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Tag: John Mikel Obi

  • Obi, Okpala challenge  African teams  to win World Cup 

    Obi, Okpala challenge  African teams  to win World Cup 

    By Daniel Oyekan

    Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi and erstwhile Nigeria international Sylvanus Okpala have called on African nations to stake their claim for the  FIFA World Cup, adding  the continent has matured enough to contend for football  ultimate prize rather than merely making up the numbers.

    Okpala who was part of Nigeria’s victorious 1980 AFCON squad and later served as assistant coach when the Super Eagles won the 2013 edition,   said African football has evolved technically and mentally, stressing that the next phase must be global domination.

     “African football has matured and must now shift its mind-set to winning the World Cup rather than just participating,” Okpala said in an interview aired on a Lagos-based sports radio station. “In 1994, Nigeria had the quality to win, but we lacked the belief. The inferiority complex must go. The game is the same everywhere — only organization and self-belief separate the best.”

    Okpala, who also represented Nigeria at the 1980 and 1988 Olympic Games added : “It has to start from the top. If football administration is well organized, it trickles down to the teams. That’s when you can achieve great things.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mikel Obi agreed wholeheartedly, identifying Morocco as a model example of a country ready to make history for Africa.

    Read Also: Poor  Super  Eagles’ outing in Bloemfontein: Envoy slams NFF

    He  stated: “Right now, only Morocco looks ready to win the World Cup. Look at how they’ve built from the junior level to the senior men’s and women’s teams everything is structured. You can see they’re doing it right.”

    The former Chelsea midfielder pointed to the North African nation’s performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, as proof that the continent can compete with the world’s best.

     “Morocco have shown it’s possible,” Mikel added. “They reached the semifinals; now the next target must be to get to the final and win it. Other African countries must follow that model plan, invest, and believe.”

    Equally,  former Shooting Stars coach, Duke Udi, noted the benchmark has already been reset by Morocco’s ground-breaking 2022 World Cup semi-final run. According to him, it’s no longer enough for African teams to merely qualify or make the last four — the next mission must be the final, or nothing.

    “Any nation that goes to the World Cup must strive to surpass Morocco’s achievement — get to the final or win it,” Udi said. “It’s been a long time Africa made an impact at the World Cup, and the only way to change that is to go beyond what Morocco achieved.”

  • Mikel urges Chelsea to sign Victor Osimhen

    Mikel urges Chelsea to sign Victor Osimhen

    Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi said he would be disappointed if the Blues fail to secure the signing of Victor Osimhen this summer. 

    The 26-year-old striker has long been on Chelsea’s radar, but the club’s pursuit was stalled last summer due to concerns over his wage demands.

    Mikel, who has previously expressed his interest in the Nigerian forward joining the club, believes it would be a grave mistake for Chelsea to let Osimhen slip away. With the striker’s goalscoring prowess and potential to bolster Chelsea’s attack, Mikel sees him as a key addition to the squad and one that could help the Blues return to their former glory.

    “Listen, it will be really sad if we don’t get a player who supported us as a kid and wants to play for this Football Club,” Mikel said on the Obione podcast.

    Mikel emphasised that Osimhen’s admiration for Chelsea legend Didier Drogba could serve as a powerful motivation for the striker to join the club.

    Read Also: Victor Osimhen nets10th Super Lig goal as Galatasaray beat Goztepe

    “His idol is Drogba, he will want to break records, win us trophies, get us back to the top, come for Drogba’s records,” Mikel added.

    Although Chelsea may not be targeting Osimhen this summer, Mikel believes the club still has the opportunity to revisit their interest and successfully sign him.

    “If the club chose not to pursue it.. then well fair enough, good luck to them, but the good thing about it is we know where we left it, we can literally pick the phone up and get him straight in the door,” Mikel concluded.

  • I don’t eat Eba – Mikel Obi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Super Eagles’ Captain John Mikel Obi has expressed his preference for Chinese food over Nigerian popular food, Eba.

