1987_09 The Daily Collegian September 1987

              Olukanni Fresno State's 'franchise'
4 ByJee
Sports Editor
The single biggest factor behind the Fresno
State soccer team's two number-one rankings
is probably a 22- year-old Nigerian named Femi
Olukanni
In 1986, Olukanni proved to-
link in FSU's drive for NCAA tournament
success. In addition to his leading the team in
scoring with 11 goals and six assist*, he
shrugged off a late-season knee injury to help
the   'Dogs   to  their  first-ever  Final  Four
V.
OliJuumi was rewarded for his efforts with a
\ number of honors. He was a Herrman Trophy
finalist, one of Soccer America's 10 Moat
Valuable Players, and first team Far West
Region, Pacific Coast Athletic Association
and Pacific Soccer Conference.
As good as the 5-foot-9. 172-pound senior
is on paper, he's even beuer on the field. This
is because he not only produces points
directly, he creates openings for his teammates
by drawing defenders.
Some of these defenders he's drawn have
treated him rather roughly, but Olukanni has
always refused to back off. Tm never scared of
any player," he said. If you confidence in
yourself, you have no problems on the field.
That's die way I've always played."
Olukanni first began developing his soccer
talent at the age of six, juggling and kicking
around rubber balls. Eventually, Olukanni
skillful enough to make- Nigeria's junior
national team, but he left his homeland for the
U.S. three years ago and hasn't been back
In 1984, Olukanni began his American
soccer career at Foothill Communiry College
(Los Altos Hills, CA) and not coincidentalry,
Foothill won she state community college
chainpionship that year. Femi's second season
at Foothill saw his team reach the state finals.
During his short stay in the United States,
Ohikareii has seen many differences between
American and Nigerian soccer. "In Nigeria, we
start when were little and grow individually."
he said, "In the United Stales, they teach
soccer collectively — how to play as a team
"Everybody in Nigeria, wants to play soccer
because that's the way to make money. Most
Americans knoWy they can only play soccer
through college. You can make more money
playing other sports."
Olukanni doubts he will move back to
Nigeria as he is looking forward to a
professional soccer career in Europe where the
pro game, to his liking, is played exclusively
outdoors. The higher European salaries,
though, are another factor in his wanting play
there.
Oean fasgeVfts Ooiy Coa»gk»i
A fullhrn© agriculture and business major, Femi Olukanni Is one of the top collegiate soccer pkryers in the nation.
Olukanni carries 1A units while baffling opponents and thriJHng crowds with his dazzling bal handling.
FSU top
dogs again
Fresno State's soccer team gained
in second number-one ranking in
less than a week when it came out
on top' of die Intercollegiate Soccer
Association of America pre-season
poll released Tuesday.
The Bulldogs tallied 316 points
. ttV:; the    coaches'    survey    that
determines the ISAA rankings, and
barely edged out South Carolina, -
which collected 315 points,  and
Akron, which recorded 311. Vugjjua   .
was ranked fourth, with 281 points.
and Southern Methodist came »4
fifth, with 262 points.
Seaaa Hall (237 points),
Hanwick (183% Duke (178) and
UC3LA (170) took spots six, seven.
eight and nine, whik EvansviUe and
d for tenth wi*  134
"In America, they pay you $25,000 through
$28,000 your first year." said Olukanni, In
Europe, they pay you $50,000 through
$80,000."
Although he-plans to play about 10 more
years of soccer, Olukanni has been working
hard towards an ag-business degree and is one
of the team's most studious players. He is
currently taking 18 units.
"(Carrying 18 units during the season) is
tough," Olukanni said, Tve been able to make
it because Tve been able to devote myself to
both — I know when if s time for soccer and I
know when it's time for studies."
His professors' understanding of the
difficulty of scholar-athletes .has also helped
Olukanni immensely. They're good people,"
he said, They're always willing to help out."
Olukanni underwent arthroscopic surgery
this summer to repair die knee he damaged
during the 1986 season and this has hindered.
his progress. "Right now. I feel better than I
did two weeks ago — I had to play with braces
thai and I don't now. I'm not 100 percent yet,
I'm closer toMJO percent."
Nonetheless, Olukanni feels good about the
upcoming 1987 season, and sees things in this
year's Bulldogs that the 1986 group lacked.
.'The difference is we've got to know each
other in a shorter time," he said, "Last year, by
the time we got to know each other, we were
in the NCAA tournament. There were too
many cliques. This year, we're a unit and we're
playing for each other."
Lately, Olukanni has been the subject of
much publicity, including a promotional
poster that has him dressed in magician's garb
and standing  under  the  words  "Catch  the
Magic."
"I think (the publicity's) good, it's really
nice; but I haven't been thinking about it,"
said Olukanni, Tve been thinking about die
game."
"I know Femi wants to have a really good
senior season," said FSU Head Coach Jose
Elgorriaga, "I have a feeling that we will see
him do things that we did not see him do last
year. Very few players can do what he does as
far as what he can do with the ball, his reading
of the game and his unselfishness on the
field.
Bulldogs open season, PCAA slate
on road versus UC-Santa Barbara
By Lee Pessmore
Sports Writer
Fresno State's soccer team, recently ranked
number one by the Iniercolleg-.ate .Soccer
Association of America, and Soccer America
magazine, will begin its quest for a national
championship when it opens the season
tonight at UC-Santa Barbara.
FSU is returning from last season's 18-5-2
mark which left it only one win short of die
NCAA championship game. Their premier
attraction, flamboyant scorer Femi Otnkanm ,
returns to lead the Bulldog attack. Ohiksnru is
considered a bonafide Heunauu Trophy
randidsSfi. college soccer's equivalent to tile
Heisman Trophy.
The Bulldogs open their Domino's Pizza
Goal Rush Classic this weekend/The field for
''the tournament also includes North Texas
State. University of San Francisco and
Wisconsin-Green Bay. It will be me first of
three major tournaments Fresno State will
participate in this season.
UCSB, led by seventh year coach/Andy
Kuenzti. finished 8-11-1 last season and tied
for fifth in die PCAA. The Gauchos have six
starters returning, led by Chris John, a junior
forwsrd who had six goals arid eight assists in
86. ^ ' .
Santa Barbara leads the series between the
two teams wish an 8-2-2 mark. The Bulldogs
won the last meeting by a 2-0 count in Fresno
last season. The two schools will meet again
later this year on October 13 in Bulldog
"I think we are progressing at a faster pace
than last year," said Dogs' coach Jose
Elgorriaga. "How well we play depends on
how well we practice until Wednesday's match.
I think playing Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara
is a very, very hard task for us. I think our
kids wiH be pumped up for the opener."
Practice is something the soccer 'Dogs have
become very familiar with in preparing for the
1987 season. Over the last two weeks die
squad has participated in rigorous three-a-day
practices  that ran in  the  morning,  mid-
1
■ \