend Santokh Singh, one of the heroes of the Malaysia side that qualified for the 1980 Olympics, dropped in to watch some of the matches last Saturday.
“I’ve been to Hong Kong before, but this is my first time in Singapore,” Nayim said. “It is wonderful to be here, and receive such a warm welcome from everyone in the football community.”
Nayim’s next match will see him play for a Spurs’ legends side against Inter Milan on Saturday before Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosts its first Premier League game on April 3 when Mauricio Pochettino’s men welcome London rivals Crystal Palace.
— Jason Dasey is CEO of Singapore-based Cockatoo Media and host of corporate events in Jakarta.
