‘I’ve had enough of Nigeria Professional Football League’
For the umpteenth time, MFM influential player, Sikiru Olatunbosun has said he has had enough of Nigeria Professional Football League and is desirous of a move to any good club in Europe. In this interview with Trust Sports, the winner of CNN Goal of the Week award also said MFM is still strong despite the mass exodus that hit the team in the 2018 NPFL season.
How happy are you with the recent performances of your former strike partner, Stephen Odey for FC Zurich? I am very happy with what he is doing for his new club. The truth of the matter is that last season he was not given enough opportunity to play. However, it seems they have discovered his worth and are now playing him more regularly. As a result, he is doing what he knows how to do best.
Are you in any way surprised by his impressive performance?
His performance can’t come to me as a surprise because he is someone I know very well. We played together for over two years in MFM and we were strike partners. So even if it is a surprise to every other person, it won’t be a surprise to me because I already know what he is capable of doing. He is a talented player. By the grace of God, he is going to do even more than what he is doing presently.
Would you say he is good enough to fight for shirt in the Super Eagles?
I am sure when you are doing well in your club especially in Europe, you will be invited to come and play for the Super Eagles. Right now he is doing very well and I am sure in the near future he will be given a call-up. I have no doubt in my mind that he will justify such invitation. Had it been he was given the opportunity to play when he joined FC Zurich in 2017, by now he would have been in the Super Eagles. Don’t forget that before he travelled, he was a member of the Team B Eagles. So I believe if he keeps up the hard work, surely he will get Super Eagles invitation.
Do you agree with people who say you helped in making Odey a star when he was playing for MFM?
I can’t say I was the one who made him special. It is God that made him special. God uses people to help us so it was destined to be like that at that particular moment. Moreover, we all played for each other. I got assists from him and I also assisted him. If you would remember the assist for my goal against Enugu Rangers which voted the CNN Goal of the Week came from Stephen Odey. At that moment, he was the one that made me to shine. So it was a complimentary kind of relationship that we enjoyed.
Many people are surprised that you are still playing in the local league. What is happening?
Well, at the moment, I am still with MFM. I am going to resume with them for the new season. However, I know by January, my own break through will come. My fervent prayer is not to play in this league again (NPFL). Having played for three years in the league, I have seen enough of everything.
Last season, you didn’t play many matches for MFM. Are you still in good shape for professional football in Europe?
It is true I didn’t play many matches for MFM last season but it is on record that I scored eight goals for the team. This to me is not a bad performance. I am still working hard and I believe my form has not dropped. Secondly, I also travelled to Europe for trials so that made me to miss some matches. However, I am determined to move to Europe when the next transfer window opens in January. It is not by my might but by the grace of God Almighty. He will open the way for me to move. Meanwhile, I will continue to support MFM in the NPFL. They gave me the platform to show my talent to the world.
Quite a number of players have left MFM. Would you say the club is as formidable as it used to be?
It is true some key players have left the team but MFM was not built around individuals. Even when these players were in the team, it was not possible to play all of them at the same time. So to answer your question, MFM is still a force to reckon with in the NPFL. As other players leave, more are recruited to come and take up such vacant positions. If tomorrow I leave, the club will surely find a good replacement for me. No player in MFM is indispensable. I believe even if the entire team resigns today, the management would raise another squad to fly the flag of the club in the domestic league. So we do not have any problem. This is football. It is not possible to keep players in the same team forever.
Considering your importance to MFM, do you think they will be happy to let an important player like you go?
Why not?. I am sure they won’t have any problem. When Stephen Odey wanted to leave, there was joy and happiness in the team. So why would my own case be different. I am sure the club will be happy. I am not envisaging any problem. Once the right channel for transfer is followed, I am sure MFM will allow me to move on.
Do you have a specific team in Europe that you want to sign for?
My agent is working on something but I do not have a specific team in mind. I just have to start from somewhere. I know I will grow from there. It is said man proposes but God disposes. I may say I want to play for Arsenal but God may decide that I should start at a lower club. I won’t say no if it is the will of God.
What is your assessment of the Nigeria Professional Football League?
I don’t have much to say about the league. The league organisers are doing their best but I have done three seasons in the NPFL so I want to go out there to search for greener pastures. I have paid my dues in the NPFL so it is time to move elsewhere. We still have a lot to do to make the league in Nigeria to be attractive.