Emeka Achusiogu, a UK-based white badge Nigerian Umpire, is the last man to officiate on the now rested Court 19 at Wimbledon. In 2016, Achusiogu called time on a match on Court 19 at Wimbledon, a historic moment in the history of the court. The soft-spoken Anambra state indigene shared some insights with Nigeria Tennis Live during an exclusive interview.
Grand Slam Matches
I wouldn’t go into details, but I’ve been so opportune to do some Grand Slam tournaments. I’ve done Wimbledon, Davis Cup as a line Umpire and as a Chair Umpire at the Junior Wimbledon. So, yeah, I’ve done some really interesting matches with some good players, you know.
List some of the good players
I’d say basically, I have been in all the matches with all the top players that you have now. Those before now and the present top players, I have been in all of their matches.
What was the experience like?
It’s an eye opener, it shows me how far we are away from the world, it’s totally a different ball game there than what we have in Nigeria. It shows me there are a lot of things that we need to do before we get to that stage. It shows me that if you are good, you can get anywhere, but the key thing is that we have to start getting it right from here.”
How easy was it to get into those matches?
I went to the UK to study, so my family came there to join me there, so my family lives there now. In order for me to maintain my 24 matches, I had to apply to them, to see if I can get matches while living there and I had to register with them as a member of their tennis association.
So, from there, I worked my way up. They have a grading system here and I had to start from the least, and I had to start climbing up till you get to the stage where you can be invited to the Wimbledon. You don’t have to lobby, it’s not like Nigeria.
Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, which of these players is most difficult to officiate against?
“That’s one thing I can’t say, honestly, I can’t discuss players. I can discuss about my officiating but not about players.”
Were you under pressure during the first grass court match you chaired?
“I was rather in awe when I stepped on grass for the first time, it was an exhibition tournament, so when I did my first Grass Court event, it was out of the world, it’s an experience I’ll never forget because I keep hearing different types of court, but it was on that day I saw grass court for the first time.
“I just wondered, and then I saw how everything looked like. It’s another feeling entirely, it’s something I cannot equate with any other thing.”
What is your biggest moment in Umpiring till date?
That is umpiring a Juniors Doubles final in Wimbledon. My biggest ever would be to have 25 years umpiring at Wimbledon. I have done 11 years already and need 14 more years which is a tall task, which I don’t know if I’ll ever reach.
It is only a select few that get up to 25 years at Wimbledon. Only a select few get up to that number, if you do, you’ll get a recognition. It’s a landmark. There are a select few aside UK citizens that get to that 25.”
After ironing out the details on his one-year extension to his Rangers contract, Leon Balogun revealed he has been targeting this day ever since he joined the club last summer.
It has been a fantastic first campaign for the central defender, who will go down in history as a member of the side to have delivered 55.
His appreciation of Rangers and what it means to so many is clear, and he outlined his determination to be part of a group that delivers even more success going forward.
“I am very, very happy,” he told RangersTV. “There have been a few other players coming out with contract extensions and I was thinking to myself, ‘when is it my turn, when are we going to announce it!?’
“But, I have been working towards that. When I first signed, I had that option – I think everyone knows that by now – and for me, it was just about working towards that and it is fantastic.
“I have been here almost a year now and we won the league in my first year being here which, as we all know, a massive achievement is for the club.
“I am proud and happy to be part of that and from day one pretty much, I have felt loads of love from the group and from the staff, and then when the games came in, from the fans on social media although I haven’t met them yet properly!
“It was pretty much a no-brainer for me. I was not hesitating, I was just waiting until it could get over the line and I am really, really happy – it is a really happy day for me and I am very proud.
“It is a massive club. The trophies and the success in the past speak for itself. I have been told that but I have realised now a little bit that this is one of the clubs that has the biggest support worldwide and it is just incredible to be part of that.
“I am in my 30s now – so advanced footballer age – and to get the opportunity to represent a club like this at this stage of my career is amazing and, as I said before, it is the love you feel, the togetherness and that sense of having a family is just massive and I hope the boys and I can repay that.
“I know this season was a bit difficult with all the restrictions and no fans in. I am a bit overwhelmed to be honest – it is incredible and as I said, it is a massive club and I am super, super happy to be part of that and I am looking forward to bringing more success to the club, to the badge and not alone, with the team, and I think we have everything to go for it.”
“The club has been through a lot and, in all fairness, I have not witnessed that – I have only seen the highs in this season.
“But you don’t want to see any lows again and I want to be part of what we are building right now, where we build on the first success we had this season, and for me personally, I wish I had been part of such an environment before as the way everyone has been pushing everyone every day to go to their limit or to set new limits, it is just amazing and you grow as a person, as a character and you learn every day.
“You improve every day and I want to remain part of that for as long as possible, and the next challenge will be to keep setting new limits to push that bar a bit higher.
“Everybody is fully determined – I think you can hear it from the interviews the lads and the management staff are giving, we are just getting started now and, obviously, that is a big statement to make so it requires a lot of effort, a lot of work and everybody is determined to put that in.”
He outlines how important they have been this season in helping him integrate into the squad, continuing: “Greegs and Davo are ones who really, really understand and have it in their DNA what this club is about.
“When we have had little setbacks through this season, they have been pillars for us that we could go to, especially for a new player like me who hasn’t been in touch with the fan culture and does not know as much about the history or hasn’t been present through the lows.
“They were very, very, important, as has Tav, Connor [Goldson] – they have all been backbones to the team because they would carry you a little bit and give you an understanding what is demanded right now.
“They are massive and I think they are also vital parts for us to go forward, so it is amazing and great for the club and the team that they committed themselves.”
