Golden Eaglets that won Nigeria’s record fourth title in Abu Dhabi that can be described as lion-hearted, Chidiebere Nwakali can undoubtedly wear such toga with pride for obvious reasons.
Initially, he was not one of the chosen ones as coach Manu Garba(MFR) boys secured a ticket for the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco but his workhorse nature in the midfield in pre tournament trainings and matches secured his place in the 23-man team. Yet Nwakali would soon become public enemy number one after his cheeky-abysmal penalty was caught by Ivorian goalkeeper, Aboubakar Diabagate, to end Golden Eaglets’ dream of a glorious outing following a 5-4 shootout loss to the Baby Elephants in the CAN finale in Marrakech.
But he remained undaunted by forcing his way into the heart of the Golden Eaglets technical crew against all odds with his puritanical devotion to the job so much so he turned out a virtuoso performance at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE. It was such commanding performance that made him subject of interest from top clubs in Europe including Anfield giants, Liverpool, Galatasaray of Turkey, AS Roma of Italy and big-spending former English Champions, Manchester City. Having secured a pre-professional contract with the blue half of Manchester, Nwakali is not oblivious of the task ahead of him.
“My mission to Manchester City is simple: to fly the Nigerian flag with pride and secondly, to help my family because I was not born into a rich home,” Nwakali exclusively told The Nation Sport & Style days after he dotted the lines.”My going to Manchester City is not about money but a lifetime opportunity to develop myself and become a professional footballer that I had long dreamed about.”
Fifth child in a family of five other boys and a girl, there is no mistaking the fact that Nwakali knew where he is heading to as the pitch of his tone changed when speaking about his humble background.
“Through this game, I want to help my family,” he said matter-of-factly. “I didn’t come from a rich family but a poor family.
“I vowed that I would be the person to lift up our family from poverty, especially with the special talent that God gave to me.
“ I vowed to make that family proud; I vowed to be the source of income for the family by becoming a professional footballer; I vowed to be their backbone and that has always been my wish for my family,” he spoke as his voice rang with melancholy.
Motivational and inspirational writer, Paul Arden, noted that ‘it’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be’ and Nwakali has no illusion that he’s indeed a lad on a mission when pressed about how good he wants to be.
He said: “Honestly, I can say but the Almighty God has that answer for me. But I keep praying to give me more knowledge and wisdom so that I can excel in my chosen profession as a footballer.
“ Of course, I know I have a mission in life and I have vowed to do the best I can do to fulfil that mission to become a very great player that Nigerians would be proud of,” he added, as he spoke frankly on his fledgling career. Excerpts…
How excited are you about your imminent departure to Manchester City?
I’m very, very excited but I’m not carried away with things happening around me. What I need now is to be focussed in order to achieve more because as it is now, I have not started as I have not achieved. Though I’m very happy, I’m not losing my head over the fact that I’m going to Manchester City. I’m happy because it is a good starting point for me since the club has a very good youth system which is going to really help me develop into a very great player.
At what point did you decide to sign for Manchester City because there were reports that you were going to AS Roma in Italy?
Yes, a lot of teams came. Teams like Liverpool of England, AS Roma, Galatasaray of Turkey and a host of other clubs but we settled for Manchester City after praying about it because we needed to make the right decision.
You are the second Golden Eaglet and, indeed, a Nigerian after Kelechi Iheanacho to sign for Manchester City…what is your mission in Manchester City?
My mission in Manchester City is good and I already have a plan in my head. No Nigerian player has played for Manchester City before and this is a great opportunity for Kelechi and I to prove that Nigerian players are good. We have players from all parts of the world that have played and are still playing for Manchester City, so this is a great opportunity for us to show what we are capable of doing and also make and he’s one player I’m looking forward to meeting in Manchester City. Yaya is a great player who does the right thing at the right time. He is a very great player and midfielder which any young player can look forward to in order to become a very a great player too. That is why I must push myself so hard in order to achieve great things and be a great player like Yaya.
When tomorrow comes, what should Nigerians expect from you when you start playing for Manchester City?
Nigerians should expect great things from me as well as disciplined conduct both on and outside the field of play. In all things, I would love to make Nigerians happy and be dedicated to the game.
What was going through your mind at some point when you were not going to make the Golden Eaglets’ World Cup team?
So many things were troubling my mind at that time, but I was praying to God that I should be given another opportunity so that Nigerians can know that what happened in the past was not deliberate and I’m referring to what happened in Morocco when we lost in the final to Cote d’Ivoire. I wanted people to know that it was just a mistake and wanted to be given a chance to correct the mistake; and I was happy that the coaching crew believed in me and I was taken to the World Cup eventually. I would always be grateful to Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and Nduka Ugbade for believing in me and I vowed that I was never going to disappoint them if given another opportunity.
Nigerians would like to know what was going through your mind that day when we played against Cote d’Ivoire in the CAN Final Match in Morocco because of the casual way you took your penalty kick…
Sincerely, nothing was going through my mind before taking the penalty because that was not the first time I would play a penalty. We were trained well by the coaches and I think I was one of the best in training but I was overcome by pressure. Also, I think this was a result of the fact that I was overwhelmed by the situation and you know how the mind of kids work but I have gotten over those things. If I’m given another opportunity to take a penalty in a similar situation, I would do much better. Now, I can deal with the pressure surrounding the game and I pray that such mistake I made should never come to me again because I have passed through the pains once and I’m not ready to pass through it again.
Okay, what came over you after you played that penalty and eventually Nigeria lost to Cote d’Ivoire?
