Dream Team V striker Odion Jude Ighalo has revealed why he's ripe enough for the Super Eagles shirt. The intelligent striker who had scored against Barcelona this season can't wait to help his remain in the top league next season.
Undoubtedly, Ighalo posses what it takes to play for the Nigeria senior team after been part of the U-20 and U-23 team. He's fast, intelligent, rugged and handsome but the Udinese player who is on loan to Granada never seems to be carried away with those characteristics but will rather be as calm as always.
After he
finally realized one of his long awaited dreams by scoring the crucial goal
that landed his club in the Spanish top league three seasons ago. Granada
secured promotion from the Segunda Division to the La Liga for the first time
since 1976 after they defeated Elche on away goals following a tense two-legged
play-off that ended 1-1 on aggregate. Ighalo scored the equalizing goal.
You have enjoyed more playing time this season than your
first experience in La Liga. What is the secret?
The secret is determination and focus and I try as much as I
can to live up to my coach’s expectation. I give my best at the training
sessions and I also convince the team a lot whenever I get a chance, in order
for me to get the next shirt. That has been helping me a lot. My first season
was scuttled by injuries but I’ve learnt from the mistakes of the series of
injury in my first season. I learnt from it and settled well in the league.
Three seasons ago, you led Granada to La Liga with your goal
to break a record of many years. How do you recall the memory?
In one respect, it is great to be a hero for life, because I
will forever remain in the history of the club. Some years back while I was in
Italy, I had a dream of playing in La Liga because of their style but I never
knew it was my goal that would result in the fulfilment of the dream. At the
beginning, Udinese refused to let me join a top club in Spain. Even when I was
not at my peak, they offered me deals but Udinese refused to release me. Now
God has ordained it for me to make my dreams alive at last. I’m proud of my
success in the team; I’m proud of the team today and I am also proud that I am
an African.
Even the Spaniards can never forget that. I am always living
by that memory; the fans have been so passionate about my game even before we
came to La Liga. I have been enjoying my games with the fans, and doing such a
great thing in their history is always grate for me to live better in their
hearts. They love me, they always chant my name even when I am on the bench
because they know the ability is there to prove myself.
You have also been regarded by some media in Spain as a
living hero of Granada. How do you feel being called a hero?
I feel great because it was not by my doing but God that has
always helped me in the team. Also, because the team always stood by me
whenever I got injured and they always want to see me in the club. I think I
have not been carried away by that because I have not done anything yet in my
career. The only way to reciprocate such accolade is to keep working hard for
the club and the fans. It also boosts my games on the pitch.
You also made the cover magazine of your club. How do you
feel?
It was a great privilege and that is why I need to work
harder for greater things. Those things are references of quality and it works
when success is about to happen. I was excited seeing myself on the cover of
the magazine. It also makes me feel great that I am love in the club.
How are you enjoying life in Spain generally?
It’s been great ever since I have been here both on and off
the pitch, though sometimes you experience some tough tasks, which I think is
normal in footballers’ careers. But apart from that, I have been enjoying my
life here. My team-mates help me a lot; the mood is good and it's an
environment where we all want to help each other. And my family as well. My
family and my closest friends are the biggest part of my life and they help me
in the good times and the bad. I am respected as I give back to them. Spain is
a great place; any young player can develop faster in terms of the technicality
and the facilities. The big teams also encourage younger players from their
academy to excel which I think is good for young players. Life has also been so
good to me because I have my kids here with me and they are doing well in terms
of education and other things, so it’s been great with me here.
You have played against the big clubs in Spain, like Real
Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla and others. Which of the games was
the one for you so far?
When you play against teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona,
you will always feel privileged to compete with the world’s two best players in
the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I enjoyed playing all the teams in La
Liga because of the free-flowing football they known for, but I think playing
and scoring against Barcelona was the interesting one this season. It has been
my dream to play against either Barcelona or Real Madrid and claim some points.
And it came to pass when we beat Madrid at Bernabeu (Ronaldo scored an own
goal). And also we came close to beating Barcelona two weeks after which I
scored the first goal, but we didn’t win the game because Barca play like
computers and with their inspirational player Messi, they came back to stun us.
But it was a great game for me.
You have played against some world-ranked defenders like
Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Pique, Carlos Puyol and others. Which one is the toughest
among them?
These are players with great personalities and they are very
easy to outclass when the battle begins. I fear unknown defenders than
established ones because I must have watched your game and applied some
techniques just for me to outclass any of them. They are all tough but they are
still easy to outclass. I have played with lots of tough defenders not only
Madrid or Barcelona players. They are all beatable. My toughest defender is not
among the world ranked and he’s a very polished defender.
It seems you have grown better in confidence than before.
How did you develop it?
I have always been confident, maybe you want to say
maturity. Though both of them work together to build determination. I have been
exposed to more games and that has really developed my maturity. I play
consistently, I meet tackles and I create chances, so those things always
improve your game. That is why playing every time helps players a lot. I will
say maturity has really helped me to this extent of my career and it will still
help me a lot in the future.
