Twenty-one year old Volyn Lutsk of ukraine midfielder, Michael babatunde has a tall dream; that of joining Stephen keshi’s 23-man gang to Brazil. He speaks with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN about his dreams and aspirations
BABATUNDE Michael is not only praying to make a dream World Cup debut with the Super Eagles, he is equally relishing the prospect of meeting the legendary Lionel Messi.
He could achieve both dreams at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil since Nigeria is grouped along with Iran, Bosnia& Herzegovina and Argentina. But Michael, like other teammates battling it out in the Super Eagles’ training camp in Atlanta, will have to wait till June 2 to know if he gets Coach Stephen Keshi’s nod for the world’s greatest showpiece in the land of the Samba.
“I have always been a big fan of Lionel Messi; he’s my all-time inspiration,”Babatunde told The Nation Sport & Style through an electronic conversation. “While I was in Nigeria, I was called African Messi by some of my friends because of my left feet. I watched Messi whenever he played in Barcelona in order for me to pick one or two things in his style; yes, it’s working well for me.
“I have developed one of the few things I have learnt so far. I got inspiration from Messi and it will be a big achievement playing at the world Cup with Messi. I have it as a dream, but I am also praying to God to make it possible for me to fly and be able to achieve a good result against Argentina.
“I still have a long way to go in order to be an average player to Messi. I learn every day, I develope everyday and great things do come to me every day. I just need to be focused, which I am already doing.
“I see Messi as an inspiration to so many youngsters coming in the future. I am not in the same category with Messi but I believe with hard work, I can get to the top of my career. For the fact that I love him and I chose to learn from him, would help my career,” he noted as he spoke further on his transformation from a fan of the Super Eagles to a World Cup potential player. Excerpts.
Life as Super Eagles player
I have grown better as a player and person since I made my dream debut for the Super Eagles. It came at the best time of my career. Super Eagles career has been wonderful because I have been able to see some of the players I used to watch on TV. I knew some of them, some were my friends while I was dreaming of playing along some players but Coach Stephen Keshi made all dreams of achieving Super Eagles career come true when I was unexpectedly first invited. While I was with Karparty FC in Ukraine, my club coach then had told me about a quality I had never noticed in myself. At a conference, I was commended and pointed out that I have what it takes to be in any team because I was still a raw material for any coach. I never knew until I was invited to the Super Eagles camp, mixing up with my senior colleagues and I was thrilled the day coach Keshi told me at a training session that I should keep on trying more on my skills. He was satisfied and encouraged me on how I can easily maintain the top lane. My life has changed tremendously as a national team player and I am very proud about it
Confederations Cup challenge
Keshi has one attribute that is not common with many African coaches – the act of giving players self confidence. After dialogue with me at a t training session, I had the opportunity to be in a hotel room with Austin Ejide who used to be my mentor in the team. I told Ejide what the coach told me at the training ground and Ejide also told me the coach was right; that I am player who could give more than what I was doing. I felt worried, I was jittery but he advised me a lot on how to play for the Super Eagles and how I can easily develope under Keshi. What Keshi told me was exactly what I was doing ever since and he noticed it, so I stuck to my style and it worked for me. Keshi is not my coach but a father figure to so many young players home and abroad. And that was how I got my chance to prove myself in Brazil, but the coach still knows much by allowing me to under-study on the bench. But still I could not do enough at the competition before we crashed out.
At every competition, you learn both as a team or player. We have learnt our mistakes and I believe it would be corrected. We were determined to prove a lot at the Confederations Cup but we were not lucky enough to achieve our dreams but that does not mean we can’t fly in Brazil again. Confederations Cup is a big lesson for us to go back home and do our home work which we have done and are ready for the world.
Life with Super Eagles big boys
In the Super Eagles, we are one in-house; I don’t have a caucus, I mingle with everybody and they see me as a brother, though I have friends in the team and I also give respect to some whom deem fit. This is family-team, we see ourselves as friends and brothers. I am talking from my own perspective because I know what kind of relationships I have gotten from some the big boys and it makes it easier.
His future with Super Eagles
I am here in the team today because I am gathering experience for the future. There is structure in this Super Eagles team, and going by what the coach is doing right now, the youngsters today will be the players of tomorrow, only if there is continuity both in the technical crew and the FA. I am not eager to impress the world but I am hoping to keep my consistency alive in the team. Only consistency will make me better in the team and I am working hard to get to remain in the team for long. I am poised to serve like Daniel Amokachi, George Finidi, Emmanuel Amuneke and a host of other great players.
About his coaches
That aspect can be attributed to the will of God. At every point in time, my agent always told me to be as humble as I can and listen to my coaches because they were the messiahs at that time. They make you a greater player or mess up with your career. I have been able to listen and enjoy life under some coaches in my career so far. A player of my calibre still has a long way to go and such can either be positive or negative depending on attitude and approach. I am a positive thinker. I love to learn because I gain from learning. I do ask questions whenever I think it’s necessary. I don’t feel shy to ask my opponent questions to excel because my career lies on the pitch and I must always live as an ambitious player. Players like Arjen Robben have learnt from great players in the past, and today people like me look at his playing style. It’s a great thing to learn because you will develop with time. So my coaches always want me because I always come for their advice and take it.
Eyes on Brazil
This is the most challenging time for almost half of the players; there is no guaranteed shirt for any player. Just as I want to be there, every other player wants to be there too, but the coach’s decision is final. It will be joyful to be part of the final squad to go to Brazil for the World Cup. I have a dream to pursue in the team and I believe going to Brazil with this talented squad could say more about my career. I just have to concentrate on my fitness right now and look forward to God’s favour because it’s only the grace of God, not anything; but I am working hard to convince the coach I am ready to go.
