I denied myself sex for 18 months to play for Green Eagles – Obasuyi

Former Nigeria International Emmanuel Obasuyi, aka (Shakara) has revealed the secret behind his football exploits in the round leather game during his days in the national team. The Benin- based ex-Army man who was born the same day, week month and time with the late ex- Heartlands of Owerri  manager Kelechi Emetole described the present national team players as boys who are still in the embryo.

My days in Eagles


Obasuyi
There is no comparison between National teams of the old and that of to day .It was a thing of joy for you to be invited to  the national team.

Before you can wear that national colour, you must prove yourself that you have what it takes to deliver. Present day national team players have lost focus, they are only interested in collecting big dollars A situation where South Africans will come to our home  and humiliate us then you tell me that we have a team.

We must tell ourselves the plain truth, we still have a long way to go in grooming up these players It is only Super Eagles of the past that can go to another country and beat an opposite team home and away, not these rookies that 0they parade as national team players. My playing days was fun you know, I joined the national team from the army as a serving soldier. And you know as a soldier, you must put everything in you to differentiate yourself from the your mates I was a hard and rough player with high level of discipline as a Nigeria army.

The likes of  late Felix Owolabi was a small boy when he joined us in the national team under late Father Tico. Mudal lawal used to call me Aje. In 1977, as a soldier, we played against the German team in Germany it was a game of the century. And in the 1978 World cup qualifiers, it was Father Tico that killed us in Lagos against the North African side. The name Chairman was first given to Emmanuel Okala but later because Christian Chukwu was our captain, we decided to give him the name chairman.

I joined the Green Eagles in April 4th 1976 it was by merit, so our players in this present era should prove themselves to the world. If we had the kind of supports they had then, Nigeria would have won the world cup. Our coaches must work hard to beef up this team to keep hope of having the country’s flag hoist during the world cup in China

Women and me

It might interest you to know that I kept away from having sex with a woman for good 18 months as a national team player. You may ask why I did it, I want to keep to myself and play good football. Off course the thing paid off I was spiritual and physically strong and fit on the pitch of play. Tell today how many players can do it.  But temptation almost came my way when I met with a Tunisian girl she almost make me break my vow, but as a discipline army officer I resisted her. And another trial came my way when we went to Syria God also helped me to overcome. But today I’m happily marriage with children and I can rock my life to any level.

World cup qualifiers

Nigeria needs to work hard to clinch the world cup ticket. To be able to beat the Cameroonians, a lot of changes must be made, they need to invite well experienced players these boys now does not have the needed experience to tackle Cameroon, and the idea of calling back Vincent Enyeama to the team is totally wrong, we have good goal keepers in the Nigeria Premier League that can take good care of the post for us.

All we need is for the coaches to brush them up. It will be a calamity if Nigeria fail to attend this forthcoming Nations and World cup.

The death of Kelechi

I will always leave to remember my friend Kelechi Emetole, he was a good friend to me, we were born in the same day, month week and year. Jolly good fellow we were always together when he was the coach of Bendel Insurance. He has paid his dues in the game of football in Nigeria. The only bad aspect of it is that Nigeria is not good as giving honour to whom honour is due. That is why I do not blame guys who dump the country for another coun