    In a monitored interview, Mikel said “To be honest, I don’t eat eba as much. I think for the last five or six years, I eat more Chinese food than eba.”

    Speaking on who he prefers between Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, Mikel Obi, who plays for English side Middlesbrough, said: “It is Messi all day. For me, he is from a different planet. I am grateful to have played with him and against him so many times, right from our days at the U-20 level.”

    Mikel, when asked, also revealed that he “prefers to win the FIFA World Cup trophy to the UEFA Champions League crown.”

    Read Also: I was never away from the Eagles — Mikel

    He also said Chelsea is closer to his heart than Arsenal when asked which he prefers of the two.

    Asked his preferred musician between Davido and Yemi Alade, he said “Yemi Alade”

    The Super Eagles’ captain was with Chelsea between 2006 and 2017.

    Asked what his choice would be between money and winning a trophy, the Nigerian midfielder simply said “trophy”.

    Mikel Obi will be making his fifth Africa Cup of Nations appearance in Egypt, when the Super Eagles file out against Burundi, in Alexandria on Saturday.

  • Football super stars FIFA U-20 World Cup produced

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    All is set for the 22nd edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in Poland.

    The competition, which will hold from 23rd May to 15th June, 2019, will see players from all around the world compete for the biggest prize in the youth category.

    It is one tournament the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) uses in discovering talents who turn out to become world class stars.

     It was formerly referred to as the FIFA World Youth Championship until 2005.

    Argentina is the most successful team in this competition, so far with six titles. They are followed by Brazil with five titles. Portugal and Serbia have both won two titles and Ghana is the only African country so far that have won the title- once in 2009.

    There are football legends we know today, produced from this age-grade competition. Notable amongst them are:

    Diego Maradona

    At the 1977 World Youth Championship in Japan, a certain Diego Maradona was discovered.  He won the golden ball of the competition, after scoring six goals, which included the last goal of the competition.

    He went on to win the 1978 FIFA World Cup in his homeland, and in 1986, he scored a controversial, “hand of God goal” and a goal voted in 2002 as the “goal of the century’.

    Maradona, who later in life went on to become the head coach of the national team,  is today regarded by many football writers, players, and fans as the greatest football player of all time.

    Ronaldinho

    Brazilian legend, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, popularly called Ronaldinho was part of the team that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1997 and graduated to the U-20 competition in Nigeria two years later where Brazil reached the quarter-finals.  He scored three goals in Nigeria ’99, displaying a freakish ability to control and contort the football.

    In 2002, he became a FIFA World Cup winner, scoring a wonder-goal against England in the quarter-finals. He went on to win the 2006 UEFA Champions League title with F Barcelona and was a force to reckon with in World football.

    Angel Di Maria

    Angel Di Maria was called upon to represent Argentina at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He scored three goals in process, helping the young Albicelestes win the title.

    He has gone on to feature in big clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint German (PSG), where he has so far gotten sixteen goals for the club.

    On the international scene, he scored the goal that won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games and has also represented them at three FIFA World Cups, reaching the final in 2014. He was named on the ten-man shortlist for FIFA’s Golden Ball award for the 2014 World Cup’s tournament’s best player

    Davor Suker

    Davor Suker is remembered for his excellent display for Croatia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France but his success story dates back to 1987 when he finished as the second highest scorer with six goals at the World Youth Championships in Chile.

    He set a Championship record with 22 goals scored altogether with Yugoslavia going on to win the title with a generation of future talents. He went on to represent Croatia at the 1996 European championship and was part of those named as the Team of the Tournament.

    He scored the bronze-medal winning goal against the Netherlands in the 1998 World Cup, winning the tournament’s top scorer. He later on became the President of the Croatian Football Federation.

    Samson Siasia

    Former Nigerian striker, Samson Siasia was part of the bronze-medal winning team for Nigeria at the 1985 World Youth Championship in the Soviet Union, where he scored a goal against Canada.