Now, looking ahead to next season, Balogun is hopeful of achieving two of his big ambitions – playing in the Champions League and playing in front of a packed Ibrox.
He added: “Champions League is one of my dreams. I think I said that in an interview two years ago when things weren’t looking that great for me.
“I said then I would love to play another World Cup and play in the Champions League. Now, I am one step closer which is amazing.
“I was never going to leave this club before I had met the fans properly and played in front of a full Ibrox, and things seem to be going in the right direction.
“They are the biggest part of the club with the way they carry the club and the pride they bring into the club and how it connects with the players.
“I have not seen it yet – I can only speak of what I have heard but I seriously cannot wait to be in a full Ibrox, and also at away games as I have heard they are everywhere and I want to witness that and have that experience of them carrying us to greater highs.”
Luis Enrique praised the performance of Pedri in Spain’s semifinal loss to Italy at the European Championship, even comparing the 18-year-old to Barcelona great Andres Iniesta.
Spain were knocked out of Euro 2020 on Tuesday 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a compelling 1-1 draw. But manager Luis Enrique pointed out the promising play of Pedri, as well as that of Dani Olmo, on a night that ended in a defeat.
“For me Dani Olmo played an incredible game, something out of the ordinary,” Luis Enrique said. “But what Pedri has done in this tournament, at 18, no one has done, not even Andres Iniesta did that, it’s incredible, unique.
Iniesta, who also played for Barcelona, scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. He also was part of the 2008 and 2012 squads that won the Euro title.
Olmo, who plays at RB Leipzig, was arguably Spain’s best player against the Italians at Wembley Stadium in London. However, his night finished in disappointment when he and Alvaro Morata both missed from the spot in the shootout.
Morata had come off the bench to score the equaliser in the 80th minute after Federico Chiesa had put Italy ahead on the hour mark following a brilliant counter-attack.
Spain were able to control nearly 70% of possession, but as has been the case during the tournament, they were not sharp in attack and were forced to play their third consecutive extra time.
“I give my team a nine out of 10,” Luis Enrique said. “In sport you have to learn to win and lose. You learn more from losing. We have to congratulate our rival. When you lose, you have to stand up and try again.”
Spain did not begin the tournament with the look of a team that could challenge for honours, yet they improved. While they survived a penalty shootout against Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Tuesday’s game was a different story. Olmo took Spain’s first penalty but skied it over the bar.
“I told the players not to worry before the penalty shootout,” Luis Enrique said. “I think without exception everyone is proud of this national team. I’m very proud of my team in this European Championship. We have gained a lot of experience. We have young players. We have shown we are a team from start to finish. My job is to create a team and we’ve done that.
“There was a team that wanted to win and that was Spain. I have nothing to reprimand my players.
“I think we would have played half an hour more after extra time while they wanted to go to penalties. We’ve had possession. We’ve had to press a lot because Italy have a lot of quality.
“I think this team has grown in this tournament. I have seen a lot of positive things. I see young players that are eager to succeed.”
Spain captain Sergio Busquets, who wasn’t able to play in the first two group-stage games after testing positive for the coronavirus, also spoke about the future.
“Everyone considered Italy favourites but we showed that we were superior to Italy,” the Barcelona midfielder said. “This will be a good thing for the future because this was the first tournament for many players. This team will be back and show that it can win tournaments.
“We were superior and it’s a shame. We can only congratulate Italy and continue on our path.”
VICTOR MOSES, Nigeria football star and former Chelsea player, whose nine-year old loan journey ended last week as he opened a new chapter in his career with Spartak Moscow, has no room for animosity towards the London club but says he’s filled with gratitude for the club that made him a great player.
The 30-year old journeyman whose career has taken him around Europe: England, Italy, Turkey and Russia and in and out of nine top club sides among them: Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Fenerbahce, says he cherishes his time Stamford Bridge where he won most of the laurels in his cabinet.
Moses wrote on Instagram, “After 9 fantastic years and 128 games for Chelsea, I’ve now officially left the club to join Spartak Moscow on a permanent transfer.
“I have loved every moment playing for Chelsea and leave with memories that I’ll cherish forever, including winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.
“I have always appreciated the love and support shown to me during my time at Stamford Bridge and would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody connected with the club, with a special mention to the incredible Chelsea fans who have always been brilliant with me.
“I would like to wish the club every success in the future. Thank you for everything. I will always have blue in my heart.”
A NEW CHAPTER
The move brings to an end the wideman’s nine-year Chelsea career and returns him to the Russian Premier League club, where he made 20 appearances on loan last season.
Moses penned a two-year contract with Spartak Moscow last Friday after the Russian club triggered a clause that allows them to sign the winger permanently following their qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Moses switched Wigan Athletic for west London in the summer of 2012, completing his transfer to the European champions’ just days after starting against them on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
In his first interview as a Chelsea player, he promised ‘there’s still more to come from me’ and that is exactly what he has proved over the coming years.
GREAT MEMORIES
“Blues are special. I can recollect my debut as a second-half substitute away at Queens Park Rangers. I scored on his first start against Wolves in a 6-0 Carabao Cup victory. It was special and I was made to feel at home. My first Champions League game is also with Chelsea in Denmark against Nordsjaelland.”
A promising maiden season proved to be the best goal scoring term of Moses’ time at Stamford Bridge, with further strikes against Swansea City, Leeds United and Shakhtar Donetsk coming before Christmas, the latter a last-minute European winner. They each gave him the opportunity to perform the acrobatic celebrations he became renowned for.
Competition for places in the front three was tough, with Eden Hazard having also arrived that summer from Lille, but Moses was a regular throughout the campaign and finished with double figures for goals.
