Eagles my Madrid, Keshi my Mourinho – Saviour Fidelis

Saviour, for you, how did it all start? I am Terungwa Fidelis but my mum calls me Oryima, which means Saviour. It is for this reason that I now answer Saviour Fidelis. I am Tiv from Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State. Like every other young player, I started playing on the streets of […]

Saviour, for you, how did it all start?

I am Terungwa Fidelis but my mum calls me Oryima, which means Saviour. It is for this reason that I now answer Saviour Fidelis. I am Tiv from Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State. Like every other young player, I started playing on the streets of Gboko in Benue State. I can vividly remember the name of my first club Bison FC. After two years, I left to meet my mum in Zaria. There I started playing for a small club called Sabon-gari United. Thereafter, I took my bag and went to Kano to try out with Dantanta United. When I got there, there were so many big players and I was very small, so there was no opportunity for me to sign. But along the line, I took part in one small competition in town and in the first match, I scored a hat-trick. The same coach that considered me too small for Dantata saw me play and he said no!, this boy needs to be invited. He took me back to Dantata and that was how I started.

Apart from Dantata United, which other clubs did you play for?

From Dantata, I played for JUTH FC Jos. From JUTH, I moved to Kaduna United. From Kaduna United, I went to Zamfara United when they got premier league in 2005. From Zamfara United, I moved to 3SC, after which I travelled to Israel to try with Beni Yunda.  I came back and joined Niger Tornadoes when the NPL was abridged. I played the first round in Tornadoes and moved back to Kaduna United. From United, I moved down to Kano Pillars. In 2007, we won the league but I left Pillars to Wikki Tourists. From Tourists, I moved to Rangers and back to Kaduna United. After the continental campaign with Kaduna United, I travelled to India for trials and when I came back, the premier league had started. Since I didn’t want to stay idle, I joined National League side, Ranchers Bees. I played the first round where I scored six goals before moving over to FC Taraba where I scored another six goals to bring my tally to 12 in 13 matches. I am the highest goals scorer in the National League.

At the moment, you are the only National League player in the Super Eagles camp. How do you feel about your invitation?

I lack words to thank coach Keshi for having so much confidence in me. Coach Keshi watched my game in Ranchers and I scored two fantastic goals. I was expecting him to call me long ago even before the friendly against Peru but he didn’t. But as a practicising Christian, I know that everything works according to God’s time. That time I wasn’t invited but fortunately for me this time around, he extended invitation to me. I am so excited to be here.

What are your expectations now that you have been given an opportunity to represent your country?

By the grace of God, I want to work myself into the team that is going to travel to Liberia. I am working according to God’s plan for my life. The same God that helped me to emerge as the highest goal scorer in the National League is the one that is gonna help me to make it in the Super Eagles. I know if I have the opportunity to play in Liberia, God will score goals for Nigeria through me.

But you are the only National League player in camp. No inferiority complex?

No! no!! not at all. If you look at my career profile, among the home-based players, I am the most experienced. Why should I have any inferiority complex. I have played in the NPL for over six seasons, I played continental football with Kaduna United and I had brief stints with clubs in Sudan, Oman, and Bangladesh. I have been to Israel and India for trials. With all due respect, let me say the experiences I have garnered give me advantage over most of the players in camp.

Any moment from now the foreign based Eagles will be in camp. How are you looking forward to the competition for shirts?

I am going to try my best. You know like the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3-1, “there is time for everything and a season for activity under heaven”. I will do my best. I believe this is my own time and I am gonna hold it. I am not gonna let go. This is the time God has given me. It is an opportunity. It doesn’t come twice. Sometimes, it comes once. I am going to learn from the foreign based players. Uche Ikechukwu, the one that has been scoring goals for Eagles is my mentor. It is an opportunity to be with him, train and learn from him. I know that one day, I will take over from him.

What would you say you have learnt within these days you have been in camp?

I have learnt quite a lot. As you know, club side football is different from the national team. Here it is a different ball game. The pace is faster. I have learnt a lot under the coaches here and for me Super Eagles is my Real Madrid and Coach Keshi is my own Mourinho. He is a good coach. Most of the things I am learning here are the things that are done on daily basis in Europe. In future, when I get to Europe, I won’t find it hard to adapt to the training there.

You said you have played outside Nigeria. How do you compare the leagues in those countries with the Nigerian Premier League?

I have played for Sudanese club Al Amal in their continental campaign and after six months, I traveled to Oman where I played for Muscat for like six months. When you talk about Arab League it cannot be compared with what we have in Nigeria in terms of standard of play. But when you talk of incentives they are ahead of us. Clubs in Nigeria do not respect their contracts with players. You may be signed for N1m but in the end, you may not get even half of the money. But even in Sudan, the money is not much but the clubs are more honest. They pay you what you as agreed. There is respect for contracts.

If you have the opportunity to play abroad, which club would be our choice?

Every player has a dream club. As for me I told you earlier, I am working according to God’s plan for my life. It depends on where God takes me. I have a darling club in Spain which is Real Mardid. I have a club in England which is Manchester United. So it depends on what God brings my way.

What would you say has been your happiest moment as a football player?

Without doubt, let me say this season is my best. It is simply amazing. I have played in so many clubs but this season is unique. I don’t have to struggle to get what I was looking for. This is why I know my time and season has come. I am used to scoring goals but not the way I have been doing this season. Throughout this season, I score at least two goals and hat-tricks. Even though the league is the most difficult I have played in so far, I scored 12 goals. Above all, my son has brought me great joy. The moment I entered 2012, I saw favours. And the day my son was born, I wanted to name him Trinity but my mum said no, name him Tordue, meaning ‘the King has arrived’. Since his arrival, he has really brought joy and favour for me. This season is quite special.

So Tordue is your inspiration?

Yeah, my son, my mum and my lovely wife inspire me a lot.

It’s like you are in love with tattoos. Why do you carry them on your body?

(Laughs) Every tattoo has a motive. If you look at my right hand side, it is a rosary with a hand. This other side is a cross. This star on the back of my neck was the day my son was born. I did the star because I want to remember my son. This cross and hand is my symbol of love for Christ. I don’t just do it. I have a passion for Christ.