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  • IDAH PETERSIDE: My journey from goal post to pulpit

    It was on a warm Sunday afternoon for this long-awaited rendezvous with Bishop (Dr.) Idah Peterside at his Christ Ambassadors Church situated inside the busy hub of Kempton Park.

    Walking straight into the vast auditorium while he was delivering his ‘Family Deliverance Sunday’ programme, shouts of ‘Hallelujah’ enveloped the arena as members attested to God’s awesome power.

    The electrifying atmosphere seemed to underscore the fact that the fundamental key to serving God consistently is understanding the dynamics of the Christian faith itself, one that Peterside is gifted with.

    His revelations on his Christian calling, how his church has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, and the birth of his baby girl after 10 years of waiting, makes an interesting read as we delve into the amazing transition of a Nigerian former international goalkeeper who rose from football retirement to becoming a giant in the pulpit.

    It has been an exciting journey for the renowned TV pundit who, to the consternation of his parents, had swapped school for football in a huge life-changing decision reserved only for the bold.

    Today, Peterside, founder of the Christ Ambassadors Church in South Africa, is making a bold statement as a bishop and a true ambassador of the Christian faith. His church ranks as one of the fastest growing denominations in Africa, and with the launch of his ATV channel expected to guarantee bigger audience and followership, the sky can only be the limit.

    Yet the straight-talking preacher would be the first to admit that waiting for his first child after a decade after marriage was traumatic but as it’s widely said, ‘faith conquers everything’ for him.

    In an exclusive interview with MARK OGAGAN in Johannesburg, Peterside speaks candidly about life, family, football, while he describes his international debut for Nigeria as a ‘momentous’ occasion. Excerpts…

    FOR the benefit of younger readers, please give us an insight about yourself…

    My name is Bishop (Dr.) Idah Peterside. I pastor here in South Africa at the Christ Ambassadors Church. I played in South Africa for Tembisa Classic FC and Moroka Swallows. Prior to that, I played for a whole lot of teams in Nigeria, among them Enyimba, Sharks, Udoji United, BCC Lions, Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC) before I travelled out in 1998. I was in Israel with the intent of joining a team called Maccabi Hezilia, but the deal fell through. Shortly after I found myself in South Africa, and after trying out in a number of teams, I joined Tembisa Classic eventually.

    I played professional football here for close to four years before I started my ministry, so it’s been a very long journey. Later I became media officer of Nigeria Super Eagles. I was in that position for four years, then I quit to return to focus on my pastoral work because my ministry was growing; we were doing well and I needed to focus.

    I am also a soccer pundit, and actually the first Nigerian on DSTV; I personally brought DSTV to Nigeria. It was myself, Thomas Mlambo, Emeka Enyadike who was based in Nigeria then, and Daniel Amokachi was our guest from Nigeria. So it’s been a long journey. I’ve been in South Africa for 21 years now, and God has been faithful; I’m happily married, so yeah, that’s a brief story of my life.

    That’s very interesting. Now can you tell us about your transition from football to Christian ministration?

    It wasn’t difficult because I’d been a Christian even when I was playing in Nigeria. I gave my life to Christ in 1996 while playing for Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC), and that’s where it all started. That same year I attended a bible school (Word of Faith Bible College) where I graduated with a diploma, but I continued to play because I felt it was not time to jump into the ministry so since then I’ve been serving God in my own little way, contributing to the Kingdom of God; so the transition wasn’t tough at all.

    I remember in 2002 (I was playing for Moroka Swallows then), I had this nudge, you know, I was supposed to go to the World Cup I did all the qualifiers, played two games or thereabout. I was a reserve goalkeeper to Ike Shorunmu for about eight or nine of the games, so I was in the team all through the campaign, but then came the unfortunate incident where I broke my knee. And if you remember, there was a transition then when they brought Adegboye Onigbinde to come and take over the national team. From then I couldn’t play anymore. My knee was so damaged and I did not recover for the World Cup.

    After that, I went to SuperSport where I started my career as a TV pundit during the World Cup in Korea-Japan. From the period when I didn’t go to the World Cup they asked me to come and analyse the tournament, get involved in the preparation for the World Cup, and that’s how I started doing television, and, as I said, I’m the first Nigerian to be on DSTV, and I’m very proud of that.

    That’s a good one…now if I remember correctly, Taribo West was one of the trail-blazers when he founded his ministry some years ago. Was this one of your motivating factors?

    No, actually, I’m not sure Taribo was the first because what he did when he was playing, he had a ministry, and the kind of ministry he had was like a Home of Compassion where he was busy looking after the homeless and the less privileged; his wasn’t really a preaching ministry. I think the first Nigerian player that really started the preaching ministry was Chidi Nwanu who played in the 1994 World Cup team, and if you remember he was in Belgium then. If you remember he just faded out, and nobody heard anything about Chidi again. But the truth is that Chidi started before us, and after Chidi, it should be I, because we started this ministry 17 years ago. Then, of course, we later had Taribo, then Alloy Agu jumped in. So only a few of us have been active in the Christian ministry.

    Was it difficult adapting to life in South Africa in your first couple of years here?

    Laughs…you should know; yes it was, obviously. I went through hell. It was very difficult to have survived in South Africa at that time. At some point I wanted to leave. I’d packed my bags and wanted to go because it wasn’t easy at all. I was looking for a team here for close to eight to 12 months. I remember sleeping on the bare floor in my friend Muisi  Ajao’s house who was playing for Sundowns at that time. He fed me for that period, and if I got five rand or 10 rand pocket money it was a miracle! I also remember going to Jomo Cosmos for trials; I did a training session there, and I was so good at that session that Jomo came to me and said, ‘you’re very good but I don’t know why I’ll not sign you.’ It was as simple as that. So I continued going from one team to the other…Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Hellenic FC, African Wanderers, Ria Stars (about seven or eight teams in total), but none of them signed me.

    I was very frustrated, until I got a call one night from William Okpara (who was playing for Pirates then), that there’s a new team that gained promotion to PSL (Tembisa Classic), and they were looking for a goalkeeper, and he had already told them about me. I went there, and as God would have it, the first week they signed me and paid me a lot of money (200,000 rand) as my sign-on fee, and offered me 7,000 rand as salary. From then on my life changed completely. I remember then you could go to the bank to buy a house, and I bought a house obviously. I had to pay gradually, but I had the money. I remember they demanded 40,000 rand as deposit for the house, and it cost R200,000  then. And my monthly bond was just 1,200 rand, so it was easy to pay.

    Who was the greatest influence on your career?

    I cannot really point to one particular person, that would be wrong of me. But my elder sister gave me massive support. I’d never forget her because I remember my parents never wanted me to play football, they wanted me to study law. I’d gotten admission at the University of Uyo. I went there, stayed there for a few days and then Sharks FC came, that they wanted me to play for them, and without thinking twice about it, I left school. My father was livid, my mom was angry, and my father said something that changed my life forever. He said: “Make sure you’re not a liability to your brothers. Promise me.” Somehow I did not understand the word ‘liability’ until I checked the dictionary. So I promised my parents that I was going to survive and I’ve kept my promise!

    And in football, I’ll mention Monday Sinclair, he was my first professional coach at Sharks of Port Harcourt; he taught me the ropes. There’s also another coach, his name is Walter but we called him 4-2-4, until I met Shaibu Amodu. Shaibu became like an elder brother to me because he was friends with my brother. He invited me to come play for BCC Lions, and once I got there, everything changed absolutely and I came into national prominence. Remember, BCC won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup then, and we had five of the best goalkeepers in the land then…it was David Ngodigha, Andrew Aikhomogbe, Lemmy Isa, Sam Addingi and I. Imagine, and we were all in one team! My move to BCC changed everything about me and I improved tremendously. From there I went to the national team.

    How do you cope with your dual role as a pastor and TV pundit?

    It’s not easy…what I’ve told myself is that I’ve been able to separate both in my head. I’ve told myself that my job is pastoring, then my leisure is TV. It has helped me a lot in the sense that I give so much to the church, then I want to unwind, I do football (Soccer Africa) on DSTV. I used to be very frequent on sports TV but the truth is that I don’t have that time anymore. I have too many things to do, if you come here on my counselling day we may have asked you to go home, and you were here in the church today and you witnessed the pressure. And the kind of ministry God called me into is a power ministry, and most times I stand in the auditorium from 9am to 3pm, and for over six hours standing and preaching…this is my life and God has been kind to me.

    So how did you get the calling to be a servant of God, and what influenced the name – Christ Ambassadors Church?

    Wow…that’s a good question. I knew it from a very tender age. My parents are pastors of Assemblies of God Church, and they influenced me a whole lot; so as a young person, I was ministering in the youth, and the youth then in Assemblies was called CAY (Christ Ambassadors Youth), so it stuck in my heart. I became a youth leader in church and I was ministering as a young lad of 11. At a point, I used to lead the youth choir as well, and somehow I knew this was going to be my life, beyond every reasonable doubt.

    Let’s go back to your football career now…you did not get a chance to play in Europe during your active days. Do you regret it?

    Without a shred of doubt, I regret it. You know, when I look back now, I thought I should have done more, because the benefits now far supersede what we had in the past. You see, nowadays when there’s a FIFA event, they invite Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, Sunday Oliseh. These were my teammates. And all of a sudden, it’s dawning on me that what they achieved while playing is now paying off for them. I’m enjoying a little bit of it, but not as I’d have loved to. For now, I’m not in any CAF or FIFA committee, but that wouldn’t be the case if I’d given my more in the game as a player. If I’d pushed more, I’d have left Nigeria a long time before I did eventually. But at that time we didn’t really have that kind of desire, and for a goalkeeper, because, remember, those days it used to be strikers who got that chance to travel out, and every goalkeeper ‘died’ as a professional in Nigeria; then started inviting defenders, then midfielders, then the keepers. Rufai, Agbonivbare, Agu, Shorunmu started travelling as well. With all modesty, I know I was one of the best then, so if I’d pushed a little bit more, perhaps my story would have been different today. And again I regret not playing at the World Cup; that must be my biggest regret. I played against Sierra Leone in my first international game for Nigeria and was also in goal in Zambia, then assisted Ike Shorunmu in all the other qualifying matches leading to the World Cup in 2002, so I was part of that team until three months to the tournament when I got injured in a league game against Ajax Cape Town and had my dreams dashed. It was our last game of the season. We were 4-0 up in the game, with only two minutes left to play, then somebody pushed me and I landed and twisted my knee but all things worked together for good; maybe I’d have gone to that World Cup and kept goal for Nigeria, and perhaps gone to play somewhere in Europe, and I wouldn’t be doing what am doing right now, so I look back and I thank God for my life.

    Some months back, you took to social media to welcome your baby girl after 10 years of waiting. How was the experience like?

    (Laughs) It was a wonderful experience, I mean, to become a father after so long calls for celebration. We give God all the glory. But the waiting game was frustrating and crazy, you know. You get married and you expect a baby to come, obviously. I have lived a clean life, you know, I never had a girlfriend, never touched a woman. Remember, I was a pastor, so I was clean; absolutely clean. So, I won’t say it was because I was living in sin. I did not even kiss my wife before we got married. That’s the extent to which I kept myself pure and holy before matrimony. So we lived a life of purity, and people think it’s impossible, but it is possible. She was working in the bank, and I was a TV star, so I could have given any reason because there are women everywhere. But frankly I never touched a woman, even till today,  I never touch a woman that I’m not married to.