His most notable efforts during the run-in came at home and away in both the quarter-final and semi-final of the Europa League as we went on to lift the trophy in Amsterdam, the first of his four major honours as a Blue.
AFCON WINNER
By 2013, Moses had become a regular in the Super eagles and he was instrumental in AFCON 2013 in South Africa. There, he represented Nigeria coached by late Stephen Keshi and proved influential as Nigeria won the tournament for the first time since 1994.
Qualification for the knockout stage had been in doubt until his late intervention in the final group game against Ethiopia as he won and scored two late penalties, before playing a part in the only goal of the final. During his time at Chelsea, Moses also represented Nigeria at the World Cup in 2014 and 2018, scoring in the latter against Argentina.
“I have nostalgic feeling of my time in Chelsea because I came there a young man and they took me in and taught me all I needed to know. It was there that I found my confidence and won many medals.”
He says he does not begrudge Jose Mourinho for keeping on the bench in favour of newly arrivals Willian and Samuel Eto’o, signalled the beginning of his loan moves.
Victor Moses
“It is part of the lessons to keep your head and work harder when things are not going as planned.”
On transfer deadline day, he moved to Liverpool, the first of three consecutive season-long loan moves to Premier League clubs, with Stoke City and West Ham following.
The departure of the Portuguese and arrival of Italian coach Antonio Conte paid well for him and Moses.
“The coming of Conte was the answer to my prayer, he was happy with my pre-season work and brought me back into the team and I will be forever grateful to him. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. He’s special and will always be.” Conte opt to keep him as part of the squad and that decision paid off to great effect in October when the Italian switched to a 3-4-3 system, utilising Moses and Marcos Alonso as wing-backs. In the first game starting with that shape, away at Hull City, his endless energy in a new role won individual plaudits in a 2-0 win.
The alteration coincided with Chelsea remarkable rise to the top of the Premier League table, with goals against champions Leicester City and a Stamford Bridge winner at home to Tottenham endearing him to the Chelsea faithful once again. However, it was not just his well-established attacking quality down the right flank that caught the eye, with Conte’s emphasis on tactical discipline forcing Moses to develop the defensive side of his game.
His rapid transformation from winger to wing-back paid huge dividends and Moses was widely heralded as one of the main reasons why the 3-4-3 shape worked so well for the Blues. By the end of the season, he had made 40 appearances, playing in all but four of our Premier League games as the title returned to the Bridge once again.
However, a fantastic individual and team campaign ended with a sour taste as Arsenal scuppered hopes of completing the double, with Moses sent off in a 2-1 FA Cup final defeat.
“Winning the Premier League and playing in the final of the FA Cup were great memories, though we did not win the FA Cup. They were inspiring moments in my career, all with Chelsea.”
The change in managerial baton from Conte to Maurizio Sarri once again send Moses on another loan spells, first to Fenerbahce, then to Conte where he reunited with Conte and at inter Milan and again to Spartak Moscow where the temporal transfer became permanent last week.
“I played only six times under Sarri, and had to move again.” Moses departed on loan to Fenerbahce in January 2019, though his early-season efforts did help us through the Europa League group stage prior to May’s triumph in Baku. After linking up with Conte again at Inter Milan, Moses then spent 2020/21 in Russia with Spartak, with one of his four goals earning a point that ultimately secured the Moscow men a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
Reminded of the good old days, Chelsea management also wish Moses well as he moved on permanently.
Chelsea official website thanked Moses for his great efforts at Chelsea and wishes him well. “Victor ends his time at Chelsea with 128 appearances and 18 goals to his name, as well as a Europa League, FA Cup and Premier League title. We thank him for his years of service and wish him the very best in his future career,”
MOSCOW IS HOME
Back to the present, Moses says he has found another home in Moscow after a season loan spell and happy to commit more years to the club. “Moscow is a beautiful place. Spartak is a big club here with massive followership. They make me feel at home. I’m happy here.”
Chelsea have announced Victor Moses has made a permanent move to Spartak Moscow
The 30-year-old was on loan at the Russian club last season, making 20 appearances and his temporary stay in the Russian capital proved to be a success, as he scored four goals and laid on as many assists as Spartak finished runners-up to champions Zenit St Petersburg.
One of his strikes came in Spartak’s final game of the season, with his 82nd-minute goal earning them a 2-2 draw at Akhmat Grozny and ensuring they finished a point above city rivals Lokomotiv, securing a place in the third round of Champions League qualification ties in the process.
The Russian side used Moses in the right wing back role that made him so crucial to Conte in Chelsea’s last Premier League title-winning season in 2016-17.
Moses posts on twitter made reference to how Spartak fans quickly fell in love with him on the field of play. “Eventually, I found the home I deserved with Spartak Moscow. Spartak fans love me and happy with my performances as a wing-back. I still have a lot to give,” says Moses elated to finally end one of the longest loan spell in Chelsea history.
And to justify his new deal, Moses has scored twice in pre-season friendly ties.
The same day he penned a two-year deal, the former Super Eagles star found the back of the net as Spartak held NK Bravo to a 2-2 draw in what was a tough encounter and scored the second three days later against Croatian League giants Sibenik in the 4-2 win.
“What I want than anything is to compensate them for the confidence they have in me,” Moses adds.
The Nigerian striker Teremas Igobor Moffi (Terem Moffi) came to France from Belgium as an unknown quantity, even though, he had impressed at KV Kortrijk in the Belgian First Division scoring five goals in nine appearances. Nothing actually prepared French Ligue 1, for this lanky 22 year-old hotshot until he began to ban home goals. In 28 appearances, he scored 14 goals to enter the Top 10 scoring sheet in his first season in France. But for his goals, perhaps Lorient would have sunk in the relegation waters finishing just two places off the drop.
