With four impressive games for Super Eagles of Nigeria, Carl Onuora Ikeme believes his renaissance as Wolverhampton Wanderers No 1, goalkeeper, is nearly a done deal.
Born to Nigerian parents, he has lived in Sutton Coldfield, U.K as infant, and rose from Wolves academy to the senior team.
Ikeme, 29, though, has kept clean slate in difficult matches against Tanzania and Swaziland playing for Nigeria; he has been kept on the bench by club manager, Kenny Jackett following injury and a drop in form.
Reacting to query about his present state at his club, he said: “We are like a close-knit family and my colleagues have been wishing me well before and after national assignment in Nigeria. It is a good thing for me and it is influencing positively in my approach to training.”
He added that it is a matter of time before coming back to full responsibility as top keeper for Wolves: “Jackett was responsible for the club’s turn around and he’s somebody that will tell you as it is; I’m picking up well and he has said if I respond well in training, he would give me my opportunity. I know it will come soon.”
Ikeme speaks more on Super Eagles, coming back home more regularly and finding his groove again in this interview conducted via electronic mail with TAIWO ALIMI. Excerpts…
Learning the rope at Wolverhampton Wanderers
I guess I owe my career to Wolves. I have been here all my life. When I first came to the club at 14 or 15, Stowell was the goalkeeper coach at the time. Then I started to train with the pros, Matt Murray and Michael Oakes were in charge then and it was brilliant for me because I learnt so much off them. I learned a lot off Oaksey and worked closely with Matty who was a massive help. I used to really enjoy watching him play. He was someone I closely monitored. Then there’s Marcus Hahnemann and Wayne Hennessey – who’s obviously still here – and Dorus de Vries who has left. It’s incredible really that one club could have so many good keepers and I learnt something .from all of them. Can I do as well as them? It’s in my hand. All I can do is what I’ve always done. Work hard and see where it takes me.
Relationship with Coach Kenny Jackett
Coach Jackett talked about how important it was to reconnect with our fans when he first arrived and at first, I wasn’t quite sure what he was on about, but now I can understand exactly what he meant.
Our relationship had broken down over time for one reason or another but as long as fans see the young lads coming through they can be a little bit more forgiving because they can see that everyone is trying.
Jackett helped us to get back the connection and it has been helping us. It was the clincher for the turnaround. They can see everyone is giving their all and giving their best for the team and the club. We are getting a response. On the pitch, we have set a platform for ourselves. We’ve played well so far and shown a lot of resolve.
Growing to maturity
I am 29 with wonderful wife and two kids. I feel young as a goalkeeper yet one of the senior members of the club. At times, it makes you stop and think. When you think of ‘senior pros’ I always think of the likes of Sam Ricketts even though he’s only a couple of years older than me. When you think about it, there’s me (born in June ’86), Richard Stearman, 28, Kevin Doyle, 32, and Sam Rickett, 34. We are the senior players in the changing room.
I still feel pretty young but it has changed. It is good at the same time though because it has given me a sense of responsibility. I like helping the young lads. I like them to do well and progress. We’ve got some really good young lads coming through. I’ve been in their shoes trying to make it into the team, you want to see them flourish, and that’s what they’re doing at the minute.
Losing his shirt to Hennessey
Wolves have been blessed with great goalkeepers over time. At a time, Wayne Hennessey was favoured until he was loaned to Yeovil to get some games under his belt. I was doing fine until I broke my hand against Bristol City. I had my hand injury and for the first few weeks after coming back pre-season wasn’t particularly great for me. I was struggling a bit, to be honest.
I got through that and worked hard. I don’t think anyone really knew that I was in pain at the time because I’d not really touched a ball since it happened. I would just mask it and put a bit of a brave face on. Everyone wants to play and it is just unfortunate that there is just the one (goalkeeper) position.
I just have to keep my head down and work as hard as I could and as fit as I could. I’m picking up well and he (Jackett) said if I respond well in training, he would give me my opportunity. I know it will come soon’.
Decision to play for Nigeria
It was up to me and I made that decision years ago. I was called many years ago under Berti Vogts but did not get to play. I was on bench. I wanted to play for Nigeria since then but it did not come until now. Basically, I got a phone call from the club asking me if I was interested to speak to the coach. Obviously, I said yes! I gave coach Sunday [Oliseh] a call and had a chat with him. He told me he was thinking about including me in the next squad and it went from there. I thought then maybe he’d call me, maybe he won’t, but then the following week I was included in the squad. During the chat, he told me what his plans were. Obviously, he had just taken over, so he talked about his philosophy and how he wanted to be going forward. It was just to see if I was interested and what he’s looking to do for the future.
Debut game for Nigeria
The game against Tanzania was difficult. They were ready for us and they came at us. It was my first game but it was not as if I am a kid goalkeeper. I’ve been in difficult matches and I just needed to keep my head. After the game, it was mad with the outpouring of affection and praises from old legends and former players. That helped, and helped me settle in and made me feel like I am a part of it.
Replacing Vincent Enyeama
I was always aware that Vincent’s been the No1, captain and been an unbelievable goalkeeper for Nigeria, probably one of the best African keepers to ever play the game. I don’t really want to try and emulate someone else. I want to do it my own way and be the best I can be. I know people always want to compare goalkeepers to each other, but I’m just trying to concentrate on what I do and do the best for Nigeria.
Coming to Nigeria
I have my cousins in Nigeria but until now, I don’t think I was coming home enough. We have always been in touch on phone. My granddad passed away a few years ago as well, so it was a good feeling to put the Nigeria shirt on knowing that he was looking down on me. The experience itself gives you a bit of confidence to know you’ve played international football and played against some of the best players in the world. It makes you believe you can play at this level, especially if you do well it gives you a bit of a boost. We’ve got some top talent in the team and when you’re playing with [John Obi] Mikel and [Ahmed] Musa it gives you a bit of confidence to say you can play on the same team with these people and you belong at the level. It gives you another goal as well to want to be a part of the squad.
I’ve always been really close with the Nigerian side of my family. I always felt Nigerian. If anybody asked me I’d tell them my parents are from Nigeria, but I suppose being part of the squad and going to Nigeria hopefully more in the future will give me more sense of the culture. It’s difficult to be involved deep in the culture when you’re brought up in England, but going back to Nigeria a lot more will bring me a lot closer to that, and I’m looking forward to spending more time in Nigeria. I actually prefer to play international games in Nigeria than in Europe. You just get a better sense of the atmosphere and the people.
