The rising tide inspired by Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang will only improve League of Ireland football
Players as well as fans will follow the World Cup duo to the LOI
There’s nothing new about World Cup heroes playing in the League of Ireland and adding crowds to the gate at the likes of Cork Celtic, Waterford, Cork United and St Patrick’s Athletic. And that’s just the clubs where World Cup winners from 1966 were paid to play.
A decade after the famous Wembley win over Germany, Geoff Hurst scored on his debut for Cork’s Celtic as they beat Shamrock Rovers 3-1 in the FAI Cup. That same year Bobby Charlton wore the Waterford jersey while a year later Gordon Banks signed for St Pats, four years before ‘66 squad member Ian Callaghan signed for Cork United.
All four didn’t stay long and they aren’t the only ones with World Cup histories to feature in the Greatest League In The World. Paul McGrath, Steve Staunton, David Kelly, Felix Healy and Peter McPartland all played in the LOI before or after their World Cup involvements.
So did Uwe Seeler, Bobby Collins, Jimmy Johnstone, Peter Lorimer, Trevor Brooking and Terry McDermott who all came and went and picked up a few bob or two for their troubles along the way.
This World Cup is different though. Never before has a player been active in the League of Ireland at the time of his appearance at the greatest tournament of them all. Never before has a player who has spent his entire playing career in the League started a World Cup game on the pitch.
Never before has a player gone from Shamrock Rovers or St Patrick’s Athletic to a World Cup finals as Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang have done this month.
Hoops defender Lopes started and starred for Cape Verde against Spain on Monday night. Saints ‘keeper Anang was on the bench for Ghana’s 1-0 win over Panama in the early hours of Wednesday and may now be second choice stopper after an injury to starter Lawrence Zigi.
Tonight both players will be watching LOI TV from America as Shamrock Rovers go to Waterford and Pats entertain Sligo Rovers. Both will be missed by their teams at the RSC and Richmond Park respectively but you can guarantee their World cup achievements will be discussed before, during and after every Premier Division game in Ireland tonight.
As well they should. Pico Lopes won’t just be representing Cape Verde against Uruguay late on Sunday night. Joseph Anang won’t just fly the flag for Ghana when they take on England on Tuesday evening.
They will, personally and collectively, represent their clubs and their workplace in front of millions of TV viewers this week, all the time selling the League of Ireland and not just to prospective fans.
Yes, the sight of Pico stopping Spain in their tracks on RTE television will inspire future generations of Irish footballers. To see one of their own tackle the World Cup stage with such grace and confidence will prove to young players that Ireland’s national league can offer a route to international football from within.
For Joseph Anang to sit on the bench for Ghana and be prepared to face the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham if called upon will prove to young goalkeepers that a LOI club can offer access to the highest levels of professional football.
The achievements of this pair will also send a message to young professional players abroad that a move to the LOI, on loan or permanently, is something to take seriously now, something that can enhance and develop your career.
Young players with big clubs abroad and their coaches will see now that they can benefit from playing regular men’s football in our League. An influx of young players looking to follow the Lopes and Anang pathway to the top via Irish football can only improve the game here.
A rising tide brings every boat to the top, as the old saying goes. Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang are powering World Cup storms and rising tides as we speak - they should be celebrated at every League of Ireland ground tonight and given a heroes welcome whenever they return next month.
This pair have put Irish football on the map - again.