Kanu tells Portsmouth not to underestimate West Bromwich Albion

Apr 3 2008

EX-ALBION striker Kanu has warned Portsmouth to write-off his former club at their peril in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final as he bids to extend his very own personal collection of silverware.

The Nigerian is one of the most celebrated footballers to be associated with the Baggies, having won two Premier League titles and FA Cups with Arsenal, the Champions League with Ajax, an Olympic gold medal in 1996 (Nigeria), the UEFA Cup (Inter Milan) and numerous other regional honours in Africa.

Kanu has kick-started his career following a two-year spell at The Hawthorns which ended on a disappointing note when he fell out of favour with Bryan Robson.

"We know that we are going to be favourites but we can't underestimate West Brom," said Kanu.

"We know how much this means to everybody in Portsmouth so we don't want to disappoint anyone - it is our mission to win.

"Nobody would have predicted we would be here, so to get to the semi-finals is a great achievement and we don't want to get carried away.

"We have to be in the final to stand a chance of winning the Cup."

But the player has dismissed any suggestions that his time at Albion was a disappointment from his point of view.

"It wasn't," said Kanu, who scored nine goals in 58 games for Albion before completing a free transfer to Portsmouth in 2006.

"I enjoyed myself and I scored some good goals. The only thing was that it didn't work out for me with the staff.

"That's football sometimes and you move on.

"But I never saw it as a decline. When you know your ability you have to believe in yourself.

"Sometimes in life you step down but then you fight back."