NPL’s highest goal-scorer award is my target – Manir Ubale

How did you start your football career? I am from Kaduna State. I was born and brought up there. As you know, Kaduna is synonymous with football so I started my football career with a small club in Zaria called Nasara FC. From there I moved to play for Sahel, a club in Niger Republic. […]

How did you start your football career?

I am from Kaduna State. I was born and brought up there. As you know, Kaduna is synonymous with football so I started my football career with a small club in Zaria called Nasara FC. From there I moved to play for Sahel, a club in Niger Republic. When I returned to Nigeria, I joined Bayelsa United where I played for like three seasons before moving over to my present club, Kano Pillars.

When you started, did you enjoy the necessary support from your parents?

Yes, my father gave me all the support I needed to play football. First he gave me his blessings. Secondly, he supported me by buying playing boots for me. He never stopped me from playing the game. I attribute my present success to him.

Who was your role model when you started?

When I started playing football, I wanted to play like Daniel Amokachie. I liked his style of play. He was fast and strong on the ball. Anytime he came to play he would give his best. We used to go to the stadium to watch him play.

In the beginning, did you believe you would one day play in the NPL and also the Super Eagles?

I never knew that one day I would play for a Nigerian Premier League side like Kano Pillars and I never knew I would play in the Super Eagles. I just enjoyed playing football. Most of my friends played street football and I joined them. I had no plans of making a career out of football.

How excited are you by this invitation to the Super Eagles?

For me this is a dream come true. I have never been invited before. This is my very first invitation. I am really excited by this chance given to me by coach Keshi. It is a golden opportunity for me to prove that I am one of the best strikers in the Nigeria Premier League.

What should your teeming fans expect from you?

They should expect the best performance from me. I know it is not going to be easy but I am going to give my best. I promise them I will do my best to make them happy. I don’t need anybody to tell me that this is an opportunity for me to make it big in my career.

Are you saying you would live up to expectations, if given a chance to play against Liberia?

I am confident I will do my best to justify the confidence reposed in me. The coach who invited me to camp is not a fool. He knows that I am good enough to play against any team and that was why he invited me. So playing against Liberia to me is no big deal.

You came to camp at a time that Reuben Gabriel and Papa Idris have left due to injuries. Do you miss them?

I really miss Reuben Gabriel and Papa Idris. I would have loved to meet them in camp. I miss them very well but I thank God that I have my other team mate, Umar Zango here with me. He has been here before me and he is putting me through most of the things I need to know.

Have you learnt anything new from the training sessions you have had with the Super Eagles?

I have learnt a lot of things already. The standard of play here is quite different from what we play at the club level. This is a gathering of some of the best players in the Nigerian league so the competition here is really high. I am going to leave here better than I came in.

Few days from now, the foreign based Eagles would be in town. Which of them are you looking forward to meeting for the very first time?

I am looking forward to meeting Victor Moses. I want to meet with him live and direct. He is one of the best players in the world at the moment and so it would be a thing of joy to meet him.

What would you be discussing with him?

Nothing really, I just want to meet him and shake his hand. I will tell him, Victor Moses, happy to meet you and if he can advise me, I will be most grateful. As you know, he has more experience and he is playing at the highest level so anything he tells me will surely go a long way in improving my game.

Let me take you back to Pillars. For you what is it like playing for the NPL champions?

For me, there is no club like Kano Pillars in Nigeria. You know that this is a fact that cannot be contested by anyone. If I am not playing for Pillars, I won’t play for any other Nigerian club. If I cannot get a foreign club, I will play for Pillars till I retire from active football. There is something unique about the club. The management is next to none and the fans are wonderful.

What are your plans for the 2012/2013 football season?

I scored a total of eight goals in the 2-11/2012 NPL season .I wanted to emerge the highest goal scorer but God decided otherwise. However, this season, I am ready for action. I am telling my fans that by the grace of God, I will emerge the highest goal scorer in the league, the Federation Cup and the Champions League. I am battle ready.

How ready is Kano Pillars for the challenge of playing in the CAF Champions League?

We have been there before. It was only last season that we did not play in the Champions League. The last time we played, we did not go far but this season, we are preparing hard. We want to do well and win the trophy. By the grace of God we are going to win the Cup for Nigeria.

You have scored so many goals but which one do you consider to be your best?

I scored my best goal so far when I was playing for Bayelsa United. Incidentally, I scored the goal against Kano Pillars. That was a fantastic goal. Each time I remember how I scored that goal, it makes me happy. I fired a deadly shot from outside the 18 yard box and I think the goalkeeper had to dodge from it. (Laughs). Seriously, it is my best goal.

Which is your best match so far?

My best match for now came in Kano Pillars Federation Cup game against Kaduna United this year. For now, this is my best match. I played well and I was happy with my performance. It was a fantastic feeling for all of us.

Which can you say is your worst match?

I have never had a bad game not to talk of a worse one. I am satisfied with my performances and my coaches too have never called me to say I performed badly in any match. So I cannot say I have a bad game.

As a striker which defender scares you most in the NPL?

To be honest with you the defender who used to give me nightmare is my present team mate, Umar Zango. When he was playing for Lobi Stars, he used to give me a lot of trouble. I was very happy when he was to cross over to Pillars. He used to disturb me very well.

If you were not playing football, which other game would you have loved to play?

I won’t play any other game apart from football. Football is my first and last sport. It is either football or nothing. It is the only game I have made up my mind to play. It is where I have realized my talent.