My expertise enjoying soccer across the globe — Ex-U23 Nigerian defender

It’s a couple of days till the Tremendous Eagles open their 2023 AFCON event towards Guinea-Bissau in Cote d’Ivoire.

One of many main speaking factors on the checklist for followers and pundits alike is the solidity of the defensive lineup, which casts a whole lot of doubt within the hearts of many Nigerians going into the event.

A possible answer might be a one-time Tremendous Eagles invitee and Radnički Kragujevac of Serbia defender Izuchukwu Anthony. In an unique with PREMIUM TIMES, Anthony talked about his hopes for a nationwide staff call-up sooner or later to fill the void.

The previous U23 defender additionally spoke about enjoying towards Cristiano Ronaldo and compatriot Odion Ighalo throughout his time within the Saudi Arabian League.

Excerpts…

PT: Having performed in some elements of Europe and Saudi Arabia, how’s your sojourn overseas been because you left the nation in 2016?

Izuchukwu: Enjoying soccer overseas has been wonderful, and the most effective facet of my journey is the expertise I’ve gained to date, from Norway to Israel, the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia.

Totally different international locations have completely different challenges, so you will need to all the time rise above the constraints and play soccer as a result of that job introduced you there. Whereas in Europe, I tailored to completely different types of play. In Saudi Arabia, it was one other stage, and I’m completely happy that I’ve made my mark in each nation I’ve performed in.

PT: What was your expertise enjoying in Nigeria earlier than transferring overseas?

Izuchukwu: A Norwegian soccer membership scouted me whereas enjoying in a soccer academy in Nigeria, so I don’t have expertise enjoying on the senior stage in Nigeria [football league].

PT: Not lengthy after you moved overseas, you represented Nigeria on the youth stage and was known as as much as the senior nationwide groups. How does ready this lengthy for a primary Tremendous Eagles look really feel?

Izuchukwu: Enjoying for Nigeria has all the time been my dream, and I’m proud to have executed that on the U-23 stage.

For the senior staff, the time I’ve waited for doesn’t matter. What I’ve been doing whereas ready is extra essential, which is why I’ve engaged myself in self-development in numerous leagues.

So, I’ve been getting ready myself for the nationwide staff call-up, and I consider I will probably be a very good addition to Nigeria’s defence line when the time lastly comes.

PT: How was the expertise on the U-23 stage?

Izuchukwu: Enjoying for Nigeria on the U-23 stage was an enormous expertise; regardless of the extent, it was a terrific honour to characterize the nation. One way or the other, I all the time really feel the few video games I performed at that stage opened the door for my Tremendous Eagles invitation underneath coach Gernot Rohr. It was an incredible time underneath coach Imama Amapakabo.

PT: Your set missed the 2020 Olympics. How did you are feeling after crashing out within the group phases of the U-23 AFCON in Egypt?

Izuchukwu: We might have achieved extra. We had the potential, however issues didn’t simply go as we desired. We knew the Olympics ticket would have made some distinction for many people.

It could have gone a good distance towards propelling the careers of many people. Our dream as footballers is to make sure the outcomes make individuals completely happy whereas we additionally progress in our careers.

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PT: After six years in Europe, you moved to Saudi Arabia however solely spent a 12 months earlier than returning to Europe. Why?

Izuchukwu: I had a one-year contract with an possibility to increase, however I nonetheless needed to discover Europe extra at the moment. Leaving was a tough name for me as a result of I loved enjoying in Saudi Arabia.

PT: Out of your expertise within the Saudi League, what do you consider what they’re making an attempt to construct by attracting a number of the finest gamers on this planet?

Izuchukwu: They’re in the best route with what they’re making an attempt to construct with their soccer. It’s turning into extra aggressive, and I believe it will likely be one of many high 10 leagues on this planet within the subsequent couple of years. They’ve the cash, and they’re investing in services. Except for that, additionally they have residents who love soccer, and I believe the authorities are utilizing the presence of superstars to make issues extra attention-grabbing.

PT: How’s the climate?

Izuchukwu: The climate in Saudi Arabia and the Center East is mostly one thing to deal with. Think about once you now must play soccer underneath such circumstances. After all, it will likely be troublesome, and the organisers know this as properly, and the timing of matches is properly regulated.

We do a whole lot of conditioning, and matches are performed largely at evening when the temperature is just not that harsh. Even typically, when we’ve got to make use of the fitness center, it’s often at evening. All these allow gamers to manage, and it wasn’t completely different in my case.

PT: You’ve performed towards Cristiano Ronaldo. What was it prefer to defend towards one of the prolific goal-scorers in soccer?

Izuchukwu: It was the most effective moments in my profession. I felt challenged once I noticed him throughout the sport as a result of he was on the stage I aspired to be. It was a sport to check my capability. Ultimately, the sport ended 1-1. We scored very early within the fourth minute and will have scored extra. We had been simply decided to get one thing out of the sport.

PT: What ran by way of your thoughts every time you tried to contest the ball with him?

Izuchukwu: Earlier than kick-off, I felt that the day to place myself to an actual take a look at had come. I promised myself it could be a sport to recollect. So, my response was to get him, and I did that each time I needed to. I did my job properly, and his identify started ringing in my head once more after the sport.

PT: What was it prefer to play towards Odion Ighalo and have a Nigerian brother round?

Izuchukwu: It was nice. I performed towards him in April 2023 as properly. He scored each targets as they received 2-0. He had performed a 12 months in Saudi Arabia earlier than I joined, and he’s an incredible particular person on and off the pitch.

PT: So, how aggressive would you say the Saudi League is?

Izuchukwu: The Saudi League could be very aggressive now with the extent of high-profile gamers transferring there.

It’s not simply because these golf equipment and their house owners have the cash however as a result of they had been in a position to level out what they needed, and so they went for it. Within the brief interval I performed there, the competitors hit the roof. The competitors started with the switch of gamers.

Now, Saudi golf equipment don’t simply rival themselves for some superstars from Europe; they even find yourself signing these gamers amid curiosity from some European golf equipment.

PT: Now in Serbia, what’s the ambition of your staff, Radnički Kragujevac, and the way do you hope to assist them obtain that?

Izuchukwu: Radnicki is a membership with nice traditions; we anticipate to complete within the high 4 and make one of many European competitions. I’ll proceed to place within the work as properly.

PT: Again dwelling, the AFCON is arising once more. Do you would like you had been invited to camp by the Tremendous Eagles?

Izuchukwu: It could have been a dream come true if I bought a call-up for the AFCON in Ivory Coast. Though I’m not a member of the squad, I’ll certainly help them. First, I’m a Nigerian earlier than turning into a footballer. As a footballer, I’ve camped with the senior staff earlier than, and I do know I’ll get one other likelihood quickly to do it once more.

PT: Do you assume Nigeria has too many gamers overseas that we don’t even know which of them are the most effective, besides these within the massive leagues?

Izuchukwu: Nigeria is an enormous soccer nation, and consequently, we’ve got produced nice abilities, even at dwelling and overseas. I can’t say we’re too many as a result of not everybody will play for the nationwide staff. Enjoying for the nationwide staff is a dream, however some gamers overseas aren’t even doing that to get observed again dwelling.

PT: Lastly, how do you charge the probabilities of Nigeria profitable the AFCON once more?

Izuchukwu: Profitable the AFCON once more is what Nigerians need. I consider the Tremendous Eagles perceive this and have the prospect to win the title this time. I don’t see any nation stopping us.