Super Eagles Star, Obafemi Martins Plans Return Against Rwanda...

T here are rumours linking you to a possible return to the English Premiership next season. Should Nigerians start looking forward to seeing you back in England next season?

(Smiles) Well, I don’t really know anything about any possible return to the English Premiership next season. I am really doing well right now in Rubin Kazan and the manager is not even prepared to let me go for now. He has on several occasions told me to stay on and help the club achieve great things this season. I still have a year and half left to spend with Rubin, after which I can move on to the next stage of my career. But I don’t know anything yet about any speculation linking me to another club. I am still a Rubin player at the moment.

Rubin is still in the race for Europa Cup glory, how far do you think the club can go,  especially with the inclusion of Manchester United and Man City in the race?

Yeah, we are still in the race but as you already know, Europa League is becoming more interesting with the presence of two Manchester clubs but you never can tell who will win it  until the end. I am fully fit and back in action for Rubin. I look forward to scoring goals for Rubin in the Europa League when the competition begins in February.

During the week, you  mentioned how much you love your goal against Arsenal in the Carling Cup and that you will like to repeat the feat at Rubin.

That goal against Gunners in the Carling Cup final is not an easy one if you consider the occasion that surrounds such match. Look, people want to see you score an important goal and the fact that you score a  crucial  goal for your club, makes it even more special. You can score 10 goals in the league but important goals are far more crucial because it could determine what your club gets at the end of the season.

How well have you settled down in Russia?

I think it has not been easy having to fly for thousands of miles whenever I want to come down to Nigeria. Initially, it was hard coping in Russia,  but I am a strong man and I was determined to succeed.

The language is a different thing but I am happy to say that I have really improved on that too. I think it is becoming less difficult now after that issue  was addressed. I have been playing with the team and we are fast becoming a strong side.

You must  feel  sad with the fact that Nigeria won’t be present when 2012 Africa Cup of Nations begins in January?

Honestly, it makes me feel so bad because I wanted to be part of the team to the Nations Cup, but life goes on because that is what football offers you sometimes and you can’t even change it. That does not mean Nigerian players are that bad as most people feel, but we will definitely bounce back again to reclaim our place in Africa. Nigeria is such a massive country with talents all over the place, though size can be very challenging too, but it is just a matter of time. I believe such setback will really help us to start all over again. People say Nigerian football is taking a downward trend but I say no, things will get better. Our players are great and I respect them a lot, the fact that the country could not qualify for most major tournaments in 2012, should not change our focus and belief that Nigeria will surely be great again. Nigeria is a country of about 150 million and every invited player should just see it a rare privilege to play for the country. As at now, things have been very difficult for Super Eagles  but we will surely comeback.

You have been listed as one of the players Stephen Keshi is banking on to change the fortunes of the national team. What does the future hold for Super Eagles under the Big Boss?

I think we are on the right path now with all players given equal chance to show case their talents in the national team. Keshi is there and I believe he will lead this team to the promise land. He has all the needed experience to do well with the Super Eagles. It’s been a while since I last played for the national team, but  I am saying here again that Obagoal is ever ready to play whenever  I’m  called upon. I love Nigeria and I would do anything to make sure our people smile again. I always  wish Nigeria well even when I was left out of the team, that was why our elimination from CAN 2012 hit me hard. I felt I was going to be part of the team when we eventually qualified  for the Nations Cup, but alas! It was not  to be, but better days will sure come again. I feel a strong surge within me towards the national team and I want to play for Nigeria again. I am  still the same Obafemi Martins you all know, I love my country and am ready to be part of the rebuilding process and Rwanda will be the right place to start off again. I can’t wait.

The Big Boss is already giving  the home based stars the much needed chances  to prove themselves, does that put the foreign players under any pressure?( general laughter)

That is a right step in the right direction but the foreign based stars are not scared. I think football is beyond names now, once you‘re good, then just prove it and I can assure you  that you will be given the chance to prove yourself in the Super Eagles. If I know how to play more than you,  then it makes the competition even healthier amongst the players. More importantly, it affords the coach the ample opportunities to pick from his reservoir  of talents.

Nigeria last won CAF African Footballer of the Year Award  in  1999. Does it really bother you that no Nigerian players have come close to winning it since then?

(Smiles) I think Nigeria will once again dominate the CAF African Footballer of the Year Award again. We may have not been winning it but I believe this generation of players can still win it. It might also be the turn of the next generation of players to dominate it again. Football is just like that. As a footballer, you don’t really set a target of becoming the best player  in Africa at the beginning of the season; rather you work hard to help your club and country. Nigerian players are not bad, but what is paramount in our hearts  is to give our best to our country and keep doing well at our various club  and automatically the award will come. We just have to keep working hard, because lots of good players abound in Africa.
You hold  a record of having scored three goals against Rwanda. How well do you think Nigeria can cope with the synthetic pitch in Kigali come February 26?

I don’t really know, but I believe playing on a synthetic pitch in Kigali should not be a problem to Super Eagles because we have played there before and won. We will play our game and approach the match with all seriousness. We’re  not prepared  to lose to Rwanda for any reason whatsoever. We are going to Rwanda to win at all costs. Bring on Rwanda; the wind of change in the national team will bring out the best from the players.

What are your projections for 2012?

Help Nigeria get to its greatest height once again and keep scoring for Rubin Kazan