    I’ve always lived a chaste life, so we expected things to happen, but after two to three years, nothing. But in between that time, my wife fell sick, she was very sick; she had a life-threatening disease whereby she was paralysed for 15 months, and she started taking heavy drugs. In taking those drugs, it affected her womb and the doctors said her womb had collapsed, and I was also struggling with low sperm count.

    So, realistically, there was no reason why we should have kids at that time but so we just waited, kept waiting and waiting…one year to two years to three years, five years, eight years. But by the 10th year she called me one day and said ‘I just did a home pregnancy test and….’. The rest is history; the joy was unbelievable, out of this world! When I carried the baby at the hospital I just broke down and wept; it was an unbelievable feeling, to see my child in my arms after all these years?

    Would you say there was divine intervention in all of these?

    It must have been a miracle. As I said, I gave two instances why we couldn’t have children, and the doctor said I had a very low sperm count, and my wife’s womb had collapsed. But we believed God, we trusted God, we prayed, we fasted, we gave, we sowed seeds, we did everything to get God’s attention, and God indeed remembered us.

    You’ve been talking sports on cable TV for 17 years now; how has it been for you?

    It’s been glorious. SuperSport has opened tremendous doors for me. I’ve met presidents; you can imagine that I went to see Goodluck Jonathan some years ago. I walked in and Goodluck looked at me…someone already told him: ‘A pastor needs to come and pray for you, because I went to one church the power of God hit the place…like what I’m doing here.’ A lady called me saying I needed to come and pray for somebody then, I asked who? Please come with me, she insisted. But I was adamant…if you don’t tell me whom you’re taking me to, I’m going nowhere,’ I responded.

    Then she went and told the guy that invited me, so the guy came to me and pleaded: ‘Please you need to go, it’s very important.’

    So we drove into the government house, I was looking at where we were going…we were going into Aso Rock. We went into Aso Rock, they said, ‘wait here’. Two minutes later, they took me in. The president came out and said, ‘Idah, how now?’ And I responded, ‘Ah, your Excellency!’ He said, ‘how is South Africa? I dey watch your programme. ‘ It’s beautiful to know, and to see. I was also able to meet Nelson Mandela. Yeah, I’ve met leaders, heads of states, former governors, just like that…you know, being on TV has opened up tremendous doors for me, and I’m grateful to SuperSport for the opportunity.

    At this time what are your short- and long-term plans going forward?

    Well, I own a cable TV station, it’s called Ambassador TV (ATV). We started it six years ago, and we intend to push it to reach a global audience. But it’s a Christian TV station, it’s on DSTV in South Africa as well, but in Nigeria you can watch on the free-to-air channel, the strong decoder. So we’re trying to push it to DSTV and broaden its reach. I also have plans to start a school, and we’ve already applied for a license in Nigeria to start a radio station, so I have a whole lot of things in my mind that I’m dreaming of. I have a right to dream. I think football is leisure to me; people say why are you still doing football when you’re a bishop and a pastor? But it’s my life too; it’s my passion, so I do it just to relax. And I tell them: ‘If I don’t do TV, I watch it.’ If Nigeria is playing South Africa, I’ll watch it for 90 minutes, so why can’t I be in the studio for that 90 minutes and get paid? Makes more sense, abi?

    Since you’re so passionate about the game, have you thought about becoming an administrator at some point?

    Well, I was media officer for the Super Eagles some years ago. You see, it’s not easy combining both, especially the church, but somebody once asked me, ‘what if you’re asked to be a Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State, or asked to be a Minister of Sports?’ Of course I’ll take it.

    Would that not interfere with your ministerial work?

    No, it would not. What I’ll do is that I’ll take a sabbatical. I have a lot of pastors that I can hand over to, because everything is all about service; whether you are in church you’re serving, whether you’re a governor or minister you’re serving. The greatest blessing is being a blessing to people. So if I’m called to serve, I think I’ll bring righteousness to any kind of department I am offered. The point is, I’m not a politician, and I don’t know whether Wike would agree to appoint me or APC people would agree to appoint me. I’m a Rivers son, and I’m a sports person. There’s no way I cannot run sports in Nigeria if I’m given the opportunity – be it at national level or state. I think I have the experience and ability to run sports, but they’ll tell you you’re not in our party, you see that’s the thing. I’m not in any party, and I refuse to be partisan. I am just a Nigerian that loves my Rivers State and loves Nigeria.

    What’s your most prized possession, and why?

    Life. If you don’t have life you don’t have anything. I wouldn’t even say my child or my wife. I’m not moved by worldly things or material things. The bible says: ‘What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?’

    What are the things that make you happy and sad?

    What really makes me happy is internal, not external, because external things are temporary. And if I put my mind on external things and they don’t work for me or somebody takes them away or I lose them, then those things judge me, those things determine my peace and my joy. That’s why what makes me happy is me, my joy inside, and I decide to be happy, nobody makes me happy, nobody makes me angry. I make up my mind not to be angry because being angry is giving somebody the power to control you.

    Back to football now, how do you rate Nigeria’s chances at the Africa Cup of Nations coming up in Egypt this month?

    I have picked six teams as my favourite to lift the trophy, and among my chosen six is the Super Eagles. The others are Egypt, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana. I’d rate Egypt highest not just because of Mohamed Salah but because they are playing at home and they are good enough, they have the best teams even playing in the CAF Champions League so I consider them a very tough side. South Africa are one of the outsiders though they can’t handle pressure.

    Can you relive some of your experiences while playing for the Super Eagles?

    They are huge. As I said, my greatest joy was when I wore the Nigerian jersey for the first time. It was an emotional moment for me, and I cried. I still have that photo; it was in Ethiopia. And I still remember the name of the hotel we stayed (Wabashabalah); that shows how unique the occasion was for me. We had the likes of Uche Okechukwu, the late Uche Okafor, Friday Ekpo, Finidi George, Ike Shorunmu, Precious Monye, Ben Iroha…we were all in that team. It was quite an experience for me, but a whole lot of other things happened. Just being in that team and wearing the Nigerian jersey was just electric for me. I was there when Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha first came to the camp.

    How do you compare your football career in Nigeria and South Africa?

    I think Nigeria was tougher because when I started my career there it wasn’t easy to break through and in those days we had massive teams. Shooting Stars, Sharks, Rangers International, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Bendel Insurance, Stationery Stores,Ranchers Bees, Kano Pillars, BCC Lions, El-Kanemi Warriors, ACB, Julius Berger, and if you did well against any of these teams you stood a chance of a national team call up. So when I came to South Africa I was a little bit older, so it was easier for me to adjust, and I was good enough. They saw that I had that experience, and I was in Israel too. Although it didn’t work out for me in Israel, it gave me a lot of exposure.

    Do you think Nigeria ex-internationals are given sufficient opportunity to serve at administrative level of the game?

    No, I don’t think we should be given! Nobody should give us, we should go take it. That’s what I think. It’s ridiculous to see lawyers, retired military officers doing football. We deserve to be in the system…and a lot of people have been complaining about this. We must make ourselves available; nobody gives you anything for free. If you want to be an administrator, show yourself, start from your local government, anywhere you are, build from there…people will see that you’re significant.

    There’s been a backlash over Nigeria’s poor outing at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, with allegations of bribery levied against coaches and officials of the Flying Eagles. What’s your take on this?

    These are not just allegations…they are obvious. Sometimes the coaches don’t come directly, they use agents and third parties to perpetrate these acts of corruption. These things must be wiped out; we need to clean up the system. And not just that, I’ve heard a lot of reports about the bribery in the league, the amount of money clubs spend just to pay referees. It is absurd, it is wrong. The giver and receiver are both guilty in these instances. You have to refuse to give; they say if you don’t give they’ll kill you…how many would they kill? If everybody refuses, then something will be done about it. We must fight corruption in our league.

    How do you unwind after preaching and analysing football?

    I watch movies. But I also travel a lot, I love to travel, I love aero planes. An aero plane is the only place where everybody is selfish, because you’re thinking either you’ll die, or live. So what I’m saying is, it’s the best place to rest. I always fly business class, and I rest a lot while travelling.

    Tell us about your wife, Iyenemi. How did you guys meet, and what struck you when you first met her?

    I went to preach in a church in Nigeria, and when I finished preaching, I came out and my younger sister said there’s a girl in the church that I needed to meet, and she was not in church that particular day. She worked in a bank. Before then, somebody had called her, telling her there’s this ex-footballer that came to preach, he tore up the place, it was awesome! As he was talking, my sister was talking to me about her, and my sister gave me her number. But before I called her somebody had already introduced me as the footballer that came to preach. However, the lady was wondering how can a pastor come to preach and be chasing after a woman?

    The next morning, I told her I was coming to the bank to see her at 11am. But by 9am she had gone to the church to report me that they should be careful what kind of pastors they invite to come and preach in churches, that that man that preached yesterday called her, and he’s coming to see her. Then the pastor laughed and told her I was not married. ‘He’s single, please listen to him, you don’t know what he has to say.’ Eventually we met, and got married three months later.

    Your experiences of muti in South African football?

    Huge… In my first game (Classic vs Bloem Celtic), we were in the hotel, and I was asking for our jerseys, they said we’ll get them in the dressing room. So when we got to Makhulong Stadium, there was fire on the way to the dressing room. So players were asked to jump through the fire…hahaha. They said ‘jump’, I said ‘jump where? What’s happening here?’ But they insisted, so I jumped the fire. When I got to my jersey, it was wet (the top and the short, and it had a funny smell), but I don’t wear shorts, I had my own trouser. I did it in the first game, but in the second game I swapped jerseys. There was another incident before our Rothmans Cup game against Orlando Pirates. They took us to a bush where an old man was to perform some muti rituals on us, but I refused and walked back to my car. So our coach Kabo Zondo was asked to take me out of the starting XI. He told them I had a right to my religion, and if he’s not allowed to use me in the game he would resign. So he played me, and we lost the game 3-0. I got the blame, obviously, and from then I started having problems with the team. I remember they used to call me Mfundisi (Pastor) because of my Christian background.

    Moroka Swallows was worse. They forced me to put things in my goalkeeper bag and put it in the post. I told them I don’t have a problem with that, but the captain should put it by the post himself.

  • GERNOT ROHR: Super Eagles can be champions in Egypt

    Coach Gernot Rohr shares his thoughts on a wide range of issues about the Super Eagles just before his departure for the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 in an exclusive conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Almost three years in the saddle with Super Eagles, Coach Gernot Rohr has painstakingly reviewed his tenure even as the self-styled Franco German admitted his wards must pull their socks to emerge victorious at the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    Rohr’s arrival coincided with some positive developments within the Nigerian football setup as the Super Eagles against all odds qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia in a seemingly tough qualifying section that housed the dreaded African champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Les Fennecs (The Foxes) of Algeria and Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) of Zambia.

    He equally qualified the Super Eagles for the AFCON for the first time since 2013 after the three-time African champions Nigeria hitherto failed to make the 2015 and 2017 editions.

    His scorecard is equally something to write home about after he won 14 out of the total 29 matches played since his arrival in 2016 with another eight drawn matches and seven losses on the last count prior to today’s final AFCON preparatory match against Senegal in Ismailia.

