What informed your new hairstyle?
The new style is informed by my view that life is in stages, and there is a period someone has to wear the normal look and just be like a gentleman. That is all about it.
Why the old look in the first place?
The old look was informed by my style of play. I am one of those very few defenders who were very technical. I am very rugged and I had a lot of qualities very different from what the present ones have. I was very fast and my play was very elastic. So, I wore the old hairstyle to make me different and to sell myself in the market, and God made it so that it distinguished me and made me unique on the field of play.
Are you an emotional person, because you used to cry whenever you were not doing well on the field of play?
Yes, very emotional. I see football as my life and, by the grace of God, it took me to the greatest height in life. I am somebody who hates defeat. I hate to make mistakes. And when I had such experience on the field of play, it hit me so hard.
When was the saddest point of your career?
It was the 2002 World Cup. That was when the team was dissolved and a new bunch of technical crew and players who really did not work for the team, players who were not even ripe and mature, were selected at the expense of the guys who laid down their lives for Nigeria to qualify for that World Cup. It was very painful and very sad when we went for the World Cup and couldn’t do anything because we had only me, Okocha and Kanu; and the three of us at that stage could not perform any magic. It was like wasting your career. It was a very painful experience for me. And from then till now, it has not been the same again, career-wise. Most of the guys, in annoyance, retired from the team. People like Finidi George, Sunday Oliseh, Tijani Babagida. Those were players who were celebrated in other parts of the world. There were some other boys who were with us. They used the system of divide and conquer to play against us. Today, they are with you, and tomorrow they are with other people. Whatever you say, they would go and tell the other people.
Is that what you described as ‘witchcraft spirit?”
It was part of it (laughter). They used that to ruin the national team and since then, our national team has been suffering. What (former Technical Adviser, Clemens) Westerhof did when he came... I use myself as example. When I came to the team, we had players like Stephen Keshi, Uche Okechukwu, Uche Okafor, Austin Eguavoen, Chidi Nwanu, Isaac Semitoje and Ibrahim Abdul. We had a group of seven solid central defenders and they did not all have space. What Westerhof did was to make us understudy one another and to learn from senior players. He said Keshi would soon go, he said if you did so well, when the older ones were going, you would step into their shoes. So, it helped. When those players went out, there was no vacuum created. But during our time, such things were not laid down. So, as soon as some of us went out, you saw the set of fresh players who came in but who could not step into our shoes. The team has been suffering since then till now. That is why Okocha remaining in the team is essential and vital. You still don’t have a replacement for him. The noise of Mikel Obi is too loud, Obi is not a player like Okocha, but he looks promising. He still has to understudy Okocha and get matured. In due time, they can release him (Okocha). After that, when Okocha goes out, nobody will miss him in the subsequent seasons.
Nigerians were angry that our national team missed the last World Cup. How did you personally feel about it?
Personally, I had a grouse with Okocha and Kanu because, really, Okocha was the captain of the team and Kanu was next. And they played with us, they know how we qualified for the previous World Cup; they also know there were some players brought in to play by the coaches who were not competent. They couldn’t do anything because they too were afraid that if competent players were brought in, there would be problem among them. So, they did everything to see that bigger players were not brought in and because of that, they blocked all the opportunities. Later, I was able to talk to a few friends who told me to forget about the matter. I wasn’t really blaming Christian Chukwu, he was just a head coach. But as the captain of the team, you had a lot of work to do because Nigerians were looking forward to a great leader in the team to carry the country to the World Cup. A leader is somebody who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way. Okocha was expected to do just that to take us to the World Cup, which he failed to do, and I was very cross with him. By then, Eagles were having problems in the defence and I was then playing in Qatar. But they said I was there for the money.
Were you actually there because of the money?
No. For example, in football, you cannot put down experience. In spite of the fact that Okocha is now playing in Qatar, his experience is still needed in the national team. You cannot do away with that. Why were they against me coming to the national team? Now, he is the one who is facing the same problem, he never knew he would one day be playing in Qatar.