    He played 51 international matches for Nigeria, over a period of eleven years, winning the bronze medal at 1992 African Nations Cup in Senegal and the trophy two years later in Tunisa with the Super Eagles. He is referred to as the third leading scorer for the National Team.

    He was later appointed as coach of the U-20 national team, the dream team, and eventually, coach of the Super Eagles

    Read Also: Africa team will lift U-20 World Cup – Garba

    Paul Pogba

    Turkey 2013 produced a certain young boy named Paul Pogba, who was part of the French team that won the tournament.  Pogba, who was made captain, scored the team’s second goal in a 3–1 win.

    He played every minute of all of France’s matches except for the final group match against Spain where he was an unused substitute and was adjudged the best player of the tournament.

    Pogba later went on to represent Manchester United and Juventus, featuring in the 2015 UEFA and also won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the national team, scoring in the final

    Luis Suarez

    Luis Suarez, a great icon for FC Barcelona and the Uruguay national team, is a product of the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada. It was not a great tournament for Suarez as he only scored two goals in Canada against Spain in the group stages and against the United States in the round of sixteen, which they lost, but he was noticed.

    He went on to feature for the national team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he made a major statement, stopping a goal-bound header from Ghana, which would have given Africa a spot in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the first time ever.

    Suárez now has 18 trophies to his name, including six league titles and a UEFA Champions League title at club level, and a Copa América with Uruguay, scoring over 400 senior career goals for club and country. He was named player of the tournament IN THE 2011 Copa America, after scoring four goals.

    John Mikel Obi

    John Mikel Obi was a product of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands where he finished as the second best player, behind Lionel Messi. He scored a single goal throughout the tournament, against Switzerland.

    He went on to be a part of the Super Eagles team at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations and also made it to the AFCON in 2013, where Nigeria emerged winners. H was named alongside the team of the tournament.

    He was involved in a controversial transfer issue between Chelsea and Manchester United where he finally settled for the London Club. In 2012, he was a UEFA Champions League winner. He is currently with Middlesbrough, after leaving Tianjin TEDA, where he joined on a free transfer.

    Lionel Messi

    Lionel Messi, current holder of five ballon d’or, was the best player of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship where he scored the two goals that gave Argentina the title, scoring six goals in the process.

    He went on to represent his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, at the age of 18, making him the youngest Argentine to play in the World Cup, and he has featured so far in four FIFA World Cups.

    He has been compared with legend, Diego Maradona, who has also referred to him as his successor because of his style of play, as a, left-footed dribbler.

    He joined FC Barcelona in 2004, and has risen to become one of the greatest forces in the Catalan Giants. He has ten La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies and six Copas del Rey titles to his name.

    He has most official goals in a calendar year, and  most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions Leaguebut still looks forward to winning a major title with his national team after the 2005 World Youth Championship and the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal.

  • ‘I’m sad & frustrated’, says Mikel

    Are you wondering what could have made Super Eagles Skipper, John Mikel Obi unhappy with himself?

    The Nigerian International on Monday took to the social media to express his sad mood.

    Sportinglife.ng however gathered that this is not unconnected with his absence for the Nigeria national assignment which he has been invited for.

    You would recall the Midfield maestro was included in the 28 man Super Eagles team list for this month’s friendly but failed to turn up due to delay in sorting his work permit in China.

    He was obviously not available Nigeria’s game against Poland on Friday and he could not contain his feeling as the senior football national team gets set for their second international friendly ahead of Russia 2018 World cup.

    Mikel in a statement on his official twitter handle wrote; “Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control I will not be on the field for our game v Serbia tomorrow (Tuesday). I am sad, and frustrated, but giving my full support to the team for another WIN!” #SoarSuperEagles  — Mikel John Obi

    Nigeria will play against Serbia in an International friendly at the Hive Stadium, London, Tomorrow at 7:45 pm. The team is currently training in London.

  • Rohr announces squad for Poland, Serbia friendlies

    Rohr announces squad for Poland, Serbia friendlies

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Ahead of the friendly matches to prepare the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, technical adviser, Gernor Rohr has announced 25-man squad to execute the games against Poland and Serbia.