    “I think one of the most difficult decisions for me so far is dropping two players before the World Cup in Russia,” Rohr, who began his reign as Super Eagles’ coach with a 1-0 win over Tanzania  in a dead rubber 2017 AFCON qualifier in Uyo  on 2nd September 2016, stated in an exclusive interview with The Nation.“ Again, dropping two players from the provisional list of 25 for this 2019 AFCON in Egypt was also difficult because everybody thinks they deserve to be there.

    “It is also difficult sometimes to tell a player that he’s not going to start a game because even with 23players in camp, you only have spaces for 11 players at a time; but that is the job, we have to do our job well.”

    Yet Rohr is not amused that in a soccer-mad country such as Nigeria, every Dick and Harry seems to have an opinion about the coaching: “You know better than me the difference between the coach and the fans on the streets,” noted Rohr with wry smiles.

    “Of course, they (the fans) can be critics but I have responsibility as coach.

    “It is easy to talk but coaching is more than that; because you have a greater responsibility and you are inside while the fans are outside, and they don’t know sometimes what I know about my team.

    “But it’s my responsibility as a coach to respect our fans because they are wonderful fans; they want the best for us.  We have really had wonderful support of the fans in Uyo and even Asaba. I regret that we have not been able to see the Lagos and Abuja fans while we play our matches.

    “I think it’s still not normal that we have not been able to play in two biggest Nigerian cities (Lagos and Abuja) since I’m here; it’s something I don’t understand.

    “We need the coordination and cooperation between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the politics (government) which has not been too good. You remember the last episode of dealing with another NFF president when there is already a president, but it’s not funny to me.

    “Everybody may have forgotten about it but it was difficult to work for some few months because who was our president after the World Cup? I saw some of the things I never saw in my life before and that is why I think we would always need the direct harmony between the NFF and the government in order for us to succeed.”

    Rohr was not shy about speaking about his employers as he described the NFF as partners in progress. “The relation with NFF is okay and it was very wonderful at the beginning; it was like a new marriage with a lot of moonlight. But I tell you that it has been good working with the players and the staff.

    “But even when there is problem, we have to understand that you cannot enjoy the honeymoon every time as if you just got married. What I always demand is respect for our job and I would also give my respect because it’s not a one-man show.”

    On a personal level though, Rohr has a vast experience both as a player and coach since he featured for top European sides like Bayern Munich and Girondins Bordeaux in France before he retired into coaching.

    As a manager, he earned his stripes in European football when he led Bordeaux as runners up to Bayern Munich in thefinal of the now rested UEFA Cup (now known as Europa Cup) in 1996.

    After Bordeaux, he was briefly sports director at Eintracht Frankfurt while he  has also coached at FC Nantes; Étoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia and served as national team head coach of Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso before berthing in Nigeria in September 2016. But Rohr has singled out legendary coach Aime Jacquet who led France to FIFA World Cup glory on home in 1998 as the man after his heart.

    “I’m old in the business of coaching but I’m still young and fresh in my heart,” explained Rohr who will mark his 66th anniversary on 28th June. I have my experience now, but I learned so much from all the coaches I knew, especially Aime Jacquet.

    “He (Aime Jacquet) was my coach for 10 years in Bordeaux and in this team in Bordeaux we were  three times French Ligue 1 champions and two-time  French Coupe winners; twice semi-finalists in the European Cups and later some players were world champions with France.

    “In this team of Jacquet in Bordeaux are lots of former players that have now become coaches because he gave us good inspiration.

    “I was also lucky because I grew up in the football milieu since my father was a coach too and that was also a good motivation for me.”

    At the forthcoming AFCON, the Super Eagles begin their campaign against Burundi on 22nd June to be followed with the game against Guinea on 26th June, while on 30th June Rohr will lead out his troops against his wife’s native Madagascar who are making their first appearance just like Burundi at Egypt 2019.

    “On  30th June, my wife will be rooting for Nigeria and she will be wearing the Super Eagles’ jersey, if not, I’m going to sack her!” notes Rohr with a roaring laughter even as he speaks candidly on other sundry details. Excerpts…

     

    Dealing with general pressure as a coach

    Sincerely, I don’t feel the pressure as a coach because this is my job. I started on this journey a long time ago and I have all kind of experiences both as a player and coach, so I’m used to the pressure. If you want to do well, you just have to give your best and that has been my style. Once I have done my best, it’s okay and it’s the same thing I tell the players too: ‘do your best.’ I don’t criticise a player if I know what he has done is his best, I don’t criticise at all. The same way with the coaches and the longer you are in a place the more things can become difficult because everybody wants you to achieve more.  I have come a long way since I came about three years ago now. At one point we were number 76 in the world and now we are forty-something, which is not bad but it’s our desire to go higher. But I can quit if I no longer have the condition to succeed. The conditions to succeed are not too much but we must have good atmosphere around the team always. We must have good conditions for the coaches in order to work well with the players. I really love this group of players I’m working with because we have good understanding and tolerance amongst ourselves. The love for the work and the country is so big.

    Under pressure to win in Egypt

    We are not under any pressure going to Egypt because we have been away since 2013; we didn’t go in 2015 and 2017 and so how we can be under pressure when we have missed the last two tournaments (general laughter)? We are going to Egypt to do our best because it was success to have been able to qualify for the tournament, but now we must do more in Egypt. There has been good progress after the World Cup in Russia and you know we had a tough AFCON qualifying group with Libya and South Africa; so to qualify is already a success for our team. But we go to Egypt with a lot of possibilities and we need to be very fit to be able to play the maximum seven matches at the AFCON. We need to work really hard to be able to win something at the AFCON; and like we have a good atmosphere and team spirit which is very important if we are going to succeed. As you know, we have good young boys in this team now and with the experience we had in Russia, it is perfect for us.

     

    Final camping for the 2019 AFCON

    We are now in the last stages of our camping for the AFCON in Egypt; and now we are more concerned about the physical and mental conditions of our players. Of course, we are still scouting for information about our opponents because we have not played Guinea, Burundi and Madagascar recently. Our scouting team had the chance of seeing Madagascar in their recent friendly matches in Luxembourg and Paris; and so our operation is focussed on our team as well as our opponents with just few days to the AFCON in Egypt.

     

    Relatively easy Group B for Eagles

    I don’t agree that we are in an easy group for the AFCON. What looks like an easy group can be the most difficult because you can’t predict what Burundi, Madagascar and Guinea can do. In a big tournament like this, the first match is very important and we are focusing our attention first on the game against Burundi, which is very, very important for us. I have seen the match between Gabon and Burundi and even with Pierre Aubameyang, Gabon didn’t beat Burundi twice and that shows that they are a very difficult team to beat. Even Mali didn’t beat Burundi twice while Burundi beat South Sudan twice; so we know all these about Burundi. We don’t have to underrate anybody though Burundi and Madagascar are newcomers to the AFCON. But it would be difficult if we think it would be very easy for us to play against these two teams.

     

    Super Eagles talisman for AFCON

    We have nobody as the magic man or talisman because we are a team. For us the star is the team and that is the edge we have over all these other teams because we have good team spirit. We have good strikers and wingers. We  have good defenders and midfielders but we don’t have Mohammed Salah like Egypt or Sadio Mane like Senegal; or we don’t have Jay Jay Okocha or Kanu but I tell you, we are okay. But what we have is a team and we don’t have to worry too much that we don’t have a particular player in our team. It’s good to have abundance of good players in the team and the sleepless night is usually when I want to drop players from the team before a  major competition. It’s always a bad moment for me to tell players that they can’t be part of the group to a competition and even for a particular match. It is always a difficult thing to do but we must do it because it’s is our job.

     

    Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis

    We are not joking with the goalkeeping department and that is why we have two goalkeepers’ trainers in our staff and in fact, my assistant Enrico Pionetti worked with Uzoho at his club in Cyprus because he did not particularly play too many matches this season. A goalkeeper like the player can easily lose his confidence if he’s not playing regularly but we have to do our best to push them to give good performance at the AFCON. It is no longer a case of number one, two or three. I tell you, the Super Eagles’ number one position is open now because Ezenwa has been playing regularly for his club locally and doing well too and Akpeyi is playing now and then with Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. Frankly, Uzoho has lost the number one position and he will have to fight for that position with Ezenwa and Akpeyi in the coming days because everybody is now at the zero level going into the AFCON in Egypt.

     

    Solidarity is my watchword

    I know that no team can go far at the AFCON or any tournament without solidarity; it is an indispensable condition to have a good team. There is no way you won’t have one or two problems in a team but with solidarity, you can come together as a family to help. So in this team, the first thing for me is solidarity; the second one is good fighting spirit and the number three thing for me is discipline to respect our jobs and tactical organisation. Of course, solidarity to work together because it’s not a one-man show and if we can pull these together, the team can always make a big difference.

     

    Between Junior Lokosa and Michael Babatunde

    I did not call Junior Lokosa and Michael Babatunde despite the fact that they played in the CAF Champions League final for their respective clubs because I know we have better players presently. Lokosa was with us before the World Cup in Russia and he even made one match against Congo. I saw Michael in Enugu with Wydad but, generally, we have so many good Nigerian players all over the world now but I know we have the better ones with us now in the Super Eagles. We have so many offensive players now and one of my duties as the coach is to look at everybody and pick the better ones.  We have so much congruence in the offensive position now. Look at Paul (Onuachu), he has presence like Simy (Simeon Nwankwo) that we took to the World Cup in Russia. I would have loved to see Simy again but at some point he was not doing well with his club in the second division in Italy and that was why I called Paul; now he’s giving us options in the offensive department too. We have (Samuel) Chukwueze too and I think it’s good he’s with us in the Super Eagles because I spoke with him and his club when he was invited for the U-20 team. (Victor) Osimhen too. These are a very good group to work with; our team is still under construction and we just have to work very hard to do well at the AFCON in Egypt.

  • JOHN OGU: I’m gradually overcoming my aerophobia

    Days before hitting Asaba en route to Egypt for the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Super Eagles’ midfielder John Ogu speaks about life and football in a lively conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    His fear for flight is palpable and despite his macho-look usually looking agitated so much he’s always a butt of joke of Super Eagles’ colleagues while on national team assignments.

    Fear of flying, according to an online encyclopaedia, ‘is a fear of being on an aeroplane (airplane), or other flying vehicle such as a helicopter while in flight and it is also referred to as flying anxiety, flying phobia, flight phobia, aviophobia or aerophobia.’

    But Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu says he’s is gradually overcoming his flying phobia with his resolve to commit his ‘goings and comings’ to his maker.

    “It is sort of a weird thing to me being up there inside the big bird,” the 31-year-old Ogu, fondly called ‘Thirty’ by close pals, told The Nation. “But I’ve started getting over it by remaining focussed and putting everything in the hands of God by praying for safe flights. I think I’m different now.”

    Since 2013, Ogu has become one of the familiar faces in the Super Eagles and he reckons the coach Gernot Rohr-led side will be hard to beat at the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019.

    “I don’t really need any other extra motivation going to the AFCON in Egypt because I consider it a big blessing every opportunity I have to be in the Super Eagles,” explained the former Akwa United midfielder who made his international debut with Super Eagles as substitute for injured Victor Moses in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar on 23rd March 2013.