“My brothers sent me a picture for the top goal-scorers in 2021. I saw my name with Luis Suarez, Lewandowski and Messi and thought, “How is that even possible? “ Moffi explained to Ligue 1 Show.
“To be honest,” he said, “it has been surreal so far. The first few games it was quite difficult to adapt to the language, the style of play and everything, but from the new-year it was a different side for me,” added Moffi, a guy who just enjoys his game and plays football.
Moffi scored a goal on his Lorient debut in October, helping his side to a 3-1 win over Stade de Reims. However, the gates dried up and Moffi tried to keep a starting place. It took the Nigerian a few months to get used to the demands of the Ligue 1 game.
HARDENING
“I think I was easily thrown off the ball in the first few games,” Moffi said. “I didn’t like it, the coach didn’t like it, my dad didn’t like it so you had to work on your strength and learn how to run the defenders with your hands and keep the ball I mean, I’m not perfect at it yet, but I’ve really improved on it! I try to lift more weights to build my strength and my body weight is not easy to shake off and stuff like that!
“Against Nice, the last game before the Christmas break [a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Riviera] after I scored that goal, it was calm. I got the feeling, “Yes, this is the Terem Moffi that you have known all your life. He plays soccer with a smile on his face and goes out onto the field to have fun. ”
Moffi prevailed in Lorient’s first four games in 2021, including a historic winner in the 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain that kept his talent in the spotlight.
“In the first leg in Paris [which PSG won 2-0] I had a similar chance and it broke off my shin and just went into the goalkeeper’s hands. That night I was talking to my father and my brothers and they said, “You had so much time and space, why didn’t you take yours? Time and just pass it on? ‘When it happened this time, from the center line, as soon as I got the ball, all that rang in my head was, “Just, you have time, you are in good shape, your self-confidence is high, just take it easy,” he added.Looking back, Moffi believed his time in Lithuania and Belgium helped him become a better player.
In Belgium, the former Golden Eaglets striker was voted the Player of the Month by Kortrijk fans and had won two Man-of-the-Match awards. Before that, he scored 21 goals in 30 games in the Lithuanian top league, his first professional outfit upon leaving Buckswood Academy at 17.
Before going to Eastern Europe, he took up a football scholarship at Buckswood School located at the village of Guestling between the towns of Ashford and Hastings in East Sussex in England, having been encouraged by his father, who was a footballer himself before turning to law.
His father Leo Moffi was a goalkeeper in his playing days during which time he kept goal for Enugu Rangers, Calabar Rovers, El Kanemi, Vasco da Gama and Black Cats Ogoja.
“My dad played a very big part in my choosing football as a career. He is a Lawyer and was a professional footballer.” He is very knowledgeable in the game. Sometimes I wonder why he didn’t go into football coaching or administration. He is a very practical person and he told me clearly while still in junior secondary school that it will be a real waste if I didn’t play football as a career.
“He made me understand that a football career has a lifespan and after football I can pursue my education to any level I want. He and my mom put in a lot of their resources to send me to football academies and my flight tickets to the UK to take up a football scholarship at Buckswood School.”
“My dad equally influenced the way I now play. He told me I needed to add plenty of aggression, power and pace to my game to be a successful modern day striker.”
FUTURE AMBITION
Moffi’s main goal is to win trophies for the national team and maybe score in the World Cup. He also would like to play in the best leagues in the world and sees his time in Belgium as a stepping stone to bigger things to come.
“My ultimate ambition is to play in the Super Eagles team, score goals for the team and win trophies for Nigeria at continental and World Cup level.
“At a personal level I naturally want to develop my game and play for some of the best teams in the best leagues in the world.
BEST PLAYERS
Moffi names Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen as his favourite Nigeria players. Moffi recalls that Iwobi took him under his wing during his schooling days in England, adding that their fathers are friends for more than forty years.
“Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen,” Moffi said when asked who his best players are. Apart from their footballing abilities they are both great guys.”
“As for Alex, he and his family took care of me during my time at Buckswood School in 2017. I used to spend my holidays with them.” Alex really played the big brother role to me, took my out to a number of places and to play five-a-side games. His dad and my dad have been friends for nearly forty years after they met in their University days.”
Moffi named Osimhen as his other favourite because of how the Lille forward encouraged his after he was dropped from the Under 17 side for the World Cup in 2015.
“For Osimhen I cannot forget the gesture he extended to me after I was dropped from the Under 17 team on the eve of the team’s departure to Chile in 2015.
“He consoled me and gave me a new pair of football boots telling me I will certainly have other opportunities in the future.”
GOLDEN EAGLETS
Moffi was among the final 35-man team of Golden Eaglets class of 2015 and he says the experience was a bitter sweet one in his career as a footballer. His teammates were Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Nwakali but he could not dislodge the mercurial Osimhen in the final list for the World Cup in Chile and was dropped at the eve of the tournament by then Under 17 coach and former Tanzania national team coach Emmanuel Amuneke.
“The Golden Eaglets experience was both sweet and bitter for me. We were taught a lot in camp. The training was very rigorous and we had a collection of very talented players. The coaching we received prepared us for the competition and it wasn’t a surprise that we emerged champions.
“However it was bitter for me because I was dropped on the eve of the team’s departure to Chile. I was devastated and my young mind went blank when the list of 21 players was being read out to us. By the time the eighteenth name was read I blanked out.”