    Captain John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi and Victor Moses are included in the squad.

    The list also has Kenneth Omeruo is back among the defenders, with Joel Obi Stephen Eze and forward Gabriel Okechukwu also handed opportunities.

    Russia –based Brian Idowu, who scored against Argentina on his debut in a friendly in Krasnodar in November last year, and Al Ahly of Egypt’s Junior Ajayi, who earned an Olympic bronze in Brazil in 2016, are also called.

    Read Also: Rohr considers new set of Eagles for World Cup

    Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who was in goal for Nigeria at crucial matches against Cameroon and Zambia, leads the goalkeeping section, with Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi, joining the fray.

    Nigeria will face Poland 43,000 –capacity Stadium Wroclaw on Friday, 23rd March 2018, before facing Serbia at The Hive, London – home ground of Barnet FC and London Bees.

    These are the first two in a list of six friendly encounters planned for the Super Eagles by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the 21st FIFA World Cup finals in the Russian Federation this summer.

    Nigeria will begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup matches against Croatia on 16th June, 2018 in Kaliningrad , before having a date against Iceland and Argentina on 22nd and 26th June, 2018 respectively.

    THE FULL LIST

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)

    Defenders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag, The Netherlands); Olaoluwa Aina (Hull City, England); Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV, Belgium); Brian Idowu (Amkar Perm, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); William Ekong (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda, China); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas, Spain); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium); Joel Obi (Torino FC, Italy)

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Gabriel Okechukwu (Akwa United)

     

     

  • Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    The Chinese Super League has been the new pasture for many world and Nigerian football stars but Tianjin Teda of China and Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye revealed that foreign players will find the league very difficult as the local players were now upping their play.

    The former junior international, who had been reported to have been in disagreement with management of Tianjin Teda said this on Tuesday in an interview on Sports Café.

    He also confirmed that he would be plying his trade away from the Chinese League next season.

    “I don’t think I will be playing football in China next season maybe Europe,” Ideye said.

    “The Chinese owners are doing their best, they are bringing more big names to the league.

    “Month by month it is really tight because most of the Chinese players are picking very fast. From next season, it’ll be a big task on the foreign players.”

    Ideye also discarded talks that he alongside Super Eagles captain – John Mikel Obi and other big stars joined the Chinese Super League because of the money.

    According to him, football was the reason he moved to China and he alongside the big names in the league were being rewarded based on their input to the league.

    On what took him to China, Ideye, said: “It is football. I’m not the only one playing there, Mikel too is playing and some other big names like Pato and Tevez.

    “They too have the same aim which is going to China and play football and enjoy every moment on the pitch.

    “People think it is that good but you have to work for it (money); nothing good comes easy. You work for it and get your reward.”

    The 29-year-old former Olympiakos player, who has been out of the Super eagles squad for over a year also added that he was looking forward to be part of the players that would represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

    He added, “I’m looking forward to Russia just like every other player looking forward to the World Cup and hoping to do their best.”

  • Rohr to visit Mikel, Martins in China 

    Rohr to visit Mikel, Martins in China 

     

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr has put all logistics in place for Rohr to pay an official visit to John Mikel Obi and Obafemi Martins in China.

    The Eagles gaffer will leave for China in the second week of February to discuss Nations and World Cup qualifiers and most importantly the way  forward with the Nigerian players.

    According to the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), scribe Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, the Super Eagles tactician has been given permission by the  Glass House  to visit any player he feels is of important to him in delivering the trophies for the country.

    He said: “The Federation has given Rohr blank cheque to do what is necessary. He owe us (Nigeria)  the World  Cup and Nations  cup tickets. The federation can’t stop him from travelling if the purpose is enhance his job with no cost implication to  the federation .  It is our duty to encourage him to do what is best for us to be in Russia,”  Sanusi said.