    “We already know that there is a big task ahead of us because the Nations Cup is a big tournament and I think we have the opportunity to go there and win it.

    “I’m personally motivated for this opportunity and I know that everybody in the team is equally motivated to go out there and do our best.”

    In 2013, Ogu was not part of the squad when the late coach Stephen Keshi led the country to her third title in South Africa and the Hapoel Beer Sheva’s midfielder said he was looking forward to the opportunity of being crowned African champions as well.

    He said: “I don’t think we are under any pressure, really. We are all professionals and we have the attitude and mentality to go out there and do our best in order to win the AFCON.

    “Nigeria won the AFCON in 2013 and we all appreciate the kind of respect it brought to our country; so we are also looking forward to this coming AFCON with the view to bringing honour to our country.

    “We know it’s not going to be easy but we are going to give our best in Egypt. We just want the fans to be behind us and continue to pray for us because we are determined to do our best at this AFCON so that we can also make them happy at the end of this tournament,” states Ogu as he speaks on other sundry issues.

     

    Lessons from Russia

    No doubt we have learned so much from our mistakes at the World Cup in Russia and I think we used it in our subsequent matches in the qualification for the AFCON. Now we are very much aware of our mistakes at the World Cup in Russia and we will try as much as possible not to make the same mistake at the AFCON in Egypt. It would be a different ball game at the Nations Cup and we just have to come out strongly from the start. We have a group of talented players that have done so well for themselves with various clubs and I think everybody will be ready to bring the spirit and success they achieved at their various clubs to the national team.

     

    No easy games  at the AFCON

    There is nothing like a walkover because we have Burundi and Madagascar in our group at the AFCON. There is nothing like a walkover in any of the matches in a tough tournament such as the AFCON because all the teams worked hard to qualify. That means it’s not going to be easy because everyone would come with the determination to succeed. We are not going to underrate any team; we are going to be serious and take each match as it comes. Without any exemption, every other team can give us a tough game and that is why we can’t look down on any team. We just have to focus on ourselves and ensure we win our matches. Like the manager (Gernot Rohr) would always say that we are a collection of players as a team and I think that is even our greatest strength because there is no particular player we are looking up to in our team. Everyone one of us wants to just give our best. We have enough quality in our team but we are not getting carried away at all. We will not be afraid of taking on anybody at the AFCON.

     

    New young faces in the Super Eagles

    These boys you mentioned including Samuel (Chukwueze); Victor (Osimhen) and Paul (Onuachu) are talented players and they had a very successful season at their clubs and that would certainly give them enough motivation and confidence coming into the Super Eagles. I think everybody in Nigeria is happy seeing these young lads who can add value to the team. We don’t see them as too young to be in our midst because we are all professionals here; and every one of us is already looking forward to the Nations Cup. These are talented and very hungry lads who want to bring honour to the country.

     

    Life in Israel

    I played in Israel for five years and I had great experiences over there. The Israeli league really helped my career and even as a person but now I want a fresh challenge for my career. I think this is the best time for me to take that step forward; I left Israel a proud man. Now, I’m looking forward to the AFCON and after that, I can be talking about where next. I would decide about my future after the AFCON. Right now, it’s the AFCON for me.

     

    Dream career before football

    While in school, I’d wanted to be a banker but football had always been what I loved since I started playing on the streets. I’m not regretting the fact that I picked football as a career. I’m proud about what I’ve done despite the fact that there had been ups and downs in my career. Football is my life and that’s what makes me happy. One of the key things for me is to make people around me happy. Of course, there are so many negative things to make one cry but I’m happy I’ve not gotten to that level in my life. I don’t pray for such situation.

    Being the best in Africa

    Sometimes, the best don’t always get what they deserve and sometimes I don’t think some players have done better than what some of our players have done for their clubs. I still wonder why Ndidi was not selected in the Best XI in Africa the last time and I’m sure everybody would agree with me that Ndidi truly deserved to be in that list. But the good thing is that we still have a lot of players coming up and I know that very soon, we shall have players to contest for the African Footballer of the Year.

  • OGHENEKARO ETEBO: Life in Championship with Stoke is tough

    Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo is undoubtedly a grass to grace story but dint of hard work has kept him on the top of the rack for both club and country, reports TAIWO ALIMI.

    Nigeria and Stoke midfielder Ogenekaro Etebo is already burning with a desire to give back to his society within a few years of breaking into the main Super Eagles team.

    The passion to give back to Nigerian youngsters through his foundation: Etebo Ogenekaro Peter Foundation (EOPF), according to him, is borne out of the tough times he had while growing up in the rough terrain of Warri, Delta State.

    For 23-year-old Etebo, his rise to stardom is truly phenomenal. Though, born in Lagos, he returned home for his primary and secondary school education in Warri where he began his youth career with Lord Honour FC in 2011. It was here that Warri elite side Warri Wolves spotted him and signed him up in 2012. He made his debut for the Premiership division in the 2013 league season and within two seasons he had become a household name not only in Warri but all over the country.

    A strong playmaker, Etebo often steals into the box to score vital goals. The late Stephen Keshi, the then Super Eagles coach, could not keep his eyes away for long, as he was invited to the Super Eagles in 2014 in a qualification match towards the 2014 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    From there he was invited to the U-23 Dream Team by Samson Siasia where he was able to show his full potential and helped the team win the U-23 Nations Cup and qualify for the football event of the 2016 Olympic Games. In fact, he scored the winning goal in the final.

    At Rio Olympic, Etebo blossomed emerging as the highest goal scorer of the tournament and helped Nigeria take home the football bronze.

    In search of a strong holding midfielder, the current Super Eagles coach, Gernor Rohr, looked up to him at the last World Cup and he played in all three matches of Nigeria, leaving Russia with impressive records. FIFA credited him with five of the best statistics at the end of the tournament.

    According to a breakdown of the top performers’ at Russia 2018, the Nigerian international emerged the best in five categories: Most take-ons completed (16), most fouls won (11), most shots (7), joint chances created (5) and second most tackles won (11).

    Etebo left Russia as Nigeria’s most successful young revelation. Though he had signed a 6.35m Euro deal with Stoke City (a Championship side) before the World Cup, his performance in Russia would have attracted even better suitors.

    He went on to win Stoke City Player of the Year award at the end of his first season at the club.  Etebo returned to his birth place: Lagos, last week and was guest of Surulere Local Government (Sportcity) where he gave a pep-talk to more than a hundred youths drawn from the local government area.

    The midfielder dug into his bag of experience while toiling the streets of Nigeria in order to achieve a childhood dream of making it big in professional football to encourage them not to give up their dreams.

    He told them: “It is good to have talent, but hard work will beat talents any day. You have to go the extra miles and ensure you give your best whenever you are called upon, put God first because he is the Alpha and Omega, be determined, and be disciplined.

    “I started out from the ghetto in Warri. If I could go all the way to Europe, you can also do better with time, commitment, hard work and God on your side.”

    Meanwhile, the  former Warri Wolves’  combative and creative playmaker here shares some success tips and expectations at the forthcoming 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

     

    Why I’m giving back

    The idea to use my foundation to reach out to Nigerian youngsters is a well thought-out one. I’ve used the foundation as an opportunity to reach out to many youth players and what I tell them is not different from what I’ve told those that gathered at Surulere local government auditorium  to listen to me. It is good to have talent, but hard work will beat talent any day. You have to go the extra miles and ensure you give your best whenever you are called upon, put God first because he is the Alpha and Omega, be determined, and be disciplined. I started out from the ghetto in Warri. If I could go all the way to Europe, you can also do better with time, commitment, hard work and God on your side.

    I made them to understand that I was like many of them just a few years ago. And that is why I came up with this idea of Etebo Ogenekaro Peter Foundation so that I can be a living example to the many youth who want to give up now. I know how it feels because I went through it. I struggled and at a point our parents could not afford to pay our school fees too. It feels particularly bad when you see other students who have paid. Certainly, there are doctors, lawyers and other professionals that will spring forth from this gathering, because life is not all about football. But, all I am saying is that don’t give up your dreams because times are hard. I did not give up and that is why I am playing for the national team today.

    Growing up

    Growing up in Warri was exactly not an easy thing. I can identify with many struggling families and youngsters. While growing up, sometimes, I would have to get into the pitch without the correct items such as good boots or even good food. Going to school was even a hard thing for me and my siblings. I remember vividly when my sister and I were sent home due to the fact that our parents didn’t have the capacity to pay. I share that sad plight. I was once in that shoe and I have remained grateful to God for the turnaround and that is why I want to keep giving back to the community that produced me and humanity at large.

    In their own little way, my parents encouraged me and gave me the backup to go all the way and I’m grateful to them that they were there for me when I needed them.

    Education and football

    I am committed to holding a summer camp in Nigeria after the Africa Nations Cup in Egypt. The “Summer Camp with Etebo” will allow many kids to play on the same pitch with me. Importantly, I’m going to talk to them about education and football. Now I have the opportunity of playing football and the privilege to represent the national team, but education is a vital tool to securing a brighter future even after football.

    AFCON 2019

    I know a number of my teammates and management of my club (Stoke City) will be looking up to me to do well on the international stage when the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway later this month. Stoke is a fantastic club and they make you feel at home at every point in time. After our last game, I was put on the spot and celebrated as a send-off to the African Nations Cup. They are happy that I’m going to Egypt and play ing in the colours of Nigeria.

    This is a special Nations Cup. We have missed two editions and that means the whole of the continent will be looking on to us to redeem our image. So we cannot afford to fail. The last time we were there we left as Champions in 2013, so this is the first opportunity to take part in the competition for many of us. We have a young but experienced team with the World Cup and many victories behind us. We have a manager (Gernor Rohr) who is like a father and knows his onion. We also cannot to be complacent even though we are in what looks like an easy group against Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi. In modern football, there is no easy game because many African players now have players all over Europe and they would definitely be bringing something to the table.

    Life at Stoke City

    We did not have an easy ride in the ended season. The notion that the Championship is easy is a false one. It is as difficult as the premiership and there are many quality players there too. At a point we indeed struggled but our strength lies in unity that permeates within the team, coaching crew and management levels. Unity and togetherness is so important and that helped us to stay afloat.

    Also, I must take this opportunity to say to the supporters that they have been so good over the past few weeks and really helped us. I know it hasn’t been an easy time for them because they have expected a lot more from this season, but the support they have shown us has been really good.We need them behind us so much, and I know times have been tough but believe me, as a team, united together; we can achieve so much more success.If you want to be a strong team in this league then you must be solid together, you have to have a real togetherness within the dressing room and you have to have a unity with the supporters too. The Championship is relentless, and it is very difficult, but you see a lot of the teams who are successful have the unity behind them, which, for me, is so incredibly important.We have improved over the past couple of months; there is togetherness here now and what I should say to the supporters is that I really believe that long-term, we will not fail them.

    At the end of the day I was adjudged the Stoke City player of the year and I must thank the club for that support. It is really inspiring and a good mentality to take to the Nations Cup.

    Transfer rumour

    It is still early now to talk about that. I have a good relationship with Stoke and I am happy there.