Tell me about your experience in Qatar…
It was very nice. My one year experience there was exciting. I am thinking of going back there when their season starts. In fact, about two days ago, I was thinking of calling up some managers there, just to do one year, six months there even as coach-player. I can do my coaching course there and then pack my bag.
You are now a pastor, how did you get your pastoral calling?
It started in 1996 just after Atlanta ’96. After we won the tournament, I saw a woman of God, though I didn’t know it then. She said to me that morning that God sent her to come there and talk to one person.
You met her in Atlanta?
Yes, she said she came to that place. And according to her, she was searching for the person and she saw me. I was isolated in one place and she came to me. She asked me where I am from and I told her I am from nowhere. She said what is your name? I told her I am Mr. No Name. She asked what I was doing, I said I was doing nothing. In the long run, it was like something in me was trying to hinder her from delivering her message. Later, about 20 minutes after she left me, I started feeling bad for embarrassing her by the way I reacted to her. I went to her and apologised and asked her to give me her card. She gave me and I went back home. I remember she said to me that any time I had any problem that I found difficult getting a solution to, I should call her. I took the card and went home. From time to time, I called her. We would discuss, we would play Christian music, I would tell her the reigning music and all that till 1998. Then I decided to invite her to come and see me. While she was making plans to come, she ran into flight problems and became frustrated, amd she nearly called it off. But I decided to wire her a first class ticket. She eventually came to town and I went to pick her at the airport. In the car, I played Christian music, and that sort of stimulated her. When we got to my house, she asked what gave me the courage to live in that kind of place.
That is Milan?
Yes, it was in Milan. When she asked that, I said I didn’t know what she was talking about. That I was just enjoying my life, living my life my own way. She said no problem, and she held my hand to pray with me. She started praying and in the process, a power hit that house. Actually, I had never seen such a powerful thing in my life. All my windows and everywhere were opening and closing simultaneously. That kind of made me to believe in all these Nigerian films. Those things are real. I just fell down and something hit me, the experience was powerful.
Perhaps the power met another spirit in you?
Yes, that was the demonic spirit around the house and around me.
Around you or in you?
It’s all the same (laughter). Everything. It was a blow and the power of God touched me.
Was the woman a white woman?
No, a Nigerian based in America. She is an evangelist.
What is her name?
She is called Madam Patience Ikemefuna.
From there, what happened?
After that, she gave me prophecies on what God wanted to do in my life, how my life was going to be. She wrote them down for me and she left. Since that day, my life has not remained the same.
What were you doing before that time that you don’t do again?
At that time, the only thing that gave me inspiration was football, it was the only thing that gave me joy.
How about drinking, womanising and all that?
I don’t really drink or womanise.
Even as at that time?
Yes, I was not doing all those. I was neither a club person. My life was really private. But you know some times, you still do some things that are wrong. After that time, the only thing that gives me joy and pleasure is the word of God, and since then, with no training or schooling, I just carried my Bible and started going everywhere preaching the word of God to people.
What about your music career?
I played some music with some footballers some time ago. I did one or two albums, I never really gave it a follow-up. But I sing in the church and do a lot of church work.
Has your encounter with Christ affected your football career?
Yes, that is true.
Was that why you began to pay less attention to playing?
Yes, it is true, no doubt about that.
How about your problem in AC Milan?
That one was a spiritual attack. Because at that time, when I came back from the 2000 Nations Cup, only five games were remaining in the season. I played in them and I was named the man of the match in four.
Just about the commencement of the new season, there was some test we did and I was told I had cardiac problem, like Kanu; that I could not play again. The thing hit me and did not go down well with me because I played for three and a half years in Inter Milan without any problem. I went to all the hospitals in Italy and everybody said it was negative, it was only one man who said positive. It’s like that man was paid to take me out because then, we were six foreign players and one should move.
But where did the attack come from?
