Nigeria international Peter Etebo has described his reunion with the Pozzo family, owner of Udinese and Watford as inspiring. He spoke about the Premiership challenge aspiration in the ‘tough’ league. Taiwo Alimi captures his words     

Gino Pozzo, of the Pozzo family, owner of Udinese and Watford must have been impressed with the attitude of Nigerian international Oghenekaro Peter Etebo to go after him again.  He attempted signing Etebo from Warri Wolves in 2014 but could not meet the asking price then after a trail at Udinese. Four years later fresh from the World Cup, he came with another offer for the midfielder who preferred to sign for Stoke.

For Gino to finally bring Etebo to Vicarage Park last month was to say the least heavenly and it reflected on his greeting when he met Etebo face to face in Watford.

“At last, finally you’re here,” Gino Pozzo is understood to have said when he greeted the Nigerian at the Watford training ground.

The warm greeting was a nod to a long-standing pursuit of the Etebo from the relieved Italian billionaire.

For the central midfielder who signed a season-long loan from Stoke City last month, the feeling is mutual.

“The first time I went to Udinese, I did not know that same man is the owner of Watford, but it was when I came to Watford that I realised this. My time in Udinese was great. I had a great time there, I wanted to play in Watford but obviously things did not work out and finally I’m here. The most important thing is for me to get into work and do what I know how to do best.

“I’m a central midfielder but the most important thing is that when my team is playing my focus is getting a win for the team. If you win everyone is happy, the team is happy and the fans are happy too. It’s going to be a tough season but let’s see how it goes.”

Etebo has not always been a holding midfielder. He used to play as an attacking midfielder and scored more than 20 goals in over 60 appearances for Warri Wolves in Nigeria.

“When I was a kid playing I was an attacking midfielder but it was when I went to Spain and our two seaters (central midfielders) got injured that the gaffer looked at me and say ‘hey you are the one who can do the job and that is how I was converted to a seater and again when we were preparing for the Nations Cup (AFCON) and World Cup, we normally play  two seaters and one attacking midfielder in front and I get to play that role and I got used to it and that is that about that.”

Nevertheless, he said he liked in England.

“My first time for Stoke I knew England is competitive even when you play in the Championship, it is tough: you have to keep running. You have to chase people down. But come to think of it every league is difficult.”

Etebo settled in well and after starting his first game for Watford in a 3-2 win for his team in front of their fans.

It was “a joy” to hear Watford fans back at Vicarage Road for Peter Etebo, and the midfielder was delighted with the victory over Aston Villa, but insists it is only the start of the Premier League season and there is plenty of work to do.

The Nigeria international played 90 minutes as the Hornets secured a 3-2 win over Aston Villa, and he congratulated teammates Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr on their work for the early goal.

“It’s very important as a team to score first and when you get an early goal it motivates everyone, keeps the positive vibes going and everyone keeps pushing,” said Etebo.

“I’m happy for my Nigerian brother [Dennis] and Sarr as well. They did well, you can see they’ve got good pace, they run forward and are direct players.”

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The win will give confidence to Xisco Munoz’s side, but Etebo isn’t getting carried away.

“This is the start of the season. I’m happy that we got the win, congratulations to my teammates, but it’s a long season so step-by-step we have to keep going.

“This is just the beginning. Like the gaffer said, we need everyone. Everyone needs to stay together, be positive. It’s teamwork and there are lots of games to be played. This is just one game and there are a lot of games to go.”

With supporters back in Vicarage Road for the first time since February 2020, Etebo felt they gave the team a boost during the match.

“It’s a thing of joy because we have gone nearly two years with no fans, but when they are in the stadium they lift up the team. It’s amazing,” he said.

On his return to England following the loan stints in Spain and Turkey, the Nigerian international said he’s happy to be back and already settled among ‘family.’

“I’m excited, I’m happy to be part of the family. It’s been a joy to me since I came in,” said Etebo. “The lads, the management, everyone in the club have been good. I see it is a family club. I’m just trying to settle in, which I think is going to be fine for me.”

There are a few faces familiar to Etebo already at the club. William Troost-Ekong, Isaac Success and Emmanuel Dennis have all played alongside the 25-year-old for the Super Eagles.

“I’ve known [Troost-Ekong] for a very long time because I’ve played with him at the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the AFCON, so I’ve been with him for a very long time. I’ve also known [Success] for a very long time, even Dennis as well. Tom Dele-Bashiru, I hadn’t met him before but for the past few weeks in training I’ve got to know him. I’d heard about him, and that he was invited to go to the Under-20 World Cup.”

Etebo started his career as an attacking midfielder, also playing out wide. It was at Spanish side U.D. Las Palmas that he began to play in a deeper, more defensive role. He now plays in that position for his country, doing so at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“It is a thing of joy to play at the World Cup stage. It is a big experience for me. Though, I had a great game but it all boils down to the fact that we conceded a late goal and that kicked us out of the tournament. But, again, that is football.

“Playing in the World Cup is one of the biggest events in football, every player wants to represent their country,” said the midfielder. “It was a great experience for me, a great achievement. We didn’t qualify due to a goal in the dying minutes which was painful, but its football. I’m very happy about the experience.”

Etebo had his first taste of English football at Stoke City, where he made 45 Championship appearances amongst loan spells with Getafe and Galatasaray.

“When I first signed for Stoke I had people telling me coming to England wouldn’t be easy, especially in the Championship,” Etebo continued. “Everyone knows it’s one of the toughest [leagues], you have to keep running, chase people down.

“Every league is difficult, it all depends on how you set out the team, No league is easy. Coming to England to play, it’s a good league, it’s tough, but it’s a joy to me.”

The Premier League presents new and difficult challenges, but Etebo is prepared for what lies ahead.

“It’s going to be a long season, but let’s see. The most important thing is for us to keep our heads up, and make sure we’re going to give everything.”