“I couldn’t sleep the whole night. It was like a nightmare to me. I only began to recover myself after I called my dad the next day to inform him I had been dropped.
Moffi added that his father encouraged him telling him that disappointments are part of life and reminded him that top players in Nigeria like Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh and others never represented the country at the Under 17 World Cup.
“What he said took me unawares and gave me reassurance. He told me he was very proud of me to have made the provisional list of 35 players that was initially sent to FIFA and that going to the Under 17 World Cup was only one of the platforms for exposing one’s talent to the football world.
“He said even our Under 17 coach Amuneke who became African Footballer of the year did not play at the U17 level.“
“That disappointment has toughened me and since then I take whatever comes my way as God’s perfect plan for me.”
GREATEST MOMENTS
Moffi cites his time in Lithuania as one of the greatest moments in his career. He finished the top scorer for his club and won the most valuable player of year in his only year in the East European country. That has to be the end of season award ceremony of my former club in Lithuania, FK Riteriai. I won the Highest Goal Scorer Award, Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.
“In the league itself I was in the League Team of the Week nine times, Best player of the Month twice and was in the League Team of the Season. In 2021 I emerged among Top 10 scorer in Ligue 1.”
FAMILY
Moffi comes from a family of six who all supported his decision to take up football as a career. His father was an ex-footballer that played for Enugu Rangers amongst other local clubs in the 80s and is now a lawyer based in Calabar. Moffi’s mother is an administrator in the civil service and he has three brothers.
“My father is a lawyer and my mother an administrator.
“I have two elder brothers and a younger one. My eldest brother has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Manchester and my immediate elder brother is Medical doctor.” He studied in Russia while my younger one is a Law student. I am the odd one out. My brothers jokingly call me a school dropout. We all were born and raised in Calabar but we are from Ogoja. Every member of the family is in full support of my taking to football as a career.”
Now that he has gotten the Nigeria national team invitation, Moffi is a step nearer one of his goals-that of scoring several goals for Super Eagles-and so he can keep on smiling.
Ask Lawrence Okolie about his path to WBO cruiserweight world title champion and he’s as likely to bring up bullying, humiliation and making burger at McDonald’s.
Born to Nigerian parents, boxing champ, Lawrence Okolie, was taken to see a doctor about the pain in his knees at 15. “He was like: jump on the scales, I’ll check your height – I’ve been tall since I was young – but it was still too heavy. He said I was obese, that the pain was down to my weight.”
Okolie weighed almost 19 stone. It seems outlandish to imagine now, but the sculpted, 6ft 5in, unbeaten boxer was once the teenager who “would stay in the changing rooms for five minutes after PE, so I didn’t have to take my top off in front of everyone.”On top of that, Okolie, who has Nigerian parents, explains that his African names were mocked, that he was shy, that the bullying would turn physical, that he was an easy target because he never wanted to fight at school.
“It’s strange but I almost thank that stuff for happening, because it shaped me into a tougher character,” Okolie says.
“But I had to do something about my weight; the doctor set me these targets. I tried playing basketball and football in school – but it just was not working. I wasn’t able to get into any of the teams anyway. But once I tried boxing, the weight started to fall off. I remember the first time actually seeing a six-pack and thinking – what is this?!
“And then for some reason, with boxing, the bullying kind of stopped [laughs], so it was a win-win.”
BULLYING
Okolie’s easy openness in talking about his childhood struggles is in part to do with his success. But he has another motivation for his frankness. Spreading the word to others, who might be struggling with their mental or physical health, that there is a way through it.
“That’s why it’s important to open up and talk,” he says. “I’m in a position now where no one can or would bully me – and I could just live in this reality and forget the past.
“But it’s important to show kids who are getting bullied – or people who might be going through hard times – that there can be light at the end of the tunnel. If you make changes, you can start believing in yourself.”
Plenty of boxers can be surprisingly shy away from the ring. But Okolie isn’t one of those types. The 2016 Olympian speaks with a relaxed confidence totally at odds with the image of himself as a shy teen. He’s recorded his own hip-hop tune and written a book about his life experiences.
ANTHONY JOSHUA
But the path to headlining shows being mentored by Anthony Joshua and being a part of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable hasn’t happened in a smooth, direct line from when he first laced up gloves.
When Joshua was boxing at the London 2012 Olympics, Okolie was a 19-year-old working in McDonald’s. While AJ was picking up gold medals, Okolie was doling out Happy Meals – but he admits that watching Joshua’s success was the spark for him to ditch his apron and take boxing more seriously.
Although, at least his burger-flipping past was handy when it came to a nickname. When asked about the origins of his moniker – ‘The Sauce’ – Oklie explains: “I did an interview when I first turned professional and I said, as a part of an analogy, that boxing is like a burger. And that the most important ingredient is the sauce – that’s how you give it your own special flavour.
“Then all of a sudden, a week later: ‘The Sauce’ is on my shorts! So my team kinda said: yes, this is what it is now, let’s go.”
AMATUER CAREER
Okolie’s amateur career was brief – less than 30 fights – so he’s been on a rapid learning curve during his four years as a professional. It hasn’t all been easy.
One criticism that can ruin a young fighter’s prospects of stardom is a simple, everyday phrase: boring.
Okolie is heavy-handed, able to generate KO power with his long levers. But before his current five-fight knockout streak, he had two ugly, clinch-filled fights against Isaac Chamberlain then Matty Askin in 2018. For the latter, Okolie was docked three points for fouls as he won the British cruiserweight title in underwhelming circumstances.
“No, I didn’t take it personally,” he says of the subsequent criticism. “I’m realistic. Look, I enjoy watching myself – and that [the Askin bout] is a fight I never want to watch again! When it comes on, I’m just like… skip.