  • ETIM ESIN: MY STRUGGLES, REJECTIONS MAKE ME STRONGER

    No footballer of African descent has a story like that of Etim John Esin. At only 25, the Akwa Ibom bundle of skill a.k.a ‘Maradona’ had experienced fatal earthquake in Turkey, bloody gunshot, rape case that truncated his career, and messy drug problem.
    “No footballer in Africa has that kind of story. Twice I stared at death, I was set up and severally rejected by people close to me and battled depression, yet I’m still standing tall,” Etim blurted out without regret. Etim touched on his struggles and rejections, his passion, still, for football, his affluent family and background, his turnaround, and new found peace, and the Hollywood documentary that would change his life forever in this exclusive interview with TAIWO ALIMI. Excerpts…

    What are you doing presently?

    I am a scout. I scout for players. Not everyone will be a coach. I don’t have passion for coaching. In-fact I’ve been offered the opportunity to go for coaching courses several time but it is not just my calling, it is not my passion. So, scouting for young talents which I can I recommend to coaches and most of the coaches are either my colleagues or former teammates. At my age I have to do what I have passion for. That is what I am doing presently. It’s been a worthwhile venture. We look for them, groom and recommend them to agents who take them to Europe. As I talk to you two of them are in Portugal to assess contracts this summer. Once that contract is signed, you take your percentage and everyone is happy. It might take time-six months or even one year but surely it will come through and that is what keeps me going. Life is about having hope in something.  I have many of my colleagues in Belgium and other parts of Europe who are directors of sports, so they make my job easier for me because we are in a modern era and all we need to do is to have a short video of the player and send to them and they arrange a ticket for the player and send it over and the player go to Europe, do his trial, sign a contract and everyone is happy. It puts food on the table big time. Who are you going to beg for money in this country where people just want to oppress others? It pays. For example if you have a percentage like 30,000 Euro or 30,000 Pounds, change that into naira and you can take care of yourself and your family. I have my contacts all over Europe and these are big time directors of sports in Belgium, France, Poland, Portugal, and Holland so whichever one they want we scout for them and make recommendation.

    So, how would you describe Nigeria young players? Do you think we still have the talent?

    Yes! We do have talented young players but the problem is the age discrepancy. That is where the job of a scout starts from because if you say you are 17, we have to be sure that you are indeed 17. Technology now is very apt. With VIR scan they can with a certainly know your age bracket. You can have a good player who gives a wrong age bracket and when he gets there and with technology he is found out, all that work comes to nothing. So, we try to get the truth from them, bring in their parents to testify to that. Even sometimes their parents will follow them to lie and we tell them, ‘we don’t work like that, tell us the real age. Birth certificate in this country is not something you can rely on absolutely so you have to ensure that you bring in their parents and get the truth out of them because at the end of the day you need the parents’ consent if they are 16 or below because of the child trafficking issue which is very serious in Europe.

    At what point did you get into football analysis on TV and radio?

    I still do it. It is based on contract especially during a major tournament. Like during the Africa Nations Cup. I did it for Brila during the last World Cup. I worked with ITV before it shut down. I have passion in football analysing too and I will continue to do it.

    Look at Europe for example; Thierry Henry, Gary Lineker and many ex-footballers are big time analysts. Sometimes only the presenter will be the only journalist in the panel. All the analysts are ex-footballers. From there you can get a sponsor and

    spilt the difference with the company that owns the network. In Nigeria, they expect you to work for them and give you peanut. It is not fair on ex-players. I expect that during the Nations Cup like the one coming up, I would have a good contract with a network, I do my stuff, earn good money and when it is over I go back to my scouting happy.

    You talk about a charity match for late Sam Okwaraji; this is strange coming from you. You always looking for what people can do for you, but now you are doing something for a dead colleague?

    You are right. It is because of what I’ve been through. I am a different person now. I want to give myself. I want to contribute my little quota. I am really passionate about Sam Okwaraji. If I am the one that fell down and died on August 12, 1989, so this is how it would be. That is very deep and touchy. I expect those who are in that team like Samson Siasia and Austin Eguavoen who have coached the country before, to do something in the memory of their late colleague. It is not good enough. It is very sad and pathetic.

    All we are trying to do is to ensure that Okwaraji did not die in vain. We want to organise a charity match to mark his 30th anniversary on that stadium that he died, it would make a lot of sense and we would hand over whatever is raised to his suffering mother. I met with his brother Sam Chidozie Okwaraji and we have form a committee and we are looking for sponsors. We will get across to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), meet with the president Amaju Pinnick and get their endorsement. Once Pinnick can endorse it, we don’t need their money and I know where I can go to make it happen. That is what we are trying to do.

    Let’s use that as a peg to look at the welfare of ex-internationals in Nigeria?

    It is very sad. If you start from how (Rashidi) Yekini died, (Stephen) Keshi passed away, Sam Opone, Peter Anieke, Raymond King all died in penury and rejection after one form of health problem. Peter Fregene is bedridden and now Christian Chukwu is down with stroke. These are just few that we can remember. I don’t know how old Pinnick was when Chukwu lifted Nations Cup in 1980, I don’t know how old Pinnick was when Fregene played for Nigeria, you don’t even have a library in the NFF, so, you have to look at the archives and get the Players Union involved. The money may not even come from them, but you must be organised. There are monies FIFPro (World Football Union) supposed to be sending to Players Union every month. It was stipulated by FIFA contract in Barcelona in 1992 so why are we doing as if all footballers are dumb. Many of us are intelligent. They will use us and give us peanut and we fall into their trap and cannot ask for what rightfully belong to us. They put them in commit

    tee and that is that. But what we can benefit from Players Union is more than that. So that this kind of issue nobody will even hear it. Players Union would have taken care of it.

    What if Femi Otedola had not stepped into Chukwu issue, can the NFF say they don’t have $50,000 to give to Chukwu or the government of Enugu state says they don’t know Chukwu. Chukwu served this country. It is sad. These are things that make me sad. How would you encourage the young ones? Even Okwaraji that played and died in active service, what’s his story.

    I hope that it would change and because we have to encourage the younger ones that this is our country and we have to be patriotic and play for fatherland. That is the dream of every player, to play for their country.

    For Tijani Babangida, the current president of Players Union, he is a nice chap, but my fear is that he would become a different person now that he has been given the opportunity. Once a Nigerian gets a platform, he changes. I don’t know if I will be like that too but it is not in me. Tijani can do the right thing and not get under pressure. I pray that he would do the right thing.

    friends but the memory of the treatment he gave me has made me keep him ten yards away. Respect is reciprocal. You cannot call me a thief and still expect that I would still be laughing with you. Segun Odegbami called us together and settled the matter and I have forgiven him. I have been sending text messages to him. In-fact when I heard about his tax issue I told him what to do and who can help him because Nigerians are only interested in your downfall.

    Your career was truncated at your prime, does it still bothers you?

    It does not bug me any longer. In-fact I don’t like talking about the past because I have my future before me. I have moved on. The past is past, the future is brighter. I have told you about a multimillion dollar deal coming from Hollywood? Is that not a bright future? With that I will bid poverty bye forever and my family will also benefit from the royalty when I am gone. That is why I don’t go out for events again. If you don’t invite me you won’t see me there.

    Would you say your wife and children gave you a second chance at life?

    Definitely! My wife is my backbone. She is my secret and that is why I don’t like talking about my family. She is my strength. We met in Paris but I had to come back to Nigeria when I had issue in 1993 and as God would have it her father was transferred to Nigeria that same year and that was how we reunited again. She is God sent and that is how my life has been. God always have me in mind and would send me the best. She is my pillar of support, she encourages me, gives me support and if not for her I would be singing a different tune today.

    She has given me two beautiful children. My daughter is 19 and my son is almost seven. My daughter is in the University and I’m so proud of her. My son wants to be a musician like Whizkid and Davido and make money fast. He plays football for the school team and I want him to have natural love for the game. I don’t want to push, let him develop slowly and as soon as I see that passion in him at age 12 or 13 I will push him to Paris St Germain academy. But I will encourage him to do whatever he loves.

    What advice do you have for NFF?

    NFF need to have a different mind-set and leave segregation out of Nigerian football. I can understand that Pinnick may not know everybody but he has advisers. For example if NFF is having a Hall of Fame, is it only the ’94 set that would be there. Ex-footballers should also change their mind-set. Kanu has set the ground with his Kanu Heart Foundation; Okocha can do the same and have a foundation that would give back to the society that gave them so much instead of running to the NFF all the time. They are icons, brands and stars of the game and can make more money than what they are getting from the NFF.

    We have to learn to share love just like Samuel Eto’o did for Cameroon ex-international Norbert Ozona, who was homeless.  He bought a house for him and settled him for life. We have deep hatred for ourselves and that is why we are not moving forward. Let’s love reign.

    If you have a chance at life a second time what would do differently?

    Let look at it this way. The documentary and movie about me coming up is because of my story. I don’t think any footballer in Nigeria or Africa has my kind of story. From gunshot to rape case, to drug and earthquake in Turkey, no footballer in Africa has that kind of story. I nearly died in Turkey. The gunshot in Nigeria was reported internationally. The whole country felt my pain. I’ve been through so much but I’m still here. I would have been dead and forgotten. There is no player that has my kind of story.  Paramount Studio sees a win-win situation, they will make money and I will make money too. So, there is no regret. Call me a child of destiny and you won’t be wrong.

  • OLAJIDE OMOTAYO: MY targets in table tennis

    What started in the living room for Olajide Omotayo has now become a career for the 23-year-old table tennis star. The former Asoju Oba Cup champion is one of the few Nigeria athletes that grew through the ranks from a cadet through to senior level.
    Olajide Omotayo’s skills in table tennis was polished in Somolu, a suburb in Lagos State and from there he has worked his way into the Nigerian team starting as a cadet to becoming an integral member of the Nigerian team to major competitions in the world. The Italy-based star shares his romance with table tennis with OLALEKAN OKUSAN.

    When Olajide Omotayo made his first international appearance for Nigeria as a cadet at the 2008 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Junior and cadet Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, little did the youngster know he was embarking on a journey of no return.

    And more than 10 years after his baptism in Egypt, Omotayo has established himself as an integral member of the Nigeria’s senior team to several international tournaments. Unranked at a time but now rated 136 in the world by ITTF, Omotayo recalled his romance with table tennis.

    “It was my elder sister that introduced me to table tennis,” began Omotayo. “She noticed the love I had for the sport and she started teaching me that at a stage our dining table in our living room in Somolu became our board and we were fond of playing against each other.”

    Despite the popularity of football in Lagos, Omotayo said his love for table tennis was unrivalled.

    “I also love football but my love for table tennis was far greater and beyond my father’s imagination. It was after my father noticed my interest in the sport and he began to tell me about his exploits in it. Unfortunately, his personal racket was inherited by my sister who started the sport before me,” he recalled.

    With the interest being fired up by his family, the young Omotayo was also looking up to the exploit of former national junior champion – Lanre Jegede who later introduced him to his first coach.

    “I was also looking up to Lanre Jegede who was then the national junior champion ad he was living in Somolu too and he took me to Coach Ismail Surmer. It was the support that I got from Jegede and my coach that really motivated me to continue the sport.

    “Later Jegede moved abroad and whenever he comes to Nigeria, he would devote time to teach me new things in the sport and provide equipment for me as well. At this point he has made the national team and he was also playing professionally in France. So I could say that Jegede really supported me as a young player,” he added.

