CHINEDU Obasi is keeping close to his chest the lucky gal he would finally drag to the altar very soon.
Edu, as he is fondly called by admirers, has been described as the dream guy of dream gals but the former Dream Team midfield jewel has finally opened up on his love life yet coy about letting the real cat out of the bag.
“ Ha! Why are you are asking me all this strange and unusual questions?” Edu asked rhetorically in an electronic conversation with The Nation Sport & Style from his base in Germany. “Well, I am single for real but I don’t think I’m searching.
“I wouldn’t say the lucky lady is a Nigerian or a foreigner, you will need to wait and see, but she is the right choice for me.
“Yes, I’m not searching for a babe and that is about that because I have somebody who is waiting to bear my name, but I will not like to speak beyond this, thank you,” he affirmed.
But for football, Edu could have made a career in modelling with his second-to-none swagger as a pin boy for famous foremost soccer magazine Kick-Off some time ago. In spite of that foray into the stylish mode, Edu enthused that he’s still not a super avant-garde.
“My lifestyle is very simple but I love being fair to myself,” said the Schalke 04 star who cut his footballing teeth with the famous Riverlane Soccer Academy in Enugu. “I don’t really like flashy stuff though I love wearing good designers.
“When it comes to dressing, I am a crazy dresser but in a unique and decent manner you can always imagine. I love clothes a lot but it’s always on combinations.
“I have different ways of dressing as the occasion demands and the first rule is that I don’t dress to attract undue attention or impress anybody.
“I’m handsome? Well, I have never been told and maybe I will need to ask some of my friends.
“I just try to keep fit and in good shape. I eat good food and try to take a lot of rest when I am less busy. I love my black and shinning colour which enables me to choose a simple and mature dressing mode.
“I am who you know of course; a generous fellow, and living with the grace of God.
“I am just a positive believer who never says anything when the going is tough,” intones Ogbuke who charted his career in soccer as a ball boy many years ago in the former coal city-Enugu, even as he speaks on his grass -to-grace story. Excerpts…
Childhood dream
Everybody in my family, I mean my mother, father, uncles, aunties and other siblings all knew that this boy was gonna be a footballer in the future. The only thing I have not asked my mother was if I had been kicking her while I was in her womb because the passion and spirit to play football was just in me right from the start. I was naturally gifted to play football and I believe that’s just how God wanted it. If I had not played football, I would have been a coward and it would have caused a lot of damages to my career. But above all, I must thank my family for giving me the usual support from the beginning. Their support helped me till today. That is why it’s good to allow your child follow his dream and support him or her.
From ball boy to soccer star
Let me just put it straight that God ordained me to play football. I started picking balls on street competitions; I was a sharp picker because I loved doing it. After they must have finished their own games, I would then pick my own set and start playing. It was fun, I loved it and it enabled me to learn a lot of things. I learnt football from different angles. Another thing that helped me to be a good ball picker was that I was agile, so I could run like Usain Bolt to pick the ball and throw it back at them. I never knew it was all for a purpose, but I was just doing it because I loved it.
It was really a big dream for me after being a ball boy at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu during the FIFA Under-20 World Cup at Nigeria’99 and still play at such level of tournament years later (he played for Nigeria at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup held in The Netherlands in 2005), I really felt proud and that was the highest turning point. I started realising a lot of things, though it was a signal to success.
Featuring at all FIFA tournaments
It’s just by grace and privilege from God. I knew I was gonna play football to the highest level but I never knew it will go that way. I got to my limelight through FIFA ranks and maybe because of the way I started and it has been a wonderful thing in my career. Everything goes with a meaning when you are vigilant and keep your head straight. I don’t know how to blow my trumpet but I believe I have been living and growing by the grace of God. He has been a perfect inspiration to my career and he led my family to have big faith in what I am doing because the foundation was intensely perfect from the onset.
Life in German y
It’s quite good here, especially when you can concentrate on your career. There are good facilities in Germany to speed up your improvement as a footballer. We all know the strength and power of the Germans, a good one indeed because it will help you to play in any league outside the Bundesliga. Life is good here, you can make the environment to be more conducive even when things happen to fall apart, but I am enjoying myself, though that does not mean I cannot do it anywhere outside Germany.
English move still on my sight
I’m here today because I’m playing for one of the biggest clubs in Germany. I am happy, everything is fine. Every player dreams of playing in England because of the high intensity of crowd, passion and motivation. Yes, I will love to be there one day, maybe when I must have achieved a lot with Schalke 04. There is better life here in Germany, though I was told I will be good for the Premiership because of my style.
Highlights at 1899 Hoffenheim
I can say I grew up in 1899 Hoffenheim; the club have so much confidence in me and thank God I never disappointed them. Everything I am doing today in the Bundesliga came to me through 1899 Hoffenheim. When I wanted to join 1899 Hoffenheim, there were other options but I was cautious because I could have signed for a bigger team than 1899 Hoffenheim back then, but there was no guarantee to play regularly and I needed to play because that is where I derive my happiness.
My life in Super Eagles shirt
I think records always speak than the person itself. I have been enjoying the colours of the national team since my cadet days. It has really been a good life playing for your country at all ranks of the national team. It shows there is continuity in your career and also allows you to right the wrong whenever you get another opportunity. I sincerely enjoy my life in the team and I believe I still have better days ahead for the future. The 2010 World was truly a mixed feeling indeed, but I think it has made a lot of players stronger, a player like myself and others. Yes we had a bad tournament but that does not mean Nigeria cannot right the wrong in Brazil. My 2010 World Cup experience was a big exposure after the 2008 Olympics, I saw a lot of things and I also took a lesson from our ouster at the tournament. But in life we are bound to learn by every circumstances, so we must have learned a lot from the 2010 World Cup adventure .
Living like a star
I am not an exceptional person, and there is no need to be living like a star, though I am a proud professional footballer. I live with the grace of God not with the wealth of life. I don’t live a luxurious lifestyle.
My agony in 2013
I ‘m still thanking God for everything that happened to me in 2013. I went, I saw and I conquered. It was the most challenging aspect of my career and I pray it’s over for life. I was denied of a lot of things both on and off the pitch. I knew if I was fit, I could have fought for the Super Eagles shirt to AFCON, I could have been part of so many victories in the national team and for Schalke 04 but all the same I have come back stronger and better to match my standard. I missed a lot of things, especially the crowd in the stadium, the skills of touching the ball as well as the tempo of attacking the opponents. I really missed a lot things but that is how destiny wanted it. In Germany, you will love to be on the pitch every time to see the fans’ reactions towards your victory and also the other way round. I missed my team mates who have shown me a thorough support during the hard times.