“So it comes from a genuine place, that criticism. I didn’t feel hard done by, I just felt: first of all, I deserved it. And then sec ondly, more importantly, what can I do going forwards to win in the style I want?”
One change Okolie made in 2019 was taking on a new trainer, Shane McGuigan, the former coach of Carl Frampton and Josh Taylor.
“I’m a powerful guy anyway,” says Okolie. “But he’s a guy who’s interested in punching hard, punching fast, being explosive. Boxing with purpose and intent. He doesn’t want to see over-clinching. He wants to see graft.”
If Okolie ever needs a reminder of explosive punching, he gets it first-hand during his sparring sessions with Joshua. The cruiserweight admits it can be surreal, being managed by AJ’s 258 Management and now able to call the boxer who once inspired him, a friend.
It puts Okolie in a privileged position, however. Having also sparred Tyson Fury – helping the ‘Gypsy King’ prepare for his first fight with Deontay Wilder – he knows what it’s like to trade punches with both heavyweights champs, the men finally set to face-off in 2021.
“You have to be clever,” says Okolie of sparring Joshua. “But I don’t go into sparring with ego, I go in to learn. Will I be punished if I make silly mistakes? Yes. Will he be punished if he makes the same mistakes? Yes. So that’s the best type of sparring: when you’re not just in there for a tear-up, because who does that benefit?”
What does it actually feel like when Joshua connects with a full-blooded shot?
“You definitely feel it,” says Okolie. “It’s very explosive and it’s consistent. Not the sort of punches you want to stand there and take!
When it comes to Fury, famed for his unusual skill set as a versatile, 6ft 9in boxer, Okolie admits it’s a totally different challenge.
“Again, I don’t go in there with an agenda of damaging somebody,” he says. “Also they didn’t put me in a box and say: ‘Box in this style; imitate Wilder.’ They said just be the best you. So it was great to see the stuff that he was good at.
“He’s very different from an AJ. AJ is really really technically good, really powerful. With Tyson, it’s more that he’s moving and he’s able to keep moving – for round after round – where heavyweights usually are quite static. So it’s a challenge.”
CHAN Super Eagles striker, Gabriel Okechukwu says he’s motivated to ply his trade in Asia while still aspiring to achieve football greatness.
Okechukwu was part of the silver medal winning Super Eagles B squad in 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco where he scored twice (against Sudan and Angola) in four appearances.
His explosive performance in the national assignment grabbed the attention of Wydad Casablanca FC of Morocco who signed him from Akwa United in a lucrative deal.
Though his stint in Wydad Casablanca was short and uninspiring, the striker has moved on by signing a three-year contract with J-League 1 outfit Consadole Sapporo.
The 25 year-old is looking forward to repaying the club’s confidence in him by scoring goals.
Okechukwu kicked off your football career with Water FC Abuja and Akwa United in 2017 before moving to Wydad Casablanca Morocco a year later. He was on loan to Moroccan side, SC Chabab before returning to Wydad Casablanca as free agent before signing for Sapporo in Japan. He says he’s ready to take Asia by storm. He speaks with Samson Oti from his base in Japan.
How motivated are you to play in Asia?
Coming to play in J-League is all about motivation. The tendency to play better, learn new things, new culture as well as having room to prove myself. I came here to play football and football here is really nice, not just all about the money but I also want to experience something different as a professional player. I am motivated to sign Consadole Sapporo because they showed good intention and I am ready to repay their trust in me with goals and lift the team with impressive performance.”
Your time in Morocco was not eventful, what happened?
Football is a process and it’s about timing. I had good intentions moving to Wydad, and it was a move that I cherished at that time. My representative did a good job by landing the deal because of the prospect of the team both in the league and Africa. But at the time, I wasn’t comfortable sitting on the ben craved for good playing time, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out as expected. So I have to move on. I still have a long way to go, I believe I have more to offer.
How are you settling down to a new culture, food and ideology in Japan?
I am feeling at home because I am getting the support of the club to quickly adapt to life in the country and I am also helping myself to feel comfortable. In terms of the league, the league is professional and competitive. It will give me the opportunity to express myself and gain the confi dence of fans and management. Though, I am still finding it tough with communication, it’s difficult but the fact remains that football is one language so I am adjusting and improving on a daily basis. The food is different too because it is new to me, but I’m learning the new way and I’m really enjoying my football life here.
How many goals do you think you will score here?
I just got here, so firstly, I want to play my way into the team and grab some goals for myself then I will have the confidence to do more and make the fans happy and be part of history with the club at the end of the league. Like I said, I am in haste to settle down, that will help me find my scoring form and deliver.
You were a member of the CHAN silver winning Eagles in 2018 scoring two goals along the way, how did that help you in your career?
Playing for Super Eagles as a local league player then was wonderful, it was something I always cherish till date, and it gave me so many opportunities as a player and person. It was one of the proud moments in my career. After that, I have been part of the Super Eagles team on friendly matches. I can recollect outstanding moments that inspire me to do more.
A lot have been said about the Nigeria league, what is your opinion?
For sure the league is not bad. It can feed your depending on how you spend and manage your funds. There are players living in the country and play in the league and still live better. It’s about what you want and contentment.
Who are your idols of the game and inspires you?
I model my playing to the likes of former Dutch striker Robin van Persie. I love Van Persie; he’s a player I cherish with his style of play during his playing days then. Now, I love Romelu Lukaku of Inter Milan. He’s another great striker. He plays football with passion and determination, and the fact that he responded to critics with good performances.
What is your goal in the J league?
