Ogenyi Onazi Tells His Success Story...
He was a member of the Nigeria 2009 U-17 World Cup as well as the Colombia 2011 U-21 World Cup under John Obuh.
Lazio of Italy star, Ogenyi Onazi and defence star Kenneth Omeruo remain the only two players from the U-17 cadre who made the stready progression into the Super Eagles rank.
In this interview with DAVID MESHIOYE, Onazi reveals the secret of his meteoric rise...
What was it like growing up?
Life was tough. I was born in Jos and every young boy in Jos just wants to play football. As a kid from Benue state, I was determined to make it a point of duty to play football. That was how I was picked for Pepsi Football Academy in Jos, after which I went on to play for the junior side of El kanemi Warriors.
Eddy what were you thinking when the centre referee blew the final whistle at the AFCON 2013? Do you think that victory highlighted your importance in the team?
Honestly I was in third heaven. It was like no, this can’t be true. I really don’t want to wake up from that dream. I give God all the glory for his grace in my life and that of my teammates. It was just God’s favour that we won the trophy. A lot of great players have come before us and they were just not lucky to win the Cup. It is not by our strength but by God’s grace.
The last AFCON was awesome and you were just 20.Were you nervous playing at such a big stage?
I think it is just the grace of God that has been keeping me all through. I couldn’t have done anything on my own. I think my growing up really toughened me for the big stage. I was in the U-17 and U-21 teams. I moved on to Lazio where we have the big stars. I think all these experiences rolled into one actually prepared me for the big stage, I had no stage fright in South Africa
As someone who has played under Stephen Keshi, what would you say is the key to success? Were you ever on the receiving end of disciplinary issues?
I adore Stephen Keshi. When it is time for training, he doesn’t just stand and stare at the players, but he gets along in the training himself and stops the game to correct us. And when he stands to watch, you feel his presence in the team. At the AFCON, he took the pressure off me and told me to play and prove him right on the calibre of players he invited. He’d organise these incredible video sessions that could go on for hours, detailing the game and the different errors we’d made. As a manager, Keshi is a disciplinarian and I never for one want to cross his path at all because he doesn’t bend the rules. I think his presence can be demanding, he is always asking for 110 percent contribution from us, but it brought out the best in us. Keshi is magnificent.
At AFCON 2013, John Obi Mikel was sublime. What was it like to play with him in the same team at that time?
Honestly, it was great playing with these great players. Mikel was awesome in South Africa. I saw a different Mikel , the one that Super Eagles attack starts from. It was like everything revolves around him and I wonder what we would have done without his wealth of experience in the middle of the park. Mikel gave us his best and the rest of us had to raise our game too. Yes we had problems in the group stage, but the team jelled in the knock-out stage and nobody could have stopped us.
2009 FIFA U-17 MVP Emmanuel Sani and your humble self were the products of My People FC. You were raised at the club after playing at several grassroots side in Jos with your teammate John Obi Mikel. Why was the Academy so successful?
I think it has to do with the vision behind the set up which was soul winning. I was invited to the academy by my dear friend Emmanuel Sani and the Prophet TB Joshua welcomed me with both hands and assured me of his support. I am grateful to God and the man of God for his support all through. Only God can reward him. Besides, the club has the best scouts scattered all over Africa; we have scouts from Ghana, Cameroun and other places too. That is why the academy has players from different countries. Then they would teach us how to amplify and maximize your skill levels by getting you to play two-touch football and play lots of games against national teams of various categories too, to keep us in good shape. More importantly, the co-coordinators are God fearing too.
Nigeria won the Nations Cup in 1980, 1994 and 2013. Which Nigerian team was better?
I was not born when Nigeria won in 1980 but I was two years old when Nigeria won in 1994. You can guess what a child of two years will be like then; probably I was just gazing on the TV or maybe I did not even watch at all. Which was the best? I don’t think I can really judge here. But since the likes of Jay Jay Okocha played then, it means that team must have been very good.
How close were you to joining Chelsea after 2009 U-17 World Cup? Why didn’t the move happen? Were there any other English teams trying to sign you then?
Yeah, I and Sanni Emmanuel were in Chelsea after the U-17 World Cup but I just think things did not really got on well with both parties. Tottenham almost signed us then but as you know we did not have enough national team action that would have facilitated our work permits.We were in Young Boys F C and countless clubs then but it was Lazio that got our signatures.
What is the hardest thing to deal with in Italy: the food, weather, too much of pasta and pizza?
Actually, nothing really although I had to battle to learn the language but the food is not any problem to me. I was not homesick at all; I just wanted to play football that’s all. Rome is a big city and life there is cool. The weather is ok too.
When you joined Lazio, you were walking into the dressing room with, Miroslav Klose, Stefano Mauri ,Cristian Ledesma, Mauro Zárate and Michaël Ciani to name a few. Was this scary? How did these players receive you?
It was ok. I know some of them might be wondering what I was coming to do at Lazio considering the arrays of stars in the team. But they did give us a nice welcome and urged us to give our best. I think it is a privilege to play alongside these big stars. I think that is another factor that prepared me for the big stage.
Do you have any habit that we don’t know of?
I am obsessed with playing keyboard, I play the keyboard in church. At my own free time I mount the keyboard at Synagogue Church of All Nations and relax with the keyboard.
You’re the biggest clown in Super Eagles. Is that how you unwind?
Hahahahahahaha…it has been part of my life and I like to cool the nerves of my teammates before our matches. When you laugh, you kill of tension and stress.
Finally, if you are stuck in a desert, what would you take; your girlfriend, toothbrush or DVD?
Honestly, toothbrush won’t serve any purpose in the desert. DVD or my girlfriend? I love both. (General laughter).
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