I dont know. I went back to Barcelona, I did it with the doctor in Barca, I was OK. Then I went to a man in Spain because there, I had become apprehensive. After the test, he told me that my health was OK, but that an inexperienced doctor might misinterpret the tempo of my heartbeat as abnormal. He said I was in the best form for active football. He wrote a letter for me and signed it. The question he asked me was that, did I have any problem with the club, I said no. I told him that the only thing I knew was that we had six foreign players in our club and one must go. He then gave me the letter and said that he was ready to testify in any television station about my good health.Incidentally, the lady, the Nigerian girl was in my house then. She saw the papers, two pages that I was finished and couldn’t play again.
Which Nigerian lady?
My former wife, of course.
You were legally married then?
Yes. She told my sister that if it was not true that I couldn’t play again, the white people would not put it in the papers. The following day, she disappeared, I was not even at home when she left and till date, as I am talking to you.
She returned to where?
She left my house and I did not know where she went to.
What would you say was responsible for that?
All what she came for was the money.
Her coming coincided with your problem at AC Milan?
That was the major problem. She saw the report that my career was over, and she said ah, I can’t stay here, o! it is finished for this man. She even said it was true because in the night, she put her head on my chest. She left my house when I was not even in town.
Where is she now?
I don’t know. I did everything to revive that marriage, but the girl was not ready for that.
What really caused the domestic problem with you and your wife?
We did not have a fight. I can tell you that the girl and myself did not have any fight.
But it was alleged that you were beating her.
That is what she wrote in the papers.
Did you beat her?
We never had one quarrel, not to talk of a fight. She said to me after she left, she called me after two months that she wanted to reconcile. I said well, no problem, but this is what I am hearing, that you said in the papers that I always beat you and that I walked out on you. She said she was not the one who said so, that she didn’t know where that came from. I said OK, if you don’t know, go back to the press, tell the press that such did not happen between you and your husband, and that you and your husband are one; then come back home. She said she was not going to do it because she was not the one who said that. I said, OK. If she would not do that, she should leave it. From that day till now, I have not talked with her and she has not called me.
What are you doing to have a replacement?
That is a private matter (laughter).
But it will be very soon?
Yes, it will be very soon by God’s grace.
You once expressed interest in becoming Nigeria’s president?
Yes, I still have that interest. But I have interacted with some men of God who gave me a lot of insight on how to handle issues, and that in a way has mellowed me down. But I still hope to become the governor of my state one day because the way people suffer in this country, I have a lot to do for them. A lot of things in this country is rip-off. Overseas where I stay, you buy a card of 500 euro and if you don’t use it carelessly, it will last you more than two months. But here, that N500 card will finish in a few seconds. What is the House of Representatives saying about that? Because some companies wire them credit of thousands worth of air-time, they will not say anything. No good road, nothing.
So, you intend to join a political party in the future?
Yes, in the future, not now.
But your governor wants to become the president?
Yes, I pray for him. If God wants him to become president, why not?
Do you have any relationship with him?
Yes. I know him. He played a good role in our qualifying for the last World Cup. He is a sports-loving governor.
What is the name of your church and where is it based?
It is called Shelter in the Storm Ministry and it is based in Milan.
When are you bringing it home?
Next year, by God’s grace.
What do you say of men of God who want to become president, like Chris Okotie?
It is good. Yes, because the Bible says the just would bring righteousness of God to the nation. So, the time has come for great leaders to come on board. As for Okotie, I believe he is going to do great things for the masses based on his knowledge and his relationship with God and his destiny. The way God sees is not the way men see. God sees the innermost heart of the man ,while we only see the outward appearance. President Olusegun Obasanjo can be the first person, but that does not mean he is better than Chris Okotie or the rest of the political leaders who will come up. We pray that if it is destined that Okotie wins, so be it.
Any regret for playing for Nigeria?
Never. It was the greatest thing to happen to me and I am very grateful for that. God bless Nigerians and you.
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