La Liga has exposed you like you said and that has also been
generating news that some clubs in England and Italy want you in the summer.
How true are these rumours?
I don’t know anything about that; I still have contracts
with Udinese and Granada are doing everything to make me happy here, so I don’t
need to be listening or concentrating on speculation. I have not heard anything
from my club and my agent and it will be very ridiculous commenting on what I
have not been told officially. I read about some clubs last season, but today I
am speaking with you from Granada, so that is football. You get links every
time but I won’t be distracted by that. I will like to respect my contract with
my parent club (Udinese).
But don’t you think playing in England could be a big step
for you?
Playing in La Liga is already a bigger step because life is
suitable for me here. And to be precise, I have not seen any official offer
from England and that will make it difficult for me to relate myself with
rumours. Most players love to play in England because of the modern day
football and it is not all players that suit the Premiership style. I know I
have what it takes to play in any team in the country but I am happy here for
now.
But many argue that Barclays Premier League is the best in
the world -
(Cuts in…) And La Liga produced the world’s best two
players. I think that era is gone, La Liga is the best.
Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, you are also an admirer of
Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba?
I am a kind of player that learns from experienced players.
Eto’o and Drogba have really helped my game because I do learn a lot from their
experience and it works for me most of the time. I know I can be better than
them if the focus is there for me. I think playing in La liga has really helped
me to prove myself against the big teams.
With a few games to
the end of the season, Granada are two places from the relegation zone. Do you
think they can maintain their momentum to play in La Liga next season?
We are working hard to ensure we are not victims of
relegation and that is why we fight to the last minute in every game. We know
what it takes to remain in La Liga and I am very confident that we will not go
to relegation. At least we need three straight wins to be in a comfortable
zone. This is the most crucial time of the season. This is the time the big
elephants fall, a lot of surprises occur this time but I am confident we will
survive the battle.
The champions of Spain, almighty Barcelona were ‘disgraced’
both home and away in the UEFA Champions League by Bayern Munich. Do you think
La Liga is still the best league?
You don’t expect winnings every time. I think they are weak
and tired. We have to give it to Barcelona, because this same team has been
together for five or more seasons, except some few players. But sometimes world
football experiences a big shock like this but that does not mean they are not
a good side. I am very sure that they will come back stronger next season. And
you have to remember that Messi was not fit enough for both legs and that
really affected them; well that is not an excuse for their failure. The best
team won but La Liga still remains the best.
Aren’t players in Spain tired of Lionel Messi’s domination
over the years?
Messi is a player on his own. You can’t hate him, except you
don’t want to grow. He’s a class that is not comparable. You just have to give
it to him and let him be. I think he will shine till he retires. Maybe coaches
are tired of him but I don’t think players are tired of him in the league.
Let’s talk about the national team. You have played from
U-20 to U-23 but you are still far from the national team. Does it bother you?
National team assignment is by chance, and not being there
does not mean you should be worried. It is ‘soldier go, soldier come’ but
everything is down to the coaches. With all sincerity, I think the coach is
working and we must understand that not all of us will be there at the same
time. I think the coach also knows where his players are and he knows who to
call at a particular time. So, I don’t need to be bothered about that at all,
but to keep doing well for my club and rely on the grace of God.
There was a time you were almost named in the Super Eagles
qualifiers for the Nations Cup. Were you contacted?
You have said it all, almost is absolutely nothing! If I was
contacted, I would have been there to fight for the shirt but I am happy that
the team went to win the trophy in South Africa. It was a huge celebration for
me and I was proud of my roots. It’s green all over!!!!!
You mean you celebrated Super Eagles victory in South
Africa?
Why not? Is it not my country? If I had been there won’t
another player do the same? Noooo, I am a passionate Super Eagles fan, whether
I’m there or not. After my career in Europe, I am still heading back to the
country, so why won’t I celebrate my own? I don’t have any grudges for not
being part of Super Eagles for now because I know the future is brighter for me
in the team.
Super Eagles are fighting for a 2014 World Cup place and
AFCON hero Emmanuel Emenike is injured and will be out of the show. Do you
think Nigeria without him?
I watched Emenike play against Barcelona here in Spain in
the UEFA Champions League; he’s a wonderful player and his injury is a big blow
for the team. But I think Nigeria is blessed with talents across the globe, so
it is left for the coach to decide who to replace in him if need be. But they
will miss him at some point but also qualify for the World Cup.
You have played under Siasia and Eguavon and it seems Keshi
is yet to look your way?
I disagree with you, I have friends in the team, and they
always say good things about the coach. Well, I may not fit into his plan for
now but that does not mean I am forgotten. I was told there is no big boys
level in the national team, everybody is big on his own. And the national team
is not a place to showcase levels, but to come and serve our country and every
other thing is vanity…