    For the opportunities that table tennis has given to Omotayo, the 2018 African Championship semi-finalist said: “Table tennis has given me opportunities to travel, meet so many dignitaries and also made me popularly and I can conclude that table tennis is my life. I did not have any regret taking to the sport because table tennis has given me so much in life and it is a part of me now.

    “Without table tennis I would be incomplete. Apart from actually playing the game, I have learnt so many things which can help me in life. I have met so many different people and have been exposed to different cultures and also travelled all around the world.”

    Being one of the few fortunate Nigerian athletes who started representing Nigeria at major competition early in life and Omotayo admitted noted:“It is a great honour to me and I’m really grateful for where I am today and the opportunities that have been given to me by Nigeria. There are many good and talented players in Nigeria and so for me to have the opportunity to represent Nigeria means a lot to me and I will always strive to make my country proud and always do my best.”

    Omotayo would not forget in a hurry the experience at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia; as well as the scintillating outing at the African Championship in Mauritius which is the turning point of his career in recent times.

    He recalled:“The 2018 Commonwealth Games was one of the greatest experiences for me. It was a cherished silver medal for Nigeria and the most amazing part is that I was actually part of the team and I made an impact. I also got to play alongside Aruna Quadri and even played doubles with Segun Toriola. Also, table tennis was the first sport to fetch a medal for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, so that was a great achievement to be part of this great team.

    “Also the 2018 African Championship in Mauritius became my best performance so far because one month before the competition, I lost against an Egyptian in front of the Lagos fans at the Nigeria Open and I felt so bad about it but with  the help of my teammates I was able to get back on my feet and look

    ahead.”

    “We did very well in Mauritius to win the team event and also qualified to represent Africa at the 2019 World team Cup in Japan. Getting into the semifinal in the singles event was really shocking to so many people.”

    With a dream of making it to the top 50 in the world and also conquer Africa, Omotayo said: “My biggest dream is to get to the top 50 in the world and win African championships as well as African Top 16 Cup. I also want to qualify for the Olympic Games and other goals I set out to achieve in my career.”

    On whether table tennis is lucrative, Omotayo said: “Yes it is profitable if you can make it to the top level and also get sponsorships and endorsements. The sport is also evolving very fast and more companies are acknowledging the sport so I see a brighter future for table tennis.”

    Omotayo who now wears dreadlock said his decision to wear dreadlock was to look unique in the sport.

    He also believes he still has the capacity to play table tennis for more than two decades. “At 23, I am still seeing myself playing for another 20 years. After that I will see how I feel and I will take to coaching. I will continue to play depending on what my body allows. I think with my style I will be able to continue as I just have to always keep fit,” he admitted.

    Having seen better days in the sport, Omotayo said he has also been faced with some worst moment that nearly forced him to quit. “I was part of the trials for the 2015 African Games in Lagos and I was among the players who featured in three stages of the trials where I defeated most of the players except two of them. Unfortunately I did not make the team because of my last matches which I lost. So it was really a tough moment for me as a player because I was so closed to making it to Congo Brazzaville,” he said.

    Despite neck deep into table tennis, Omotayo will also want to get education:“I am planning to further my education immediately after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games because I think getting education is very important for every athlete as this is what remains after retirement. I will continue playing table tennis professionally but I will not ignore my education at all,” he disclosed.

    With the aim of embracing coaching after retirement, Omotayo revealed his plans.

    “Once I stop playing professionally, I will like to go into coaching and give back to the community. I have learnt a lot from people who have coached me and from my own experience as a player. I intend to update my knowledge by attending coaching courses in order to garner the required knowledge.”

    Omotayo admitted that the feat achieved by his compatriot – Aruna Quadri has been the motivating factor for him.

    “Success inspires me a lot and my daily motivator is Aruna Quadri that sometimes before I sleep I end the day by watching some of his matches. Globally, he has placed Nigeria on the world map and I wish and pray that I follow his footstep.

    “Aruna Quadri has been inspiring me because I could remember

    vividly that three years ago I travelled to US where I played some tournaments and then I was without a club having stayed for years in Nigeria without any tournament. So I was in U.S in 2016 with the aim of dumping my dream of playing table tennis professionally to stay back in US and work to make some money.

    “While there in the U.S I was watching Aruna Quadri playing at the Rio Olympic Games and I realized that aside from him most of the top players are getting old and this will give young players the chance to make the team. So I called Aruna Quadri and he began to motivate me not to give up but continue to work harder. It was later I got a team in Italy where I am still playing now. But I must admit that Aruna Quadri has been a motivator to me and he is always there to inspire and motivate me,” he added.

    Narrating his drift to Europe, Omotayo said: “I met an Italian whose name is Luciano Esposito on Facebook. We chatted sometimes but never met until a few years later when he came to Nigeria and saw me play. I was about 15 at the time and he would constantly come to Nigeria for the next few years and practice with me or watch me play matches. Once I was 18 he then assisted me to move to Italy. This Italian has played a big role in my life as he stands as my father by regularly motivating me as well.”

    Before every crucial match, Omotayo psyche himself up with music. “Before any major match, I listen to music and I also take time to watch motivational videos that keep me positive and hungry. Mainly I listen to music and picture myself playing already. Also sometimes I go to YouTube and watch videos of my opponent so that I can get an idea of what I will face before the time and visualize what to do,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Omotayo is hoping that efforts would be put in place to raise the profile of table tennis in Nigeria. His favourite colour is black while rice and beans remain his best food. The former national junior champion relaxes by surfing the net and watching of movies.

  • CHINEDU MADUEKE: ‘Being the only son fired my love for football’

    Picked last season as the best midfielder in the Swedish Division 2 Ostra Gotaland, Stephen Madueke , a member of the Golden Eaglets’ squad that won the historic fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria four years ago in Chile shares his humble beginning in an interesting conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Former youth international Chinedu Stephen Madueke has spoken about how being the only child of the family actually influenced his love for the beautiful game of football.

    A member of the Golden Eaglets’ squad that won the historic fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup for Nigeria four years ago in Chile, the 20-year-old is currently with Asarums IF in the Swedish Division 2 Ostra Gotaland.

    Madueke in only his first year with Asarums IF , was last season crowned as best midfielder in the second division and he reckons the milestone can only propel him to greater things.

    “I really felt good to be crowned as the best midfielder in the second division,” the midfielder who cut his teeth at Virgin Kids FC in Abuja told The Nation.“Of course, the award has nothing to do with only me but the blessing from God; the unqualified support of my teammates as well as the confidence I got from my coaches.

    “That is just by the way and it means I have to continue to work very hard because I still have so much to offer. I really thank God for making this possible for me because it has not been easy to reach this level and I’m really enjoying my game again.”

    Madueke arrived in Europe at AD Camacha in the Segunda Divisao Portuguesa (Portuguese Second Division) but it turned out to be a taxing start since he did not get the chance to strut the stuff that made him such a lively winger in the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led U-17 winning team of 2015.

    “I was not supposed to join AD Camacha initially because I actually went to Kalmar Fotbollsforening (more commonly known as Kalmar FF) but I had no option than  to go to AD Camacha when I was not offered a contract in Sweden,” he explained.

    “I really had a tough time at AD Camacha but I had a big break when I moved to Feirense U19.

    “I had so much hope after playing a fantastic season  with the U-19 and the club was really keen to give me  formal contact  but my agent then did not help  my situation because he was demanding  for outrageous amount of money.

    “I really had feelings that something big was to come up because I did so well with Feirense U19 but unfortunately, things didn’t work out as I wished.

    “They actually wanted me to sign a full contract  but my agent  then was greedy, asking for  more money because as he said, there were better offers coming from Braga and FC Porto. Unfortunately, he couldn’t come up with any fresh deal until Feirense backed out.

    “ I was  virtually stranded in Portugal until Mr. Kingston came around. It was through Mr. Kingston that I got the opportunity of coming to Sweden.

    “But the season was almost going to an end when I was brought back for trials at Kalmar FF and I was not too fit; I was then asked to go.

    “But everything has been so good since I joined Asarums IF and I’m so happy with my performance last season.

    “I know that there are few more things for me to do and my target is to have a better season in 2019. I want to be consistent on the field and humble because  is an important quality I need in order to go a step further in my career.”

    Madueke truly caught  the eyes last season at Asarums IF where he  featured in 24 out of the club’s 26 matches in the Division 2 Ostra Gotaland.

    “I only  missed two matches last season,” he volunteered.“I missed one game because I came late  and the other, I missed because I had two yellow cards prior to  a match. I played 90 minutes  in all the 24  matches that I played.

    “I really worked very hard to really improve myself because I had at the back of my mind all the rough time I had in Portugal.

    “I’ve grown up mentally since I came to Sweden and there is the motivation to really work hard for myself, my family and everybody around me.

    “I just have to build upon my success of last season and to improve myself; I have this in my mind all the time. I had it rough in Portugal and this is a great opportunity for me to make up for the lost time. “

    Indeed, the lad is truly at home with Asarums IF in the Karlshamn Municipality in southern Sweden: “We are two Nigerians here at Asarums IF and the environment at the club has been super nice because we have amazing people here.

    “There are so many things that I like at this club  right from the love of the  fans to the officials, it’s been a good moment for me.

    “They have this special love  especially when you are doing well and I’m really enjoying myself here. It’s been all love and amazing for me and I have to  keep going to justify the love they’ve shown me here.

    “Settling down here has been easy and sweet because the club officials and management has been helpful in different ways; because they are so loving and this has really helped to improve my game.

    “ I also  have two other Nigerians with me here;  Christian Akannoh and Odunayo Ayonuga  who both played for Abuja Academy; so I’m in  good company with them.”

    Yet Madueke has not forgotten how it all started when he found himself in  company of a new generation of youngsters  in the Golden Eaglets under strict watch of coach Amuneke, the current national team manager of Taifa Stars of Tanzania.

    “ Coach Amuneke is a hard worker and I’m happy I passed through his hands in the Golden Eaglets,” confessed Madueke who  had a tough beginning until he blossomed with the team in Chile. “I would always be grateful for the coaches that have stood for me all these years especially the coaches at the national team level when  I was in the Golden Eaglets.

    “It was difficult for me initially because I was unable to cope with the tough  trainings sessions but those trainings under coach Emmanuel Amuneke in the U-17 and U-20 has really helped me in my career.

    “I want to use this opportunity to thank coach Amuneke; coach Kabiru Baleria; Coach Emeka Amadi  as well as the other backroom staff of the 2015  Golden Eaglets  for all their support over the years.”

    Now looking further  to opportunity to play in the next stage of the national team, Madueke recalled the ill-fated Flying Eagles squad that narrowly missed qualification for the 2017  U-20 African Cup of Nations.

    “I was part of the qualifying series for the 2017 U-20 African Cup of Nations I impressed and warranted interests despite the fact that we failed to qualify for the AFCON which was held in Zambia,” he said. “ I had all kinds of  proposals from agents and you know everybody would come with sweet words.

    “ I later found myself at AD Camacha but I didn’t enjoy my time there and at some point, I even stopped playing altogether for about four months.”

    But Madueke admitted  the  future is  now looking bright for him  at Asarums IF:“I have  to pray against any serious injury  and I know with hard work, every other things would follow. I have to be prayerful and keep working hard. I have to be humbled and be patient  and see how things goes.