I knew I had disappointed Nigerians and it was so painful but I told myself: ‘you are still a young player that is growing up and you’ll get the opportunity to correct this mistake at the right time.’ I knew I made a very big mistake and I disappointed Nigerians especially the coaching crew and other officials; my family too. This really helped me during the World Cup because I vowed that what happened in Morocco was not going to repeat itself and that was why I put in extra efforts in all our games. I really have to thank God who helped us so that we could lift that trophy which was a result of team work and unity we learned from our coaches. I believe all of us have learned how to deal with the pressure surrounding the game now.
Personally, how do you deal with pressure?
During pre-match session, our coaches usually tell us to forget about what we have done in the past and for us to go out and do the best we can. That gives me confidence to always go out there to do my best.
One of your brothers, Kelechi, is also a footballer, how good is he?
I want to believe he is a better player than me because he can read the game very well, which gives him the opportunity to control the tempo of the game but he is not aggressive like me. I think that is the only difference between us, but generally, I can say he is far better than me. What makes Kelechi special is that he’s never carried away and he knows how to deal with pressure.
I remember Kelechi was to even make the World Cup team but for his injury, how did he feel the day he was dropped?
Actually, I cried when I got into the room because I knew he had given so much but he stood up and said that was the way God wanted it and I have to carry the hope of the family and do my best at the World Cup if I eventually made the team. He said it was just not his time to play for the national team but the good thing is that he’s still a very young player and I know Nigerians will see him soon. I had no option than to stop crying with the way he spoke to me.
How happy was he when you signed for Manchester City?
He was very, very happy. He called me later and told me that the days of trouble are gone but I should remain focussed.
Who was the first person you called the day you signed for Manchester City?
Oh! I didn’t even call anybody because I tried to control and comport myself so that I won’t be carried away with the things happening around me. I never wanted to be carried away with the fact that I have signed for Manchester City, which, of course, is a dream of any young player. I wanted to concentrate on the occasion because there is so much yet to be done. I still have so many things ahead of me, it’s my wish to also play in the Under-20 national team too and put my career on course at Manchester City. These were the things going through my mind that day that I didn’t even remember to call anybody immediately when I signed a pre-formal contract.
If not Manchester City, which club would you have signed for?
Maybe AS Roma or Galatasaray because I really love the two clubs too but God said it is Manchester City for me and I thank him so much for this great opportunity.
What makes you happy?
Me? It’s football. When I watch the television and see great footballers doing their thing, it makes me happy. Players like Andrea Pirlo of Italy; players like Yaya Toure; Players like Raul Gonzalez; Players like Nwankwo Kanu and so many others, they make me happy and I often shed tears praying one day, I can be like them. The little I have seen of these players on television, especially documentary about them, gave me the confidence that I can be a great player too.
I recall you even played so well when the Golden Eaglets met face-to-face with Raul Gonzalez against Al Sadd in Doha, how did you guys approach the game and beat them 1-0?
It was a dream for all of us to play against Raul on that day, but we told ourselves before the match that the worst result we could get was a draw. We said in one voice that Raul was going to bear his name and Chidiebere was going to bear his own. We were confident about our own ability too. They played us as if we were a very top team but we gave our best and with the grace of God, we beat them due to the kind of information we got from our coaches before the game.
I know you are close to Papillo…how much of inspiration do you draw from Kanu?
Yes, that is true. I’m very close to Kanu and he is always advising me. He always advises me like any young player he meets, but the fact that you must have the ability to retain those things he’s telling you in order to become a very big player.
Chidiebere Nwakali is now a star in the making, how do you deal with the opposite sex now?
I have been told repeatedly that any young player that starts following girls would not end well and I don’t want to fall along the way because where I’m going is still very far. Now, the focus is on my game because nobody would remember me on how many girls I went out with. So, my focus is how I can take my game to the next level.
Are you saying you don’t have a girlfriend?
I won’t lie about that. I have a girl friend who has long been my admirer because we grew up in the same neighbourhood, but it is just about that because we are still very young and everybody is now focussing on their career. Really, I don’t know what to say about her but she is a very good person.
Tell me one secret about yourself
Secret? I don’t have or keep secrets because I don’t do things that people should not know about. I don’t have anything I have not told anybody before.
Why don’t you keep secrets?
Why should I keep secrets? I don’t do anything that is hidden because secrets are what you don’t what others to know about, which, of course, are irrelevant things that people should not hear or know about.
Apart from soccer, what other sport do you like?
I like wrestling because of the fun and entertainment that go along with it. I equally like swimming because it helps in relaxing the muscles. As a player, you would last long in the game if you are also a good swimmer. I like video games too.
Nigerians are now talking about a new generation of players after you guys won the FIFA under-17 World Cup, how ready are you for the next stage, which is the Under-20?
I think it’s good that we are going to be coached by the same coaches that taught us to win the World Cup. Of course, it is another stage but I don’t think anyone of us in the World Cup-winning team is guaranteed a shirt because Nigeria is blessed with good players and what we had was opportunity.
How strong are you mentally to deal with life as a professional footballer, especially playing in a big club like Manchester City as well as dealing with press and your friends?
I think with the help of God and good people around me, I will be able to cope. Thank God, with the kind of coaches we had at the Under-17, we have been told repeatedly how to deal with pressure associated with the game. There are elderly people around me too and I’m ready to listen to them because they are much more experienced than me.
Finally, what is going through your mind as we round off this interview?
Nothing, except my future, especially how I’m going to cope with the demands of the game at Manchester City. I have set a high standard for myself and I know with the help of God, I can become whatever I want to be.
