NEWCASTLE Nigerian attacker, Shola Ameobi, is generally a shy fellow. And he likes to keep his family, intimate life and privacy really private.
So cloistered is the 31-year-old player that he seldom joins his teammates in local pubs to celebrate after victories.
For example, until last April, when Shola missed a Premiership match against Manchester City to be with his wife, Jennifer, who put to bed their first child, not even his coach Alan Pardew knew he was married.
Pardew confirmed this fact when he said about Shola: “In these days of intense media speculation and of course social media, I find it quite revealing that a player like Shola can still have a private life if he chooses, I didn’t even know he was married yet alone due to introduce another Ameobi into the football world.”
Ameobi’s austere lifestyle may not be unconnected with his parentage, which is of a humble and devoted Christian home.
So, if there is one thing the gangling 32-year-old forward would not tire talking about, it is his parents’ inspirational role and model to mould him to inspire his siblings and new generations of Ameobis in character and aspirations.
The second child in a family of eight, (three sisters and two brothers) Shola religiously focuses on whatever he sets his minds on, stirs his brothers Sammy and Tomi as well as younger sister, Titi, to thrive to excel in their athletic callings.
Sammy has followed in his brother’s footstep at Newcastle where he has established himself fully. Tomi, 24, who scored on his debut for Icelandic club Bolungarvik in May 2011 is not doing badly either, while Titi, 28, has also made name for herself as a talented runner.
Shola says he became focused to be a successful footballer at a tender age of 8, because of his parents’ unrelenting quest and dedication to making them somebody in life.
He recalls: “l remember when we just arrived from Nigeria and there was just me and my three sisters then. My mum was the only one allowed to work, because my dad’s visa didn’t let him. She had a part-time job and we all had to live on what she earned, which was only £15 a week. But we never felt we were lacking anything. Yeah. It was around the winter and my dad bought us each a duffel coat and we even used to sleep in them. That first winter we never took them off.”
So focused was Shola that right from primary school, he set himself brainpower to becoming a successful footballer. “I used to tell my mother that l was going to be a footballer. Right from primary school, l said, ‘I’m going to be a footballer.’”
Today, John Ameobi (Shola’s father) is pastor of Newcastle Apostolic Church in the Spital Tongues area of the city, and his mum, Margaret, 62, is a nurse who works at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospitals.
A devoted Christian teacher, John’s faith has also rubbed off on his oldest son: “That has kept me going,” says Shola. “I’m doing what I love: playing football, but it’s second to my faith. When I had a career-threatening hip injury seven years ago, it was touch and go for a while. It was a terrible time, but I felt God was going to see me through, and He did. It also helped when the club got relegated. That was a terrible time for the city, but in the end it’s done us a world of good, bringing us all together. And now that all those big names have moved on, that’s really bonded us, too, as a team. We work for each other and that epitomises the city, a city of people who work hard and want to see a team who do the same.”
Shola notes that he will be eternally grateful to respected manager, late Bobby Robson, who set him on the path of glory. “I owe everything to Sir Bobby Robson. He really was another father figure, and I was in contact with him even just before he died. He taught me things on and off the pitch, like not getting carried away with all the trappings. And his enthusiasm rubbed off on me. Every day he was the first through the door and the last out, at his age. He had all the money he could ever want, but his hunger for the game shone through. I took all that on board.”
Shola recalls his life-changing encounter with Robson when he was 18. “I was 18 years old, preparing for a youth-team match at Durham. The first team were training at Chester-le-Street, and one of the security guys came down and spoke to the coach, who called me over. I thought I was in trouble, but he told me I was needed at Chester-le-Street. It turned out Sir Bobby Robson had been watching me play. He said to me, ‘You’re going to train with us this morning.’ Then he said, ‘I’m going to put you on the bench tomorrow.’ I thought I was going to explode. I just didn’t know what to say to him. I was in shock. At St James’ Park the following day, I came on against Chelsea with 20 minutes to go. That blew my mind.”
Ameobi also stressed how much his fatherland, Nigeria, means to him: “I want to do the best that I can for Nigeria. I don’t just want to be a local hero; I want to be an international one. That’s what has driven my decision to play for the country of my birth. Nigeria is where I’m from, that’s my heritage and I’ve never forgotten my roots. The majority of my family are from Nigeria and they’re really excited about this. My parents are really, really happy but they would have supported me either way. It’s a case of better late than never. It’s a great honour to play for Nigeria and I don’t take it lightly. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and I’m really, really happy that I’ve got the opportunity to do it now.”
No wonder Stephen Keshi calls him a leading light in Super Eagles and how much he missed him at the last Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Short and sharp with Shola Ameobi
Cars
I drive a BMW but I like walking. Not just to keep fit I enjoy it.
Music
R&B and hip-hop. Destiny’s Child. I like all the hip-hop bands, y’know, and rap stuff. R&B seems to be the in-thing for footballers at the moment.
Nickname: People just call me Shola I’m happy about that.
Club supported:
Obviously, Newcastle. I’ve also always supported Liverpool as well. Ever since I was young I’ve liked the way Liverpool play.
Position:
I haven’t always been a striker. I used to be a midfielder as well in the youth team. I was used as a midfielder in my first year and a striker in my second, so I like playing both positions. I played in midfield for my school as well. I don’t really prefer either one, just as long as I’m playing.
Strengths:
Firstly, none of this would have come about if it wasn’t for God, you know? I’m a Christian. The other thing is hard work I always try my best. My ball skills, I think, are my main strengths, and I’ve got quite a bit of pace.
Weaknesses:
My heading. I’m working on that a lot at the moment, so hopefully that will improve.
Heroes:
Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley a lot of Liverpool players. I guess l watched a lot of them while growing up and promised myself l want to grow up to play like them or even better.
