Obika hoping to drop a beat on old pal Harry COUSIN OF R&B STAR LEMAR USED TO DUET WITH KANE
MORECAMBE striker Jonathan Obika – cousin of R&B artist Lemar – is looking to give his former club Tottenham the FA Cup blues this afternoon.
Obika, 31, who played in the same Tottenham youth teams as Harry Kane, accepts there have been some bum notes along the way in a career which has embraced another 11 clubs since leaving north London.
But there’s no bitterness as he prepares to face the club, which, under Harry Redknapp’s management, gave him a firstteam opportunity.
He is more concerned about the ‘injustice’ of Lemar (right) coming third in the TV show Fame Academy – in 2002!
“We were all around the TV watching him perform,” he recalled. “I think he should have won and that’s not being biased. We were always calling in to vote. It was a massive occasion for him back then.
“I listen to his music, I like R&B, soul music. He is known as Lemar, but he actually has the same surname as me, Obika.”
For a time, this musical cousin lived just a few streets away from White Hart Lane.
“He’s a big Spurs fan. I will try and find out whether he will be at the stadium for our game,” said Obika.
“My singing voice? Not the best.
I have a deep voice that would send most people to sleep.” But he will be wide awake in the stadium this afternoon as the League One side look to create a third-round shock.
He’s hoping his old pal Kane will be involved.
“Harry was a great strike -partner at youth level and Under-23s,” Obika added.
“It’s great to see how well he’s done. It will be good to share the pitch with him.” Like Kane, Obika was loaned out to a number of clubs, including Yeovil, Millwall, Crystal Palace and Brighton.
“My Spurs first-team debut was with Ryan Mason, who has remained a good friend, against Nijmegen in the UEFA Cup,” he explained.
“My full debut was at White Hart Lane against Shakhtar Donetsk.
“I didn’t know I was playing until Harry Redknapp read out the team – I was shocked.”
Following the loans, it was off to Swindon on a permanent deal, then spells with Oxford United and St Mirren before a move to newly promoted Morecambe last summer under boss Stephen Robinson.
His first goal arrived in the incredible 4-3 win last Sunday against Doncaster, the Shrimps coming back from 3-0 down.
“It was nice to get the reward with a goal at the weekend. It doesn’t stop there, I definitely need more,” insisted Obika.
It’s a double return to Spurs – Shrimps chief Robinson also began his career there, under manager Ossie Ardiles.
Robinson said: “They won the FA Cup the year I signed in 1991. The club was buzzing. I find it incredible they haven’t won a trophy since 2008.”
Not that he or his main striker will be looking to do their former club any favours.
Robinson added: “To give our fans the opportunity to go and watch Premier League players up close and to pit your wits against managers like Antonio Conte – that’s the magic of the Cup.”