I’m begging you, I’m on my knees…

rn leg fluke. Two of the key players who as played a major role in this game, breakDean Furman and Bongani Zungu, st their are out injured, with the Mamelodi green Sundowns duo of Hlompho Kekana for reand Tiyani Mabunda likely to lookingreplace them. Soccer Laduma preas no views this much-anticipated clash. is blessed with a lot of talent as far as his position is concerned. We have a lot of players doing the dirty job and Hlompho Kekana and Tiyani Mabunda, for example, will fill that position perfectly. We have nothing to worry about and Nigeria will meet their match in that midfield, thanks to the quality we’re blessed with as a country. Let our people not worry but go out there to support our national team. Tata Mandela once said that football is one thing that can unite people and thatthat’ss truetrutrue. Let us all unite behind our t team on Saturday at FNB Stadddium.”

Botha Msila – Bloemfontein Celtic and Bafana Bafana supporter

“This is a very important match that needs all of us in South Africa to rally behind our team and come out in numbers. The players need us the most, right now. They don’t need the SAFA officials but the supporters to come out in numbers. I’m worried that the Nigerians are buying the tickets like hot cakes. We can’t afford to be embarrassed by the visitors in our own backyard. We need to – wwherre have you enjoyed your football the most?

OI: I mustm confess and, with due respect to China and Chinese football, I admit thhat even though I’m having a good timme in China and have regained my scorring touch, I enjoyed myself thorougghly in both England and in Spain.

TK: You Y left England and Wa atford quite unexpecte edly. What actually ha appened?

OI: AAfter having a fairly goood 2015/16 season, a n ew coach - Walter Maz zzari - took over and he triedt to change a lot of thhings all at once. It was quuite difficult and sometimmmes he didn’t play me. I woould rather leave than sit on the bench. I had couuuntless offers from other English Pre mier League clubs that were really goood and very tempting, but unfortunat tely, they could not pay what Watfordd demanded and so China was my nextt destination.

TK: Arre you planning to end your career in C China or do you have intentions of return ning to Europe?

OI: Noothing is permanent or can be predicteed in life and in football. One could reeceive an offer and it could change your destination tomorrow. Anythinng remains a possibility in football, so y you never know.

TK: Hoow did you overcome the criticism lev velled at you during and after the 20188 World Cup in Russia?

OI: I’mm a professional and I’m used to criticcism. I just went back to my club andd, besides re-focusing, I also re-doub led my efforts and continued workingg even harder. I didn’t allow any neg ative stuff to get to me. I am happy itt has paid off. TK: WeW understand the criticism got so inten nse that even your family received death threats. OI: That is true, yes. But I also make sure that Nigerians feel like they are playing away from home. It would be uncalled for, for us to be dominated by Nigerian supporters on the stands. To all South Africans, let’s sit down and prepare ourselves for this game and understand the importance of this fixture. We win this game and we are pretty much guaranteed a place in next year’s AFCON. We beat Nigeria away and we watched in on television, now is the time for us to tell the players that we saw what they did in Nigeria, but we want to see it in front of our own eyes now. Please, guys ,let’s be proud of our own team because know that the fans trust me and want me to score goals. I understand them and their thinking. Agreed, they said a lot of things to my innocent kids, to my wife and even to the extent that they threatened my life and the life of my family. I felt very bad (when they went after my family). I had to talk to my wife because she could not take it. Some words they said to her, threatening and all that, was beyond football. You know women and how they react when you talk about their children. But I never said a word to nobody and I never replied to anybody.

TK: It must have been traumatic and the worst period in your family’s lives as well as yours.

OI: My wife said, “You don’t have to go there (to Nigeria) any more” and it was because of all what they said to her and to our family. And yes, it was during this time that I considered quitting the national team. But I want to take this opportunity and thank our coach Gernot Rohr because after the World Cup and all those things had happened, he called me before the Seychelles game (in September) and I told him I was contemplating stopping because it was not easy.

TK: What did he say to you and how did he convince you to change your mind?