Consadole finished 10th in the Japanese top division last season, I look forward to a better finish and if possible win the league or at least get a continental ticket and a domestic cup this season. I want to win for my club, score as many goals as possible, and also to become an important player in the league. With God, everything is possible.
The big interview with the in-form Leicester City striker as he talks through his mother’s death, adjusting to British weather, his 12-month goal drought, and more
After six years in England, Kelechi Iheanacho is finally at the front of the queue. Patience has been required of the Nigerian to reach a point where he has leapfrogged to lead the charge in the FA Cup final as one of the most prolific strikers in world football. Nine goals in six games has not only helped Leicester City lift the trophy for the first time– his quarter-final brace against Manchester United saw him overtake Didier Drogba as the highest-scoring African player in FA Cup history – but it has also transformed his reputation.
From his early days at Manchester City through his first few years at the King Power Stadium, it seemed he was destined to remain in the shadows of the high-profile strikers ahead of him, and never be the main man himself.
“It’s my route,” Iheanacho says from City’s training ground at Seagrave. “Everyone has their route in football and this is mine
.
LONG QUEUES
“It wasn’t only Aguero at Man City. There were five strikers. It was a long queue. I was behind Dzeko, Jovetic, Negredo, and Bony. It was quite long! But I trained there loving football and trying to improve every day. And I did start playing.
“Then I came to Leicester and I saw another queue. A queue with Vardy, Ulloa, Okazaki, Slimani, and the rest.
“But I am still alive and here and there is hope every day. So I am happy and loving the football. I am not leaving Leicester at the moment but if I ever do then I will be careful not to get in to any more queues.”
The journey to the front of the queue at Leicester, where he signed a new three-year deal this month, has been fraught with obstacles, starting from his days as a teenager in Nigeria.
The 24-year-old captured the hearts of the nation when he scored a hat-trick on Mother’s Day and dedicated to the mums around the world “who look after us”.
It was especially poignant given Iheanacho lost his own mum, Mercy, when he was just 16. His celebration, a point to the skies, is in her memory.
FOR LATE MUM
“I think about her every day,” he says. “There is not a day I don’t remember her. I know she is in a good place now.
“It helps me to keep working hard and every day and to keep going. My worst fear was to lose her. There is nothing that could scare me any more in this life.
“So I just keep being who I am and I know she is behind me. Every day I see her and think about her. All the rest of my life she will be there and the memories will be there.”
A few months after her passing, Iheanacho was named player of the tournament as Nigeria won the Under-17s World Cup, his performances catching Man City’s eye.
WINTER COLD
Moving from Nigeria to the north-west of England provided a culture shock that he, and his dad, were not ready for. It didn’t help that his first training session was in February.
“It wasn’t easy for me when I first came, it was really too cold for me,” he says. “I wanted to go back to my country because it was too cold.
“They told me: ‘Listen, you have come here to stay. You have come to play football. They have signed you now so you have to play. You’re under contract now so you have to.’
“It was the first time my Dad had been out in cold weather. He wanted to watch me train but after 10 minutes I couldn’t see him. He had gone inside.
“He never came to another game. He said it was too cold. I am not being funny but he has not been back (to the UK). The last time was when I told you in 2014, when he left after 10 minutes.
“I’m alright with the cold weather now. It was okay. I am used to it.”
After his £25million move to City, the aforementioned queue prevented Iheanacho from making an immediate impact.
But with Leo Ulloa, Shinji Okazaki, and Islam Slimani all leaving, the Nigerian was left as the sole deputy to Vardy, and those boots proved too big to fill at first. Between September 2018 and September 2019, he did not score a single competitive goal. THE DROUGHT
During that 12-month goal drought, Iheanacho admitted he had doubts over his own ability, but was able to retain faith that it would all work out.
“It was a difficult, difficult period,” he said. “But that belief is still there.
“Sometimes it just won’t click, whatever you do. Even if you try to do the right thing it won’t click. Then when the wrong things happen you lose your head. You keep trying and trying and trying and still it won’t come – and you think you’re losing it.
“Well at that stage that’s when you have to believe and have faith that no matter how bad it is and even when it’s getting worse, something good is waiting for you. Even in the worst times something is being prepared for you.
“Even if this period hadn’t come I would have kept going. But the good days are here so I want to keep them going now.”
The good days really are here for Iheanacho. His recent hot streak means that he has 14 goals for the season, the same as his strike partner Jamie Vardy, while he has a better goals-per-minute ratio than the likes of Harry Kane and Mo Salah.
RODGERS INFLUENCE
For reaching this level, he gives a lot of credit to Brendan Rodgers.
But, equally he is not going to relax and enjoy this moment too much, because he knows there is more to achieve, and more goals to score.
“The manager has been a great influence and a great part in this,” he says. “He is the number one person in this because he keeps encouraging me to keep going, to keep working hard and take my chances when they come.
“He is the number one influence outside of my family, plus my team-mates. They all love me, they all want me to do well and I’m really happy here.
“My family call me and give me support, even my friends as well. Everyone around me is really in support of me even when I’m not in my best moments. That’s why I love them and will be around them for a while.
“As much as I’m enjoying it I need to focus for any challenges which will be thrown at me. I’m in a good position but I need to focus, keep working hard every day.
“Mentality-wise I need to be ready every single game because that is what everyone is looking up to.
“I need to be mentally ready every game to make sure I help my team-mates and do my best for the club.”
The immediate focus is to fire City back into the Champions League.
And then, it is a case of convincing his dad to finally brave the British weather again.
“Hopefully we’ll get him back,” he says. “When they lift the lockdown and everywhere is safe, he can come. I’ll make sure he comes in the summer so that he will not feel so cold.”
