Super Eagles newbie Kingsley Michael celebrates making a debut for the Nigeria senior team as a dream come true. He explains his love for former AC Milan player Kaka and how he earned his nickname after the iconic Brazilian player. TAIWO ALIMI captures his words.
Michael Senior, father of Super Eagles newest midfielder KingsIey Michael sat throughout his son’s debut match for Nigeria Super Eagles. Impressed by Michael’s input in the 2-1 win over Cape Verde in the Africa World Cup qualifying series, he took to the social media to praise his son for achieving a boyhood dream.
Posting an old picture of his son as a teenager inset into that of Brazilian great Kaka, he wrote: “’Daddy, I am Kaka, I will play one day for 9ja’,” he wrote.
Explaining in the Instagram post, Michael senior, a soldier in Abuja, recalled how his son told him he will grow up to play for Nigeria.
“I never believed him, but I supported him. Everyone calls him Kaka whenever he’s playing”
Kingsley (22), indeed, had a great game in the absence of Eagles regulars; Wilfred Ndidi, Joe Aribo and Peter Etebo and was able to control the midfield well.
It is based on this that this reporter posed the question to him why and how he adopted the famous Brazilian name.
“I did not adopt it. People call me Kaka. I love the way he played. He has the grace of a modern day striker and the flair of midfielder. I watch many of his videos growing up and I wanted to be and play like him. There is something about him, he’s gentle on the ball yet hard and those are the thing I fell in love with.”
The Bologna of Italy said he fell in love with Kaka as a teenager and did not know how much of an influence that had on him until people started calling him Kaka.
“Though I am me, it is an honour to be nicknamed after one of the greatest players of the game of football.”
Kingsley is also excited about making a Super Eagles debut.
Kingsley was handed his first senior call up and earned his first cap last week when Nigeria travel away to Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifier.
He was a key member of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup; four years prior he had played and won the U17 World Cup.
The Central midfielder, who joined Serie A side Bologna in 2018, has spent three seasons away on loan spells in the lower division honing his talent, something that caught the attention of manager Sinisa Mihajlovic.
He has made one league appearance for Bologna this season, enough to earn him a senior team invite, and he believes it only proves his work ethic has been spot on.
Reflecting on making his first appearance for the senior team he said.
“Firstly, I want to say a big thank you to God for bringing me here and for the hard work that I have been putting in. And I was ready for the game. And I from what I have been reading I think we all did well in the game. And we earned the points at stake against Cape Verde,” said the 22 year-old.
“You know every game is important and Nigeria is a big nation of football and every game is very important. Against the Liberia team we have to play the best to win.
“All the players were not picked by chance, we were picked on merit; we all play in our different clubs.”
Kingsley played alongside another newbie Innocent Bonke and in between them they had a decent game playing together for the first time.
“First of all, I want to give thanks to God, he made it possible. I really can’t explain how I felt making my debut. It was like a dream come true, I was so happy, the joy was too much.
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Michael expressed his surprise at even being called up for the games in the first place, “I was really surprised. I didn’t expect or believe it until I got to the Eagles camp and had my first training. Then I realized it was all real and true.”
“I’ve always wanted to play for Super Eagles. I enjoy playing for my country”
He represented Nigeria U17 at the 2015 African u17 Championship where Nigeria finished fourth as well as in the FIFA U17 World Cup, which Nigeria won. He scored a goal in the 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Brazil but did not appear in the semi-final and final.
Michael has also played for the Nigeria U21 and U23 teams.
He said he’s always ready to play in the Nigeria colours. “This is my boyhood dream and I look forward to the next opportunity to put on the green and white jersey. “I want the fans to keep supporting me because there is room for improvement, and watch for the heart that I play with. I love them all, thank you.”
On his relationship with other members of the team, Michael is particularly close to the established midfielders Peter Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi. He has been learning new tricks from them and they have been helping him settle well into the team.
“I’ve always liked Etebo (Peter) and Wilfred (Ndidi) I like the both of them, I enjoy them playing and we play same role, so, I’m here to also learn from them now.
“I play as an attacking midfielder, but in Bologna, I play as a defensive midfielder. For now I play as a DMF and though I don’t look it, but, I am very aggressive,” he added.
At club level, Michael his loan spells have paid off handsomely.
Since arriving Italy in 2018, the midfielder has been sent on loan three times to Perugia, Cremonese and Reggina. He’s back home and believes he would play more games for the Rossoblu in the Italian elite league Serie A.
This season, the Midfielder has made 1 league appearance for Bologna, his first Serie A game since signing for the club in 2018.
He credited Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic for the confidence to play at that very high level and desire to keep improving.
“Sinisa Mihajlovic, I meet him two years ago when I came back from my loan at Perugia, he has been a great coach he likes me a lot. I went on loan to Cremonese for me to have playing time, unfortunately I got injured.
“But He gave me the chance in pre-season to play against Dortmund and Liverpool. He told me that this season I’d be staying. I really like him, He pushes me a lot.
“Right now I’m still young, I’m just 22. I think I’ll meet up with the standard I want to attain. To play in the Serie A is not easy, but I give God the glory, I’ve been there for four year and everything has been going well.”
Michael said he would however miss Japanese impressive player Takehiro Tomiyasu, who left to join Premier League side Arsenal.
“I learnt a lot from him because he’s good. He is experienced and friendly too. He is a very good player. He uses both feet. I think Arsenal have got a good one.”
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