Maidstone Favored to Upset Coventry in FA Cup with World Cup Icon
In a stunning turn of events, Maidstone United, a team from the National League South, has made it to the last 16 of the FA Cup. Their next challenge? Championship promotion-chasing Coventry. But Maidstone is not without support. World Cup icon Roger Milla, famous for his performances with Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup, is backing the underdogs to create more FA Cup magic.
Milla, 71, sent a specially-recorded video message to Maidstone boss and former Wolves star George Elokobi. In the message, Milla congratulated Elokobi and the team, expressing his admiration for their performances so far. He also wished them well for the next round of the FA Cup and encouraged Elokobi to continue working hard.
Elokobi was emotional when he watched Milla’s message. As a child, he vividly remembers watching Milla almost beat England single-handedly in the 1990 World Cup quarter-final. The memories of that game came flooding back as he heard Milla’s words of support. Elokobi recalls having to pay money to watch the game at someone’s house and thinking they had a chance at victory. Milla was his inspiration during those formative years, and now, to have his support is truly incredible.
But Milla is not the only high-profile Cameroonian star who has reached out to Elokobi. Sebastien Bassong, who used to play for Spurs, and Alex Song, who used to play for Arsenal, have also shown their support. Elokobi’s friend Enoh Eyong, who played for Ajax, congratulated him as well. These messages of support from his childhood heroes mean a lot to Elokobi, who only became a manager last year.
Elokobi’s journey to this point has been extraordinary. He grew up in Cameroon, where his father passed away when he was ten. As a child, he sometimes went without meals and had to scavenge for food. His mother left him and his siblings in Cameroon to seek work in the UK, eventually bringing Elokobi over when he was 16. He was spotted by Colchester playing for Dulwich Hamlet at the age of 18 and went on to play for Wolves in the Premier League.
Regardless of the outcome of the match against Coventry, Elokobi and Maidstone have already written an inspirational story. Elokobi sees his role as more than just a manager; he wants to empower everyone around him and create a positive environment. He aims to inspire not only his team but also non-league teams and show them that anything is possible.
Maidstone’s FA Cup run has also brought financial benefits, with the team making around £450,000 so far. They plan to reinvest most of this money into revamping their stadium, which currently has a capacity of 4,200.
As Maidstone prepares to take on Coventry, the underdogs have the support of a World Cup icon and a nation behind them. They have already defied the odds, and who knows what other surprises they have in store for the FA Cup.