    Sanusi also stated that the Eagles Boss will visit London to meet with Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lukman, Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi. He said the visit is to prepare their minds for the task ahead

    “I  can tell you that Rohr calls the office daily from Gabon and we speak  each time our world cup opponents played in their games in the ongoing Nations Cup in Gabon.  Rohr is really doing a good job”. Sanusi concluded.

  • UNTOLD STORY OF JOHN MIKEL OBI

    UNTOLD STORY OF JOHN MIKEL OBI

    SUPER Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, was a kid destined for greatness long before he hit stardom, according to Babawo Mohammed Adamu – the man who first saw his latent talents on the dusty playing football pitch at the Township Primary School in the Jos metropolis.

    The mutual relationship between Mikel and Adamu is an open secret in the Nigerian football world and the latter is qualified more than anyone else to speak on how the former became a soccer celebrity.

    “I can say without any contradiction that I was the person that discovered him (John Mikel Obi) when he was a kid then,” explained Mohammed after much prompting in an exclusive interview with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN. “I supported him in so many ways to become what he is today

    “He was playing in the street close to my area where I saw him and picked him up; and encouraged him. I remembered the first day I saw him, I called him and told him ‘with what I’ve seen, you are a very good player and you will grow to be a world class player if you continue playing this way.’

    “I also told him ‘I’m available anytime you need my assistance or advise’. Since then, he started coming to my house to visit me and before you know it we became very close and I started buying football kits boots, jerseys and all.

    “I also encouraged him to go to school and I decided to assist him as his family was not buoyant to sponsor him,” he revealed.

    Much credits have never been given for the pivotal role Adamu played in the fledging career of Obi, but Igwe or Lecturer, as he’s fondly called, is not perturbed, saying he has a telepathic understanding with the Eagles captain he often calls Chekwube.

    “Yeah (we have come this far) because we are straightforward to each other, we tell ourselves the truth no matter how bitter it is. He normally calls to seek for advice, and I advise him on what I know will be good for him both in his career and other issues.

    “Sure, he has also discussed his predicament at Chelsea and was not surprised that he is moving on to China. He got good offers from Europe now.

    “Of course, many people have different opinions but Mikel is a very good guy; he is a reserved person, shy sometimes and very friendly. And he is the only player that I know who respects his old friends and is still with them till date. He is someone who likes helping the less-privileged and also his friends, most especially his old friends,” he stated.

    Yet for many, football agents epitomise everything wrong with the game, but Adamu reckons he is only motivated in looking at the welfare of his clients, saying his romance with football against the wishes of his parents dates back to his days in the primary school.

    “Yes, I agree with you that coaching is always the first option for most footballers but I think being a football agent for me was a call from God,” stated Adamu, the erstwhile captain of Jos University Teaching Football (JUTH) FC of Jos who became a licensed football agent in 2012. “I started having interest in managing players when I was appointed the captain of JUTH FC.

    “Somehow, it is easy to be a football agent; while somehow it is not. The easy way is if you really know the game very well, you can identify good players quickly and introduce them to someone who is ahead of you in the business or to some coaches, but the difficult part is how to manage their attitude on the pitch and off the pitch; because a very good player without good attitude will definitely waste your time and money.

    “Of course, you are right to say an agent can wrongly advise a footballer but that is possible if the agent doesn’t know his work very well. But a very good agent will know how to manage his players both on the pitch and outside the pitch.

    “Managing a player is not just football, you have to manage everything about him. When I started, I worked as a scout for John Ola Shittu and Adam Mohammed, popular known as Abba Muktar, and I learned a lot from this gentleman.

    “I think I will mention a few but have some good players in Suleiman Abdullahi ( Eintracht Breuwicth, Germany; Usman Saleh  (Vikkings , Norway);Musa Yahaya ( FC Porto);Jacob Njoku ( Hapoel Kiryat , Israel).I will give God the glory for closing the year with Jacob Njoku’s deal from Tel Aviv Ramla Israel to Hapoel Kiryat Israel; Njoku was  part of the U-17 team but did not make the team to the World Cup in  the United Arab Emirates.  I’m happy I made some good deals last year.”

