“But my agent was not around because he went to get African food- egusi and manka for me. That’s how the team left me in Moscow and went to Turkey and I lost my opportunity to play for the team because I did not understand Russian.”
What is your name?
*****
Where are you from and when did you come to Russia?
I came to Russia in 2006. I’m from Nigeria.
Why did you decide to leave Nigeria?
I actually didn’t decide to leave Nigeria. My talent took me from Nigeria. I did not even choose to come to Russia.
What do you mean by that?
When I came to Russia, it was actually someone else’s place. I was at the peak of my football career in Nigeria and agents were scouting for talent.
One day while training, an agent just saw me and changed his mind about the person he came for, asked them to call me and told me about the journey to Russia just like that.
Did you tell people you were leaving?
I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even know myself that I was traveling because everything happened so fast. I didn’t go to the embassy for a visa.
My manager just took my passport and after two weeks in one hotel in Ikeja, he came to my hotel room and said, ‘Let’s go see your parents. You are travelling tomorrow.
We went to Ajegunle to see my dad and after many signing of contracts between my manager and my parents, they prayed for me. I went back to the hotel and traveled the next day.
That’s interesting😅
That’s not all.
I was so happy when I came to Russia. They even brought an envoy to pick us from the airport. I was like, “Omo! Na me dey come carry like this!”
They really came prepared with first-class Mercedes Benz cars with the football club presidents and took us straight to a hotel to spend the night.
With my poor background, I was so anxious and excited that I even took a cold shower that winter night because I didn’t know how to operate the shower. And I didn’t even mind.
Omo))
Then the worst happened.
The club that invited me to Russia came to my hotel room to tell me they are going to the airport for pre season in Turkey.
I didn’t understand what they were saying because I just came from Nigeria so I told them to wait for my agent who can speak Russian very well to explain to me.
But my agent was not around because he went to get African food- egusi and manka for me. That’s how the team left me in Moscow and went to Turkey and I lost my opportunity to play for the team because I did not understand Russian.
Ah!
Yes o. I stayed in Moscow for a while trying to look for jobs to sustain myself. But during that time, around 16 years ago, black people could not get jobs easily or work in clubs, shops etc. Back then, there was nothing like that.
Since I came to play football, I decided to go back to Nigeria when things were not working. When I got back to Nigeria, my agent asked me to go back to Russia and I was promised that I would go to Italy from there.
Nothing worked out again and I had to fall back to stay and try to survive in Moscow the second time.
Someone even told me he would link me to someone that would link me with an agent that will take me to one of the West-European countries.
They said I could take a metro or a train and I’ll find myself in Germany or Holland. They collected money from me and I eventually realised it was all a lie.
I was also told that to survive in Moscow, you need to have a black girlfriend that will give you money and take care of you.
Wow. You’ve really seen a lot.
I really hustled and tried to sustain myself and now I’ve even brought some people here to Russia, making sure they have something to do.
For example, through me, someone was able to get a job as a DJ in the club and he’s doing very well now.
Many of these players in Nigeria keep writing me asking about opportunities to come to Russia but the truth is that Russia is not the best place for these things- because it’s not established and you need to be playing for big clubs already if you want to make it as a footballer here.
So you didn’t consider playing football again after then?
No, I didn’t. First of all, age is not on my side. And also, I have a very serious injury so I can’t even play football anymore.
Do you regret leaving Nigeria?
Yes and No.
Yes, because I was at my peak in my football career and if I had waited a little longer in Nigeria, played more and developed myself, I might have had the opportunity to play for Nigeria’s national team and things would have gone better that way.
I was even invited for the under-17 camp then, but I decided to come to Russia instead because I just wanted to ‘go abroad’. That was how I left hurriedly and lost that opportunity.
Everything eventually worked out, so there’s not much to regret, is there?
Actually I don’t regret that much. Some of my friends back then that went back to Nigeria and continued playing in the Nigerian league don’t have it easy either.
I know how they’re always complaining about how they’re not playing anymore because they’re not paying them well.
And the wonderful family I have today is through coming to Russia.
You mentioned your family here. Can you tell us more about them?
I got married in Moscow in 2019. I have 5 kids with my wife already. My wife is actually from Congo but she has lived here since she was 6 years old.
Her mum was the ambassador of Congo to Russia so my wife speaks Russian, French and English. My children understand all too. My wife was also the first Afro DJ in Moscow and she owns her own business here.
Congratulations! Do you plan to stay here for a long time?
No, but Russia still remains my home for my business.
If you’re to move anywhere in the future, where would you go?
If I’m leaving Russia, I’ll probably go to the UK or Canada. My wife loves Canada and I feel there will be a better life for the children in Canada than here.
Anyways, I still feel my life and business are already fixed here in Russia, so even if I leave, most things will still be here.
What do you do here?
Presently I work in the club and I am into football business. Very soon I will have my license as an official FIFA licensed agent.
What do you mean by your football business?
Okay, yeah. Some clubs reach out to me for help. For example, this club here in Moscow reached out to me to convince and bring on this Nigerian playing in CSK Moscow.
I was close to him and they were willing to give me a percent of their earnings because of my connections.
More teams in Saudi Arabia call me to help convince Nigerian players to come play for them. I don’t have my official FIFA agent license but when I get it, I plan to go into the football business full time.
And with that I’ll be able to help many more people…
The likes of Odion Ighalo, the only Nigerian that has played for Manchester United… I helped him to play for his first club ever.
Football is everything for me actually.
That’s amazing. All the best. What’s your favourite thing about Russia?
It’s the enjoyment. For example, somewhere like Dubai, you can’t chill or relax in a cafe or anywhere outside like that.
But here in Russia, you can wear what you want to, have fun how you want to without being scared of anything or anyone harassing you because you are black.
What are your thoughts on the African Community here?
The African community here is growing compared to when I came many years ago.
Like I said I have come to know a lot of people here, especially because of the nature of my job— I work as a manager in a club and I’m known as the minister of enjoyment in the Russian Federation.
In fact, many people know how popular I am and they just come to me for help to advertise when they want their business to be known and so on. I just assist them to post on my WhatsApp or Instagram.
Such an interesting story. That’ll be all. Thank you for your time!
You are welcome.
