Kidnappers won’t demoralize us – Enyeama
Even though the qualifying match between Nigeria and Rwanda is in Calabar where their safety is guaranteed, Enyeama is worried over the spate of crimes in the country as well as the kidnap of his erstwhile team mate, Chris Obodo. He remembers that a couple of times there were attempts to kidnap him whilst in […]
Even though the qualifying match between Nigeria and Rwanda is in Calabar where their safety is guaranteed, Enyeama is worried over the spate of crimes in the country as well as the kidnap of his erstwhile team mate, Chris Obodo. He remembers that a couple of times there were attempts to kidnap him whilst in the country.
Although he is scared of this and also scared stiff for his team mates who could be possible targets of the kidnappers but he does not believe such scare can have any impact against their winning the Rwandan because he and his team mates have been well prepared and confident over the match.
In a chat with Shot! before their game against the Rwandan national team today at the UJ Esuene stadium, Enyeama thanked God for the release of his colleague and added that kidnapping of players and others have always been a nightmare.
“When you hear of it and the ordeal victims go through, it is not really what one should be unfortunate to be in such situation. For me, they have tried to kidnap me a couple of times. But God has been my Protector. I have not really been a victim but I get scared, worried. I pray that none of my colleagues should be in that situation anymore”, he said.
According to him, the fear of being kidnapped could further scare many foreign-based players from answering the national call to play in the country during crucial matches.
He said in abroad where there are renowned players from Nigeria and other parts of the world plying their skills in the game of football, there is security for active and non-active professional players. He therefore called on the government to ensure safety of players and the people by raising the security strategies in the country.
About the Rwanda-Nigeria African Cup of Nations qualifying match, Enyeama said the Super Eagles are in high spirit and that the 25 players in camp are fit and ready to confront the visitors.
He said they would be looking to penetrate the loopholes which the visitors would create in their desperation to attack and beat Nigeria.
“We know that the Rwandans would be desperate, looking to attack massively against us. This is when we would take advantage of the loopholes they would create”, he said.
Enyeama added that they know what to expect from the visitors, “and we are fully ready for them. We have trained hard enough for this game.”
“I know that they would be aiming to play defensive and mass-attack in order to beat us. We are also ready. Nevertheless, they are a good side. We cannot underrate them”, he stressed.
Asked if he would feel bad when he would no longer be invited to the national camp, he said, “Nigeria is well blessed with talented players. I have served the country as goalkeeper for ten years now; I have yet given my best, even though at one point or another it might not have been considered the best by everybody. I certainly won’t feel bad, but would like some thanks when time comes nevertheless. If I have to move on I would like to do so quietly and would give thanks to God.”
He lamented that his home-state football team, the Akwa United FC was not doing quite well in the national league but declined to speak much about it, “because I do not know much about them. It is risky to comment on something you do not know much about.”
However, he said if the state government believes he has anything to offer and invite him, he would study the structures on ground and think about it. For now, I am not part of that structure, needless to worry about it.”