    Yet Adamu was quick to say his happiest moment in 2016 was walking down the aisle with his fiancée to be pronounced husband and wife in a Nikah ceremony that was the talk of the town in Kaduna.

    They say ‘who has found a good wife, has found a good thing’ and Adamu’s face gleamed like a diamond as he discussed his four-year courtship with Dr. Hajara Saleh Bade, adding that July 30th, 2016 would forever be one of his happiest moments.

    “I’m seriously enjoying it (my marriage), because I believe God has blessed me with a loving, and caring wife,” Adamu said with a breathy purr as he opened up on what truly was a dramatic love affair.  “She is a wife that loves what her husband is doing as a career, she supports me very well and she is very friendly to all my players. You know, I got married the same day with my elder brother who actually got married to my wife’s elder sister.

    “It all started this way. I was going to Kaduna to discuss terms and conditions with Musa Yahaya football academy in 2012 and my brother gave me a message to give to his fiancée.

    “So, on my arrival, she (Hajara) was the first girl I saw and I introduced myself to her, then she took me to the main house and sat down, to cut it short…. We gisted about so many things and we exchanged numbers and started talking. It all started just as friends and ended being husband and wife.

    “You asked how does it feel that my brother and I married two sisters?  I feel good and comfortable because we have the same situation in our family whereby, my two cousins married from the same family,“ he revealed.

    He continued: “The truth is that I love football right from my early life. And I think my real romance with football actually started when I was in primary school and I started playing for my school (Our Lady of Fatima private school Jos) team in primary 3.

    “We played a competition in Plateau State. We used to call it inter primary school competition, which we became victorious at the end of the tournament.

    “I was selected amongst the players who represented Plateau State in the All-Nigeria Primary School Games in Lagos in 1998/1999 and we eventually came third in Lagos.

    “After the competition, I was invited to the state team in Jos, named The Greater Tomorrow and some of my teammates I can remember include the late Jerry Dakop, Chinedu Effugh (the current captain of Heartland), Shehu Abdullahi El-Kanemi Warriors, Víctor Obinna Nsofor, Sunday Mbah, Jude, Modilim, Ebele Obi (elder brother of Mikel obi) and Daniel Njoku-a former Enyimba and national team player. There are still so may that I couldn’t remember.

    “I progressed from there and I played in the Nigerian pro league and premier league. I started my career with Plateau Pyramid of Jos then in the amateur league, then I moved to Mighty Jets of Jos and later moved to Security and Exchange Commission Football club in Abuja, before coming to JUTH FC of Jos were I captained for nine seasons. I think I spent 11 years playing with JUTH before retirement.

    “Of course, along the line, I desired to play abroad too and I went for trials abroad but the trials were not successful because I had some issues with my parents – they were not in support of my football career.

    ”They were not happy (that I wanted to go abroad) because I was in my 200level in the University of Jos (UNIJOS) when the offers came and I couldn’t go eventually. That’s was why I played for JUTH FC  for a long term since they agreed with my school schedules and allowed  me to go to lectures and give me break whenever I was  writing exams. So I was just playing there and schooling without the intention of leaving the club for another club. I had so many offers from so many clubs here in Nigeria but I couldn’t move then because of my programme.

    “I had great moments at JUTH. I was the first captain that won the Plateau State’s FA cup for the club and I was the captain when the club first got promoted from pro league to premier league. I studied Applied Psychology Diploma and also had a first degree in political science.

    “Even with the kind of money available to footballers today, I have no regret not playing abroad and happy with the work I’m doing right now, and I believe I was not destined for that and I have taken everything in good faith and also thank my parents for all their guidance,” he noted.

     

  • MIKEL- I’m not ready for marriage

    MIKEL- I’m not ready for marriage

    Tailwind news that Super Eagles’ star midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is on the verge of tying the nuptial knot might be just a ruse after all, following a frank conversation with The Nation Sport & Style which was facilitated by one of his long-trusted confidants.