    “ I don’t really think about distant future rather I want to  do everything in order to get to the top level. It’s one game per  day for and  I just want to continue to do my best and to continue to get better than how I was  yesterday.

    “Once I can  get better at Asarums IF, I know I would  reach my goals  and I just have to be patient because the future is going to be better  for me.”

    Meanwhile, Madueke has enthused  about his humble beginning  while praising his parents for supporting his choice of career.

    “ My parents serve as a great motivator for me because I’m from  a very small family with me as the only child,” he revealed.“ Football was  the only thing I loved right from my childhood days and I have to thank my parents for allowing me to follow my  passion for the game.

    “It was my mum that bought my first pair of boots and she  has been there for me all this while. It is my prayers to make things better for me because they have been there for me all this while.

    “The special thing I enjoy being the only child is the fact that I don’t share my parents’ love with anybody. But it can be lonely at times because there were  no other kids to play and laugh with; but I have friends to share things with and I had football.

    “Being the only child is special. Though I feel lonely at times, football has always been   like a safe haven for me,” he stressed.

  • IKE IBEABUCHI: MY TRAVAILS INSIDE PRISONS IN THE USA

    For the first time since he was conditionally released from the U.S prison, erstwhile world boxing heavyweight contender, Ikemefuna Ibeabuchi, said some forces are bent on keeping him locked up forever.
    TAIWO ALIMI goes behind the line to capture the struggles of the Nigerian boxer in-and-out of prison and the extended detention of the pugilist fondly called The President.

    For those below the age of 30, Ike Ibeabuchi, the Nigerian heavyweight boxer needs a long and good introduction.  Nicknamed ‘The President’, his amateur career was one of the shortest in heavyweight history. It started in 1994 with victory over Duncan Dokiwari who later won Olympic bronze medal in Atlanta 1996 and winning the Dallas and Texas State Golden Gloves tournaments.

    By October of the same year, former world welterweight champion Curtis Cokes had signed him up professionally and pushed him to the jackals almost immediately to make his professional debut; and he did not disappoint earning a quick second-round knockout over Ishmael Garcia.

    The world could not ignore the talented young man who insisted the western media and boxing world should call him by his local name Ibeabuchi rather than the easily pronounced Ike.

    And he had his way as boxing reporters, commentators and promoters learnt to articulate the Igbo name meaning ‘Gift of God.’ By 1999, he had churned up an impressive 20 wins with 15 KOs.

    According to Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing correspondent, who in 2014 made contact with Ibeabuchi in prison and who has been in the forefront of agitation for his unconditional release: “After winning 16 straight fights from the start of his career, Ike made a big jump in competition and fought undefeated prospect David Tuafor for the WBC international heavyweight title on 7th June 1997. Tua was 27-0 and considered by many analysts to be ‘the next Mike Tyson.’

    “Both boxers threw bombs and neither took a backward step all night. Ibeabuchi and Tua set a CompuStat heavyweight division record with 1,730 punches thrown. Ike also set the individual CompuStat record by throwing 975 punches and averaging 81 per round.

    “The heavyweight average is around 50. Ibeabuchi won a unanimous 12-round decision over Tua with scores of 117-111, 116-113, and 115-114. The fight established Ibeabuchi as the WBC international heavyweight title holder and top contender for world titles.”

    Ibeabuchi returned to the ring after thirteen months inactivity, and scored a first-round knockout over Tim Ray in July 1998. Two months later, he stopped Everton Davis in nine rounds.

    Ibeabuchi’s next fight was against Chris Byrd in March 1999. Byrd, a 1992 Olympic silver medallist and a future world heavyweight champion, was a quick and slick southpaw with a record of 26–0. After four rounds, the three judges had the fight scored evenly: 38–38 even, 39-37 for Ibeabuchi, and 39–37 for Byrd.

    In the fifth round, Ibeabuchi landed a devastating left hook which sent Byrd to the canvas. Byrd made it back to his feet, but was quickly knocked back down. Byrd once again rose, but was trapped against the ropes and taking punishment as the referee waved it off at the 2:59 mark. Another KO for Ibeabuchi!

    Ibeabuchi was famous. He had raked in millions of dollars in wins, taken his first title and boxing buffs are tipping him to unify the heavyweight titles.

    U.S leading boxing magazine, ‘The Ring’, in its August 1999 edition named him among four candidates for heavyweight greatness. The others are Lennox Lewis, David Tua and Michael Grant and four months later, Ibeabuchi graced the magazine cover with the title: ‘Boxing most dangerous man.’

    For a boxer that took to boxing only five years down the line in 1994, Ibeabuchi upset boxing permutation and not many were happy about it.

    Perhaps the rave review and praises got into his head. He became gregarious in word and action. He nicknamed himself ‘The President’ and moved around with large staff abusing boxers and managers. He also turned down what he called ‘small fights.’

    First, he turned down $700,000 to fight fringe contender Jeremy Williams and $1 million for a showdown with the undefeated Michael Grant.

    From here his fortune twisted.

    Few months after beating Byrd to submission, he was handed the beating of his life. He landed in jail for assaulting a stripper.

    Ibeabuchi had fallen for the same trick that knocked out the career of his childhood hero, Mike Tyson.

    According to Brizel: “He was staying at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when he phoned a local escort service and had a woman sent to his room. The 21-year-old woman said later she was there to strip and nothing else. She claimed Ibeabuchi attacked her in the walk-in closet after she demanded to be paid up front. Ibeabuchi barricaded himself in the bathroom and police discharged pepper spray under the door until he surrendered.”

    The Nigerian was alleged to have similarly assaulted another lady eight months earlier at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

    The WBC champion was labelled ‘crazy and unstable’ in addition to ‘dangerous’ popularised by The Ring magazine and placed under house arrest.

    After an excruciating trial that lasted more than two years, he was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. By 2014, when he served out his term, he made a move to reignite his career, only to be picked up again by U.S Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE).

    Shedding light into Ike’s immigration troubles, his nephew John Uzo, who facilitated the interview with the incarcerated Ike, said: “After he was released in 2014, U.S Immigration detained him because he was yet to be issued his green card.

    “By 2016, when he got his green card and was released, he was again picked up and even the family did not know where they were holding him. At a point we thought he was dead.”

    Brizel followed up from here:“It appears Ibeabuchi was unaware of any requirements regarding the first conviction at the time he was released from immigration holding in 2016. According to Arizona, ICE has a detainer on Ibeabuchi issued on 16th February 2018, which may relate to his United States citizenship application status after Ike was issued a green card in 2016.

    “Nigeria would not issue Ibeabuchi travel papers in 2015, and Ibeabuchi wound up in immigration limbo. Ibeabuchi was found officially admitted to the Arizona State penal system on 16th February 2018, and found guilty of disorderly conduct on 23rd March 23 2018, considered a major violation in Arizona, but it is unknown whether this is related to his violating the terms of his first conviction.

    “His new Arizona release date is 25thSeptember 2019, and his supervision will end 5th March 2020. Ikemefuna Ibeabuchi, 47 years old on February 2, 2020, remains on lifetime probation in Arizona.”

    But for Brizel, who had followed Ike’s judicial problems using his journalism links, it is confirmed that Ike is still behind bars and may be released with conditions early 2020.

    “As soon as we (family) realised he (Ike) is alive and where he was being held, we swung into action to let the whole world know the injustice against our brother and uncle,” Uzo said.

    Uzo said his uncle needs the help of Nigeria government to facilitate his unrestricted release.

    Meanwhile, Ibeabuchi has carefully dissected his trial and travail from prison to detention while responding to The Nation enquiries.

    Ibeabuchi explained: “I was convicted in 2011, but as soon as I got new evidence I appealed and in 2007, the Supreme Court of Nevada overturned my conviction in Habeas Corpus appeal, and remanded it to the lower courts to effect my reversal and overturn. I expected to be released immediately.”

    That did not happen.

    “The lower courts abandoned it, and did not clear my penal record as the Nevada Supreme Court had ordered. So the matter remained moot. Instead of my release to be effected, I was moved to administrative segregation. I expected to be released unconditionally, but I was not released. They did not release me.”

    So, he remained in the Nevada State penal system, saying that denial deflated his plan to resume his career in 2007: “I was sure my appeal would sail through. I stepped up my training in prison, two times a day. I was still in form and was really looking forward to relaunch my career.”

    Ibeabuchi was thereafter moved into administrative segregation at another prison where he spent another seven years.

    He said: “After the judgment in my favour in the Nevada State Supreme Court was received and abandoned, from 2007 to 2014, I was held in Ely State Maximum Security Prison in administrative segregation. I was allowed to train in Lovelock, High Desert and Carson City, but in Ely I was not allowed to train.”

    One would think that his problem would come to an end on serving out his term. It was not to be as he was to remain incarcerated for another three years.

    “I want to think there are forces that did not want me in the U.S.” Ibeabuchi further revealed: “In 2003, Arizona had issued a grand jury warrant to extradite me, and it was illegal because Nevada had to dispose its own matters before Arizona could file for extradition. Arizona was my home state of residence when I got arrested in Nevada. I hired an attorney who looked at the case and we won.

    “I contacted Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada about my case. They did not write me back. The governor had written back to me earlier when he was attorney general. I had the Nevada Supreme Court letter of relief. I was asked to withdraw my appeals and on Jan 19 to 21 of 2016, “The Nevada Supreme Court and the Chief Justice, respectively, issued an order addressing the order of the Supreme Court in 2007 ordering it be upheld, owing to the circumstances of 2007 to 2014 when my certificate of discharge was issued by the State of Nevada.”

    Freedom, Ibeabuchi noted was nowhere in sight as he was whisked away again: “Immigration detained me because I did not have a green card. They seemed to be looking for any reason to keep me away from the ring. By 2016, when my green card was renewed, I was arrested again for violating the conditions of my probation in Gilbert, Arizona, based on an old warrant dating back to 2003, which I was unaware of.”

    Bugged down by the high and mighty and the complicated U.S judiciary jargons, Ike is not giving up.

    He has earned three associate’s degrees and certificates in prison. One of them is a paralegal certificate to better understand how U.S legal system works. All while behind bars.

    Hear him: “I earned my Associate of Applied Science in General Studies in 2005 from Western Nevada College. Then in 2006, I got an Associate of Applied Science in General Business. The following year I passed the Associate of Applied Science in Management. I then earned a paralegal certificate from Blackstone Career Institute in Pennsylvania by correspondence.”

    He also believes he would get the U.S citizenship soonest and resume his boxing career.

    “The judgment of the Nevada Supreme County was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, and sent to Homeland Security to put into my file. I can be called for a citizenship interview at any time. Once I am a citizen of the United States, I intend to resume my boxing career full-time.”

    However, Brizel is not as optimistic: “Ibeabuchi would be 47 before he’s released in 2020. He also has to get around the lifetime probation hanging on his neck.”

    In reality, ‘The President’ may never be a free man.

    So far, ‘The President’ has served in six prisons, correctional homes and detention across U.S for nearly 20 years. They are, High Desert State Prison Nevada, Ely State Prison Nevada, Lovelock Correctional Centre Nevada, Eloy Detention centre, Washoe County Jail Nevada and Carson City Correctional Michigan.

    While the combination of State of Nevada, U.S Homeland Security and ICE are bent on keeping Ibeabuchi locked down, he is locked in another battle of survival. He said he is on the verge of losing millions of dollars earned in 20 heavyweights wins from 1994 to 1999.