OI: The coach had a lot of belief in me. He said, “I know you are a good goalscorer and I know you can do it. Come and show them that you can score.” If a coach believes in me, then I will come. I said, “Coach, if I am in your plans 100%, then I will honour the invitation any time you call me.” He said, “Yes, you are in my plans for the games.” Then he said, “Don’t be under pressure, just come and do your Bafana belong to all of us. I’m begging you, I’m on my knees, let us all go to support our boys so that they can make us proud. Hlompho Kekana has been part of the Bafana set-up and I have no worries because he will lead the boys to victory. He will be very important in our approach and system because he has been exposed to continental football and he’s a complete player who will prove very important. We wish Dean Furman a speedy recovery and let us not disappoint our players again at FNB Stadium, please, guys. thing, I know you can do it.” TK: And that was the turning point? OI: That gave me the confidence, which I believed I needed at that time. I want to thank him for defending me, believing in me and giving me the words like a father, encouraging me, talking to me. He gave me more belief and I thank God for repaying him with these goals.

TK: How special was the hat-trick you scored against Libya?

OI: It was very, very special because even though statisticians installed me among a special group of Nigerian players that have scored hat-tricks for the national team, including players like Ikechukwu Uche, Rashidi Yekini, Victor Ikpeba and Segun Odegbami among those I remember, we won on the day and we needed the three points badly. You see, Nigeria has failed to qualify for the last two African Nations Cup tournaments and this time we really want to get there, especially if you consider that it will be staged just around the corner in Cameroon. But at the end of the day we won and that was what

counted the most.

TK: You also grabbed a double against the same Libya three days later.

OI: Like I explained, the driving force is to qualify for Cameroon and we just continued from where we left off, even though after taking a 2-0 lead, they came at us in the second half and levelled the score. But our character came through and we dug deep within our reserve of energy and gave it one last push, then scored the winner. It was incredible, but above all, that performance just brought to the fore the character of this Nigerian team.

TK: Nigeria went through a difficult and rough patch, but seems to have regained their groove. What caused the meltdown?

OI: We have always done our best, but you know, at the World Cup in particular, that was quite a huge stage and Nigeria was the youngest team at the tournament. I think our lack of experience played a big part in our failure to progress. But we learned important lessons and that experience has helped us grow as players and as individuals. We are getting better, learning still and improving. I’m sure we will get even stronger.

TK: We are truly sorry to hear that you have suffered a knee injury – you must be gutted to miss the Bafana game.

OI: I am extremely upset and devastated. I could not sleep throughout the night after the injury because I was really looking forward to the match against South Africa. The historical background between the two countries and the rivalry makes it a needle derby, a game everybody wants to play in because we have been planning for this match for so long. But football is a contact sport and injuries are part and parcel of the game and so I have accepted my misfortune. TK: How did it happen? OI: It happened during our final Super League match against Tianjin Quanjin, which incidentally was the final match of the season. I received a knock on the knee in a challenge and was taken off. I underwent several scans and the doctors ruled that I will be out of action for at least five weeks. I feel terrible, but I have faith in the boys. Everybody knows this is a very important game for us.

TK: It is also important for South Africa who cannot afford any slip-up after dropping points against Seychelles and Libya.

OI: We were very upset after losing the first leg match in Uyo. In fact, to be quite honest with you, the loss of that Nigeria South Africa Libya Seychelles 4 4 4 4 3 2 1 0 1 0 10 4 02 8 0 21 7 8 31 1 14 6 8 -1 -13 9 8 4 1 match still hurts because we let down millions of our supporters and losing at home was what made the pain so unbearable. Therefore, we are looking forward to this game as payback time. But only God knows and I believe in the team and I’m positive that even without me, they will do the business.

TK: Naturally, the game against South Africa this weekend has captured the imagination of the entire continent and everybody is looking forward to it.

OI: It is going to be the toughest game ever because we want to qualify and, in addition, get revenge for what happened in Uyo in the first leg. South Africa is a good team, we respect them, but we are coming to Johannesburg to beat them. There is no two ways about it! There is so much riding on that game both from a historical and football point of view. We are all looking forward to it and I urge people to come and watch us impose ourselves on the South Africans.

TK: You have opened an orphanage in Nigeria, which you fund, and pay for its upkeep. That is a very honourable thing to do.

OI: Not exactly. We all have the right to do whatever we want. It is a choice. I think in life we have to try and uplift each other in any way that we can. For me, I find that there is inner peace, joy and happiness that come with helping others. I consider those abandoned kids my own children. Their pain is mine. Their happiness makes me equally happy, so helping them face the challenges that life has thrown at them is my mission in life, and if I could assist them to make something of their lives, then so be it.

TK: Thank you, Odion, and good luck in your career both at club and national level.

OI: Thank you very much.