Fringe Super Eagles defender Michael Odibe, who once played for Siena in Serie A, talks about his experience playing against the best strikers of his era, his Eagles debut and life in Serie D, in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD
an you share your football journey with us?
Football did not start with me, it started with my elder brothers, Henry and Emmanuel Odibe. I looked up to the pair and followed their path while growing up. But my mother was against my decision to play football because she wanted me to go to school. You know how some parents are, very demanding. So, I accepted to go to school but I also followed my brothers’ footsteps.
Now you are the most successful footballer in your family. How helpful were your brothers, who started playing the game before you?
They were very helpful because I took after our first born Henry. He was a central defender and I’m also a centre-back even if I sometimes play as a right-back or in the defensive midfield position. Henry was nicknamed ‘the heart of defence.’ You hardly saw a striker go past him during matches. So, when I was deployed to that position, I did my best to emulate him on the pitch as well.
You had a few stints in the domestic league before your move to Europe. Tell us about it…
I had a lot of experience playing in the Nigerian Professional Football League when I played in Nigeria. I played under some good coaches and with some good players and I learnt a lot from them as well. The likes of Seyi Ogunsanya, Samuel Okeke, Lucky Idahor and some others helped me with their experience to further my career abroad.
After a brief stint in Belgium with Union Saint Gilliose you moved to Italian side Siena. What was the experience like playing in the Italian Serie A at that time?
Honestly, it was difficult for me at the initial stage, because I landed in Europe as a teenager. My agent Marshal Mbre and his partner took me and another player to Europe that year after watching us play several times in Nigeria. It was difficult for us to cope when we arrived because at that time the clubs we hoped to join were looking for established players and not players who they were going to train to become world-class stars. They believed that they were going to do one or two things to the players and we would be ready. So, yes, adapting in Europe was very difficult but we thank God for everything, that it all worked out well eventually.
You played against some of the best strikers during your time at Siena, Arsenal Kyiv and Dnipro. Can you share with us the toughest amongst them?
The experience of playing against the best strikers in world football was one I looked forward to, knowing my qualities. But playing against the deadly Juventus striker Alessandro del Piero as a 21-year-old was hell for me. I made my Serie A debut against Parma, but it was against the Bianconeri (Juventus) I had much impact. I came on at half time, when we were trailing 3-1 and I helped my team get a point against Juventus. But the Italian’s trickery and slick passes were too much on that day. His interplay with David Trezeguet in that encounter was awesome. Another player who gave me a tough time was Edinson Cavani, who was with Napoli then. He was fun to defend against because he was aggressive just like I was too at that time. My first encounter against him was a bit funny, like I said, because he was just coming of age as a world-class striker at that time, he was not yet at his peak then. When I left Italy for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine, I felt his wrath in Naples. He was in devastating form scoring four goals as Napoli came from two goals down to win 4-2. It was like magic on the night. This was a player I caged in the first leg, but that’s football for you.
You made one appearance for the Super Eagles in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in 2011. How did you feel after that game, knowing it was your national team debut?
I was very glad, I was very happy that I made it to the Nigerian senior national team. I don’t know what happened afterwards and I didn’t get called up again because I gave it my all and we won the game. Anyway, we know how Nigeria is and the way they do their things. So, I believe they made their decision and I had to keep on moving.
Were you jittery before the Sierra Leone game?
No, I was not. I was playing in Italy at that time and I was in good form, so there was nothing to fear.
How disappointed were you after you were excluded from the Eagles?
I was a little bit disappointed, but it was the coach’s (Samson Siasia) decision then. I can’t force him to select me for games because at that time, I was younger and eager to play football for my country. I believed if I did not play for the national team, I will play for my club. I was also disappointed because I was in good form at club level, which I had hoped to translate to the national team then. However, to represent Nigeria was an honour, I was really happy when they called me up back then. Anyway, we don’t know what happened, I refuse to judge anybody but I thank God I got called up even if it was once.
At that time when you were overlooked, did you think you were better than the defenders being called up?
Yes, I was better than the defenders that were invited because I was playing in the Serie A regularly and I was in the Eagles’ provisional list for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I was in good shape and in top form because I played in almost all the games then for my club. So, I don’t know why I did not receive a call up after the Sierra Leone game. I know I did my best, even the captain of the team (Joseph Yobo) told me then, ‘You are good.’ So, I don’t know what happened.
How would you rate the current Eagles defenders?
I can say they are doing their best, but I think they still have a long way to go because they still have some communication issues to fix in the defence. They just need to communicate more to cut out some mistakes. They are doing well to be better as partners, but we need lots of experience in that area and this comes with when you are playing regularly for your club; you’ll have the confidence to face anybody you play against.
Growing up, which defender did you look up to and why?
Italian Fabio Cannavaro and Frenchman Lauren Blanc were the defenders I looked up to because they were the best of their era. I loved watching Cannavaro especially and I was fortunate to have played against him.
Aside playing for Siena, you also played in Italy’s lower league. What was the experience like?
The experience in the lower league is the same as the elite division as you follow the defensive tactics of always trying to stay compact and win games. You just have to replicate what you do in training and on the pitch. Exactly what happens in Serie A is what happens in the lower divisions, we just do what the coach wants, there’s no change in the football.
At 34, you currently play for Orvietana Calcio in Serie D. For a player used to playing in the topflight leagues in Europe, what does this mean to you?
I opted to stay in Italy to continue playing because I still have the energy to move on. My legs can still carry me on but I enjoy my football here with less pressure and it gives me more time to learn new options as I close in on retirement.
What do you intend to do after retirement?
I am looking at both the coaching side and being an agent, but I feel coaching will be better. I plan to go into coaching after my active career, my mind is fixed there.
When you are not playing football, what do you do?
I take my children on trips, we travel together as a family to visit treasured places here in Italy. Sometimes we go to the seaside to have fun together.
Did you begin your career as a defender?
I actually started out as a second striker and I was likened to Nwankwo Kanu back then because of my height. But there was one particular coach that converted me to a central defender, his name is Kingsley Osakwe, the owner of Osaka FC. He converted me to a central defender in just a day.
Do you regret not playing with Kanu?
Yes I was a bit, but he was about retiring when I was coming up but then I was happy I played alongside Taye Taiwo, Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo.