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<SPAN class=art-title2>Adebayor: Arsenal will be unstoppable</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Emmanuel Adebayor, who wasted little time in getting among the goals for his new club, Arsenal, gave a candid and exclusive interview to FIFA Magazine about his on-field hopes and off-field problems.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>FIFA Magazine
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08 Jan 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Emmanuel Adebayor is just 21 and already one of Africa's top players.Thetalented and controversial striker recently took time to speak to FIFA magazine about the future forTogo's national team, his current club, Arsenal, and why he is considering retiring from international football soon.
FIFA magazine: What is it like to bear the responsibility of being Togo's most high-profile footballer?
Emmanuel Adebayor: I am very happy and proud that I am carrying the responsibility. When I was very young, I had idols likeNwankno Kanu, Abedi Pele and Kalusha Bwalya. These were the footballers I wanted to emulate and I am happy with where I am today. I love the way the people at home have shown me love for what I do. When you consider the fact that I am barely 21 years old and I have had such good fortune in my life, having already featured at the World Cup finals, the African Cup of Nations and in a team that reached the UEFA Champions League final, I cannot but be pleased with the direction in which my career is going.
<TABLE id=SLIVER cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
If anyone had told you, when you were playing street football in Lome, that you would achieve these things would you have believed it?
To be honest, if I had been told five years ago that I would reach this level, I would never have believed it. For me and my friends watching players like Dennis Bergkamp and Nwankwo Kanu on television, being like them was just a fantasy. But now that I am at Arsenal, I have a lot of things to prove and I will show what I am capable of.
Your physique and playing style have been likened to those of your idol, Kanu.
That's true. People keep telling me that I play like him. In fact I was nicknamed Kanu at the start of my career. But I didn't mind that because I was proud to be compared to him. I am not saying this because I am now at Arsenal, but Kanu has been my hero and will continue to be so until the end of my career.
You're quite young but you always seem to be carrying the expectations of the whole country when you play for Togo. How do you cope with that?
I thank God that he gives me the ability to handle this but I must say that I get a lot of support from my colleagues and the coaching staff too. I am proud to represent my country and am aware that I must do my best at all times. It is important that our people are happy when they see us defending Togo's honour.
Your parents come from Osun State in Nigeria. Did you ever think that you could have featured for the Super Eagles instead?
Of course! When I was younger, I did think of playing for the Super Eagles. But I played football in Ghana as well, as I went to school there. When I went to France, the Togolese national side called on me when I was 16 and I decided to accept the invitation. I knew that it would be difficult for me for me to make the Nigerian team, I would have had to be playing at a very high level, as the competition for places in the team is very tough as they have so many top
<SPAN class=art-title2>Adebayor: Arsenal will be unstoppable</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Emmanuel Adebayor, who wasted little time in getting among the goals for his new club, Arsenal, gave a candid and exclusive interview to FIFA Magazine about his on-field hopes and off-field problems.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>FIFA Magazine
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08 Jan 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Emmanuel Adebayor is just 21 and already one of Africa's top players.Thetalented and controversial striker recently took time to speak to FIFA magazine about the future forTogo's national team, his current club, Arsenal, and why he is considering retiring from international football soon.
FIFA magazine: What is it like to bear the responsibility of being Togo's most high-profile footballer?
Emmanuel Adebayor: I am very happy and proud that I am carrying the responsibility. When I was very young, I had idols likeNwankno Kanu, Abedi Pele and Kalusha Bwalya. These were the footballers I wanted to emulate and I am happy with where I am today. I love the way the people at home have shown me love for what I do. When you consider the fact that I am barely 21 years old and I have had such good fortune in my life, having already featured at the World Cup finals, the African Cup of Nations and in a team that reached the UEFA Champions League final, I cannot but be pleased with the direction in which my career is going.
<TABLE id=SLIVER cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
If anyone had told you, when you were playing street football in Lome, that you would achieve these things would you have believed it?
To be honest, if I had been told five years ago that I would reach this level, I would never have believed it. For me and my friends watching players like Dennis Bergkamp and Nwankwo Kanu on television, being like them was just a fantasy. But now that I am at Arsenal, I have a lot of things to prove and I will show what I am capable of.
Your physique and playing style have been likened to those of your idol, Kanu.
That's true. People keep telling me that I play like him. In fact I was nicknamed Kanu at the start of my career. But I didn't mind that because I was proud to be compared to him. I am not saying this because I am now at Arsenal, but Kanu has been my hero and will continue to be so until the end of my career.
You're quite young but you always seem to be carrying the expectations of the whole country when you play for Togo. How do you cope with that?
I thank God that he gives me the ability to handle this but I must say that I get a lot of support from my colleagues and the coaching staff too. I am proud to represent my country and am aware that I must do my best at all times. It is important that our people are happy when they see us defending Togo's honour.
Your parents come from Osun State in Nigeria. Did you ever think that you could have featured for the Super Eagles instead?
Of course! When I was younger, I did think of playing for the Super Eagles. But I played football in Ghana as well, as I went to school there. When I went to France, the Togolese national side called on me when I was 16 and I decided to accept the invitation. I knew that it would be difficult for me for me to make the Nigerian team, I would have had to be playing at a very high level, as the competition for places in the team is very tough as they have so many top
<DIV class=cap>Baptista celebrates his second goal in a clinical Arsenal display</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Julio Baptista notched four as Arsenal routed Liverpool to seal a Carling Cup semi-final clash with rivals Tottenham. 
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<DIV class=cap>Gonzalez's injury was indicative of a disastrous night for Liverpool</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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