I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PASTOR- Enyeama

Vincent Enyeama, the Super Eagles assistant captain
was part of Nigeria’s 22 – man squad that took part
at the Korea/ Japan 2002 World Cup and has
become a household name in Nigerian Football
since then. He only played one match in that
tournament, keeping a clean-sheet against England,
and went ahead to succeed current goal keeper
trainer, Ike Shorunmu after his international
retirement. Since then he has been the first choice
goal keeper for the national team, playing in the
2004 and 2006, African Cup of Nations hosted by
Tunisia and Egypt respectively.

The 29 – year - old was also a member of the squad
that represented Nigeria at the 2008 Ghana Nations
Cup as well as the 2010 Angola Nation’s Cup.
He recently granted an interview to Express Sports
and revealed the other side of his life that a lot of his
teeming fans never knew about. Excerpts

Congratulations on Nigeria’s qualification for
next year’s African Cup of Nations

Thank you very much

How do you feel about the qualification?

I feel happy about it and I give God the glory.

The forthcoming Nation’s Cup should be your fifth
outing with the Super Eagles, how are you looking
forward to it?

I am looking forward to a good outing. I have won
bronze in the past editions and my ultimate
ambition is to win the gold medal in South Africa

Do you think the Super Eagles have what it takes
to win the Nations Cup ?

We have a good team that can fight for the trophy.
Credit must be given to coach Stephen Keshi for all
the good job he has been doing since he took over.
You can see we have a strong squad. We have been
improving with every match. I think we will come
out with a stronger team Nigerians will be proud of
before the Nations Cup kicks off. I am optimistic that
we will come out in flying colours but it won’t be an
easy task.

Coach Stephen Keshi shut out star players like
Osaze Odemwingie, Obinna Nsofor, and Chinedu
Obasi among others; do you think they will be
relevant to the national team having qualified
without them?

When it comes to the Nations Cup, every player is
important. We need to parade our best players in a
big tournament like this. They are among our top
players at the moment and we can’t do away with
their wealth of experience. It’s left for the coach to
decide who he needs and who he doesn’t need. He
has the final decision. But for me, they are quality
players and if they are hundred per cent fit, I think
they will be relevant to be in the squad.

Some football pundits blamed you for the draw
against Malawi and Liberia, how did it happen?

My critics don’t love Nigeria more than I do. No
goalkeeper is happy whenever he goes behind his
net to pick the ball. For me, that issue is a closed
chapter. Let’s see how we can improve on our
performance ahead of the future games. Those
who said I caused the draw against Malawi and
Liberia should once more accept my apology. No
goalkeeper in the world is perfect. These things are
bound to happen sometimes. It’s unfortunate that
people only remember your bad days more than
the good days. Nevertheless, I hope to learn from
my past mistakes and get better in South Africa. We
are like wine that gets better with time. My best is
still on the way.

You have been rated as one of the best penalty
takers in the world after you netted eight goals for
your former club Hapoel Tel Aviv, how did you
acquire the skills despite the fact that you are a goal
keeper?

It’s just a natural gift from God and I feel great
about it. I try as much as possible to improve on it
with constant practice.

Why did you choose to return to Israel after just
one season with Lille?

I had just few games at Lille and I felt it was not
good for my national team career and more
especially my personal career. No player likes to
watch all the games from the bench and smile
home with his wages. I wanted a place where I will
get regular team shirt and that I am enjoying at
Maccabi Tel Aviv. I am happy at Maccabi and I want
to focus on helping them to win trophies this
season.

On a lighter mood, what would Vincent Enyeama
had been if he were not a football star?

(Laughs) I won’t have known. But I am religious and
God fearing. I would have devoted more time in
serving God

So you would have been a pastor?

I would have loved to if the opportunity had come

Does that explain why you lead the Super Eagles
prayers prior to crucial matches?

It’s not really that, anybody could have equally done
that as well. It’s just a matter of what I derive joy in
doing. I was brought up in a Christian home, so
praying is an in-built thing. It has always been part
of me since I was born. You can as well say it’s a gift
from God.

What are your likes?

I like disciplined and God-fearing people

How about your dislikes?

I hate people who look down on people

Who is your role model as a goalkeeper?

I have a lot of role models that influence my career.
I’ve heard so much about Emmanuel Okala and
Best Ogedengbe’s goal keeping prowess, I didn’t
really watch them play then because I was a little
boy then. I heard they were great goal keepers.
Peter Rufai was exceptional and fantastic. I drew a
lot of inspiration from him and Ike Shorunmu.
These are great goal keepers I watched play while I
was a little boy. Interestingly, I succeeded
Shorunmu as the national team goal keeper and I
am privileged to have learnt a lot from his wealth of
experience.

Can you remember your greatest moment since
you started your professional career?

It should be when I won the CAF champions League
with Enyimba and Chief Onigbinde selected me for
the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup. In 2005, when I
joined Bnei Yehuda from Iwuayanwu Nationale was
another turning point for me.