When his dad does arrive, he will find a son that is smiling, confident, and with nobody ahead of him in the queue.
Don King, 89, will likely be remembered for two things: his big hair and his bigger fights. The boxing promoter got his start in 1972 when he convinced Muhammad Ali to box in a charity exhibition at a Cleveland hospital. Two years later, he promoted the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle,” a boxing match between Ali and George Foreman. The event, hosted in Zaire, guaranteed both fighters a whopping $5 million.
The fight’s success took King’s career to the next level, and he went on to organize seven of Ali’s title bouts. A 1975 fight against Joe Frazier—dubbed “The Thrilla in Manila”—earned Ali a hefty $6 million paycheck.
King also managed countless other boxing talents: Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Felix Trinidad.
But critics are unmoved by what he’s done to bring boxing to the mainstream. In fact, many believe he’s actually done a disservice to the sport. Find out how King’s personal actions got in the way of his own success.
King has had a shady history both before and after he entered the world of boxing. Before working as a promoter, he faced criminal charges on multiple occasions. A 1954 murder charge, brought on after King shot an attempted robber, was ultimately deemed a justifiable homicide. But in 1967, he was convicted of manslaughter for beating a man to death. King served almost four years in prison and was formally pardoned in 1983 by then-Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes.
He eventually traded street crimes for white-collar crimes. King was plagued with investigations during his time as a major promotor. In 1977, the FBI looked into the possibility that King forged fighters’ records (he was never charged). And in 1985, he and his secretary Constance Harper were indicted on insurance fraud charges. Harper took the fall on three counts of attempted tax evasion; King came out unscathed.
Even his own fighters didn’t like him. Several sued him. King was famous for a dirty contract clause that forced any winning boxer to be managed by the promoter. He essentially monopolized the sport—any aspiring pugilist would have to go through him to get to the top.
In 1997, Terry Norris sued King for $70 million in damages. He also demanded an end to what was described as a “horribly one-sided and unfair” contract. The suit lasted for years, but as the jury finally got around the deliberations, Norris accepted a $7.5 million settlement.
In June 2004, Mike Tyson followed suit and reached a $14 million settlement with King. The legendary heavyweight alleged that following his 1995 prison release, the promoter stole upwards of $100 million from him.
For perspective on how much money Tyson was generating, consider Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield II—the 1996 fight in which he bites a chunk of Holyfield’s ear off. It earned $180 million alone. Not that Tyson was a great money manager himself; he was drowning in debt at the time he settled. According to the New York Times, he owed $38.4 million to various creditors, the IRS, and his ex-wife.
Like it or not, King amassed a fortune during his lifetime—and he didn’t squander it, either. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he is currently estimated to be sitting on $150 million. The New York Times caught up with King in 2017 and found that he had become mildly reclusive. Sources close to him told the outlet that he hadn’t been the same since his wife’s death in 2010. However, he wasn’t entirely ready to walk away from boxing.
“You can call me semiretired,” he said. “But I just got to find the right fighter that really wants to fight. The sport is not the same. These guys are not dedicated and committed to the sport like the older guys were. They all want to read the headlines, and when you go out and extol them virtuously and say things about them, they believe the things to the extent they don’t have to do nothing. They believe it’s going to be like osmosis, it’s going to fall from the sky.”
We can’t help but wonder how he feels about the upcoming spectacle between Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather. If the fight generates a renewed interest in the sport, it probably won’t be long before we hear from King again.
Anthony Joshua is gearing-up for his era-defining Tyson Fury showdown with a bullish attitude, insisting he’s prepared for ‘torture’ during training for the clash. While doubts and promises swirl around the Battle of Britain clash – with Fury’s camp growing frustrated in negotiations, while Eddie Hearn is assures new is coming – both men are in full training.
The fight will unify the heavyweight division and the winner will go down as the undisputed king of his generation. Joshua is as hungry as ever, and he’s certain he can fell the Gypsy King.
‘Am I excited? I ain’t excited, it is what it is,’ Joshua told the skipper of his hometown club, Watford’s Troy Deeney, on the striker’s podcast.
‘I’m getting ready to walk through a brick wall and nothing is getting in my way. I’m ready to go through whatever pain, torture, and adversity I have to go through in order to win, that’s why I’m really looking forward to it.
‘I know I’m the man of this division and I will be for a long time. I came through this game quick and the way I had to learn was through mistakes, on the public stage as well.
‘I came into this game not to take part but to take over, I feel I’m on a different wavelength and frequency.
Fury is the division’s top showman right now. The six-foot-nine light-footed powerhouse’s pre-fight antics have brought eyes to every fight he’s taken.
Joshua is the Gypsy King’s latest target, who he’s been labelling him a ‘bodybuilder’ for years. In his latest rant, Fury called his next opponent: ‘A big, useless dosser. Not a real fighting man. A hype job. Bodybuild(er), crossfit, big, ugly s***house. That’s Anthony Joshua.’
‘I’ve learnt a lot with that. The man will talk about drinking pints and he’s not interested but yet he wants to look chiseled, he’s training the hardest he’s ever trained, he’s the skinniest he’s ever been.
‘AJ has a good body and he trains so he wants to be a body builder, but Tyson Fury would do the exact same thing if he could. I am everything he wants to be.
‘He wants to have a six pack, that’s why he’s training as hard as he’s training right now. Why he looks so chiseled, why he’s in America.
‘I promise you I’m honoured, I’m humbled, I know it’s going to be tough but I truly believe I am tough enough to go through it. I don’t need to talk about Tyson Fury and I don’t need to belittle the man, he can do what he wants.’