    “I had three bank accounts at Norwest Bank worth over 10 million dollars. This included a money market investment portfolio worth over 500 thousand to a million dollars.

    “My mother assigned my power of attorney to a family friend, an attorney, in September of 2001, in the Supreme Court of Nevada. To date, he has refused to be discharged from his status as overseer of my accounts and return my money and financial assets to me and will not provide me with financial records.”

    It is not impossible that Ike could remain behind bars and penniless unless other strong forces intervene.

    Uzo strongly believes Ibeabuchi needs help from home – Nigeria.

    “We have been calling and still using this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to help him,” noted Uzo. “He is a citizen of Nigeria and if there is any time to step into his case it is now.

    “Ike is a fighter and from incarceration, he has fought gallantly, I’m appealing to Nigeria to join forces with him now.

    “The U.S media and judiciary have labelled him dangerous and crazy yet he has read, passed and acquired four degrees and certificates under lock and key. They don’t know what they are talking about,” added Uzo, who remains positive Ibeabuchi will one day walk out a free man.

  • ADEROJU OPE-AJAYI: How I turned my passion for swimming to business

    It’s been well argued that one of the key elements of success is passion and this is certainly exemplified by the founder of Dolphin Aquatic Centre and Dolphin Swim School, Aderoju Ope-Ajayi, as she shares the secrets of her breakthrough in a hitherto unchartered territory, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Swimming is said to have a great therapeutic effect and founder of novel Dolphin Aquatic Centre and Dolphin Swim School, Aderoju Ope Ajayi has stressed the inherent benefits in the sport whether at competitive or recreational level.

    “Swimming calms and centres you,” explained the ever smiling Ope-Ajayi. “While you are in the water there is a sense of peace, calmness and isolation that brings serenity.

    “Swimming is also the only sport that can be done by anyone whether you are physically impaired or not. It’s easy on the joints and works almost all the muscles in the body.”

    Yet Ajayi, a former champion in her younger years, has turned swimming into a ground-breaking business model and her efforts in breathing  life into swimming was rewarded last year  as one of the three award recipients in the sports category of the BMCE Bank of Africa-funded African Entrepreneurship Award.

    “I realised that that there was a gap that, if it not addressed urgently, might have a huge social impact,” declared the gold medallist in the Nigerian University Games (NUGA)  and the West African University Games (WAUG) during her undergraduate days at the University of Lagos where she reportedly studied cell biology and genetics. “Water safety instruction is slowly becoming the norm in our society, however cultural and religious preferences still stop people from exploring this sport and learning how to be water safe.

    “People are afraid of water. It can be real, imagined, inherited; they are afraid. There are a lot of misconceptions about swimming that need to be corrected.

    “That’s one of the main aims of the Dolphin Swim School. We want to de-mystify swimming and make it accessible to as many women and children as possible.

    “My business was set up to bridge that gap. We are the first swim school in Nigeria that teaches women and children exclusively how to swim with a team of female instructors.”

    Ope-Ajayi would yet be the first to admit that her rendezvous with swimming was fortuitous but for the guidance of her father and erstwhile national swimming trainer, the late Y.A Amodu, who she described as ‘the coach of all coaches.’

    “It is true that swimming was not a popular sport at the time I started but my dad introducing me to the sport was a huge factor,” she hinted. “He (my dad) taught me all I knew about swimming; he encouraged me, pushed me and made me love the sport.

    “After which I built an enduring love for swimming. I learnt to ‘live in water’, as we call it.

    “This means being so comfortable in water and enjoying everything that has to do with swimming and aquatics.”

    Of course, there is no pecan without pains and Ope-Ajayi admitted she had challenges along the line but her tenacity over the years has been a huge factor as she strove from being an athlete to a swimming entrepreneur.

    “It was a challenge keeping the focus (to be a swimmer),” stated the Federation Internationale De Nation (FINA) certified expert. “We had to train almost every day, sometimes twice a day.

    “For a young person, that’s a lot of time that could be spent doing other young people stuff. That was hard. Also having the shape of a swimmer which is not necessarily understood by other children of your age.

    “But my best memories (as an athlete) were being part of a team; the swimming community is very close knit and we all know each other and look out for each other. I loved going for swim meets with my team mates and just bonding.”

    Be that as it may, Ope-Ajayi as an athlete did not hover too long in the pool  due to some other pertinent factor she explained during an animated session with Endi’s World:

    “I started off competitively with age group swimming for as far back as I can remember up until university days. In there, you try to fit in the leisure part of swimming as much as you can.

    “But I had to make a decision to quit swimming and focus solely on my studies because in Nigeria, it’s extremely hard combining both (academics and swimming).

    “When I went for the NUGA and WAUG Games, lectures and all were going on and catching up wasn’t as easy as I thought. My course advisor had to sit me down and made me decide which to go for. I kind of evolved into being an instructor; family and friends tend to ask me to teach them as they know this is what I’m very good at.”

    Of course, passion is one of the factors towards undergoing a successful enterprise and Ope-Ajayi was enthusiastic about making a huge impact with one of the least popular sports in Nigeria even as she reckons that swimming is a veritable enterprise.

    “I want to expand the business across several locations,”she said after her announcement in Morocco last December as one of the award recipients.“ We will also launch an online water safety instructors training portal and sport advancement programmes in targeted locations.

    “This experience has shown that sport businesses in Nigeria can be viable and have the potential to make impact not just in Nigeria but in Africa and around the world.

    “Swimming is not only a life-saving skill, it is a tool to build healthy communities, ensure sport advancement and job creation in Nigeria.”

    Meanwhile, Ope-Ajayi is of the view that anybody interested in investment on swimming can follow her business model:“ It doesn’t take a lot to start the business of swimming. First, one needs to be trained as a water safety instructor and lifeguard. Once certifications are in place, you can work with a swim school to gain experience before setting up yours.

    “Dolphin Swim School is the first swim school in Nigeria that teaches women and children exclusively how to swim with a team of female instructors. We are in three  locations and counting in Lagos and in Abuja FCT,” she noted.

  • Simy still scoring for Crotone

    Nigerian striker Simeon Nwankwo, fondly called ‘Simy’, is still firing on all cylinders in the Italian Serie B for FC Crotone and would certainly be one of the contenders for a striking spot in the Super Eagles’ squad for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    About this time last year and precisely on 19th April 2018, Nigerian striker Simeon ‘Simy’ Nwankwo hugged the headlines following his spectacular overhead kick for FC Crotone in a Serie A clash against Juventus.

    The goal was the talk of the town for several weeks  since it compared favourably with Cristiano Ronaldo’s  stunning  overhead kick  in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final for Real Madrid against his current club, Juventus.

    Such peculiarities have further enhanced the sterner stuff Simy is made of and the good news is that the Super Eagles’ striker to Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup is still firing on all cylinders

    In  this current campaign in the Serie B,  Simy has so far scored 12 goals in 28 league matches for his side and he relishes the prospect of finishing the season on a high.

    “It has been a very great experience for me in the Serie B,” said Simy, apparently still enjoying his baby-sitting duties, since his voice notes were accompanied with the caws of his adorable daughter Belmira Chimdezirim. “When we (FC Crotone) came to Serie B, I knew it was going to be difficult because it’s a new environment for me and, to be honest, I met on ground a very competitive league because the level is high.

    “You have more matches to play and it is a tough league to play in due to the fact that we have a lot of players with Serie A experiences.

    “This is football and everything is always challenging and one must be ready to play in the tough leagues and in the top football countries where the standard is high; and it has been a very good experience here in the Serie B.”

    Of course, the tough gets going when the going gets tough and Simy has shown over time that he is of great refinement hence his scoring form with FC Crotone did not surprise anyone.

    “Scoring goals is as a result of hard work and this can only come with consistency over a period of time,” remarked Simy who was the Portuguese ProLiga top scorer before he berthed in Italy. “So, one must be consistent in training as well as during matches. And I would say hard work and consistency pays.

    “Of course, there are times you don’t score but you still have to ensure you work well and be at the service of your team.

    “But at the same time as a striker, people would still judge you on the number of goals but I believe that once I work hard, the goals would always come, and that is what I’ve always done and I will continue to do.

    “The only thing that gives me joy on the pitch is when I put the ball at the back of the net and I’ll continue to strive by scoring more goals in order for me to finish the season stronger and on a higher note.”

    Described as one of the most intelligent strikers with FC Crotone, Simy enjoyed rave reviews in the ProLiga on his way to Serie A for his proficiency in front of the goal post and ended on the high as the top scorer with an impressive 20 goals.

    “The 2015/2016 season (with Gil Vicente) was my best so far in terms of numbers goals I scored and coming to Italy for me was a step up in my career; so I had to take the opportunity of achieving my boyhood dream of playing in one of the European top leagues,“ Simy told our correspondent after scoring his first ever goal in Italy against Hella Verona in the Coppa Italia. “But honestly, playing in Italy is a different challenge for me; it’s totally a different environment but I’m working hard to settling down.”

    Last year, he scored some ‘special goals’ include a text-book effort against SPAL.

    “It has always been a good experience playing here in Italy,” he said. “I was so thrilled about that goal against SPAL because I was unlucky hitting the post in some recent games. I’d scored a couple of goals last year before injury took off the team.”

    Incidentally, Simy’s current rich vein of form has coincided with the period most players are jostling to be part of the Super Eagles’ squad to the forthcoming African Cup of Nations Egypt 2019.

    Last month, Coach Gernot Rohr said he was ready to look-in on every Nigerian player ahead of the trip to Egypt in June and there are reasons for Simy to be upbeat as one of the country’s best performers in the period under review.

    He speaks further: “Of course, the national team is a dream for any player and I’m not indifferent to that. I’ve been there before and I know what it means to represent Nigeria and play for the Super Eagles.

    “The coach is right (about invitation to the national team) and it boils down to consistency and performance; and he has to choose and decide what he wants.

    “I think I have to work hard to get back into the team and this has to come with consistency and performance. I have to focus on doing well with my club and let’s see what happens. But the fact remains that I’m a Nigerian and I’m always available to represent my country.“

    Days after his 26th anniversary, Simy, against all the odds though on the strings of some spectacular goal form with Crotone, finally got his first international call up ahead of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

    He was handed his international debut in the 1–1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo in a pre-World Cup tune up match in Uyo and was subsequently named in Nigeria’s final 23 man squad for Russia 2018.He made his first appearance at the tournament when he came in as a second half substitute in the 2-0 loss to Croatia in Kalingrad and was also played as a substitute in the ill-fated 2–1 loss to Argentina.

    Despite his cameo appearances in Russia, Simy who would be 27 on May 7 said that Russia 2018 was lifetime experience and a major fillip to his career.

    “Going to Russia was great all around and playing at the biggest global championship was a special experience and a dream come true for me,” he admitted. “This has helped me grow in some ways and get me focussed for the best years of my career because I’ve been well exposed to the highest levels. “I’m so grateful I had the chance to be at the World Cup, but as I usually say, what is gone is gone and I just have to keep my eyes on the future.

    “The beauty of football is that there is something new to work and fight for and I’m now looking at the next hurdle ahead of me, and this is just about it and I’m doing the best as much as I can,” he noted.