    Mikel, Africa’s second best footballer, has been romantically linked to a bevy of Nigerian beauties and had featured repeatedly on the list of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Recently, the social media was buzzing over news that the Chelsea’s Nigerian star has finally made up his mind to settle down with a Russian beauty in spite of alleged dalliances with some Nigeria’s stunning models.

    First it was Nollywood gal, Rita Dominic, that the rumour mill said she was dragging Mikel to the altar after they posed together in a photograph taken in London. On Rita’s heels came delectable Sandra Okagbue who has been face of Delta Soap since 2010.

    Mired in the marriage mess, a bewildered Mikel expressed his indignation in an interview syndicated on Sports Focus anchored by Kayode Tijani

    “I know normal people don’t go through what I am going through now when it concerns finding a wife to marry, normal people don’t at all,” Mikel said. “Believe me it’s so difficult, very difficult, it’s so difficult you just have to leave it to God.

    “ To find someone who truly loves you, there might be someone who really loves me truly for who I am but I may not be aware, but maybe you don’t know but you may think she’s one of those people that love you for who you are or what you have, because of your money. But maybe she’s there for you, you never know, you get so confused now I have decided I will just leave it to God to decide who I get married to,” he noted

    But in his major interview since the 2013 African Footballer of the Year Gala early this month, Mikel has categorically stated that marriage was not yet on his mind even as he kept the identity of the woman of his dream close to his chest.

    “I can’t say (when I’m going to get married) because that is not on my agenda now but when God says it is time, it will happen,” confessed Mikel to The Nation Sport & Style. “I don’t want to talk about that (searching for would-be wife) now, it is a private matter.”

    Yet, Mikel is still revelling in the joy of winning the UEFA Champions League at the expense of Bayern Munich in Munich in 2012, picking that as his best moment ever since fate led him to the Stamford Bridge after a protracted transfer tussle with Manchester United soon after he helped Nigeria win silver medal at the 2005 FIFA World Under-20 Youth Championship in Holland. Excerpts…

    You scored a goal in a Cup game against Derby County, how do you feel since you don’t score often?

    It was nice. Great feeling. It was an important goal for us because we needed to win; it was in the second half, so the goal opened the door for us. I was happy.

    When you score, the celebration is always different from that of your teammates, what do you have to say about that?

    (Laughter) May be because I’m not a regular scorer and the fans usually urge me to celebrate.

    Are you looking forward to scoring more goals for Chelsea?

    I do wish to score but I’m not under pressure to score. My role doesn’t give me such chance but when I have the chance I’ll try to get it. I think I will get more, but above all, I am always happy to contribute to my team’s success whenever I am on. Team success is paramount for us here.

    Talking about winning trophies, you have won almost all the trophies one can think of at club level, what is your target this season?

    Chelsea is a team that encourages you to win trophy. That is the mentality here and it is good for us. It has become a habit. I think we can win every trophy we are playing in.

    Chelsea beat Manchester United 3-1 last weekend, does that result send signal that Chelsea will win the league?

    No, we still have a lot of games to play. We are in contention and getting such result against a contender is a good one for us.

    When is the wedding bell going to ring?

    (Laughter) I can’t say, because that is not in my agenda now but when God says it is time it will happen.

    Are you still searching or you already have your Miss Right, with reports linking you to many ladies?

    I don’t want to talk about that now, it is private. (Laughter)

    You won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Super Eagles last year, how are you looking forward to Brazil 2014?

    They are different competitions. I was happy to win my first Nations Cup gold medal last year. I am looking forward to a very impressive performance at the World Cup. I believe we will do well.

    Any target?

    No. We will know when the competition starts.

    Who motivates you more at Chelsea?

    A lot of players that I met there. Drogba, Essien made me feel at home because of the African brotherhood. Terry is nice, Lampard too. I also learnt a lot from Maka (Makalele).

    How do you like to dress?

    I dress based on where I am going. The occasion determines what I wear but I love it simple and smart.