Few years ago, John Mikel Obi and Osaze Odewingie were tagged REBELS… accused of
sabotaging Samson Siasia’s effort to qualify Nigeria for the 2011 African Cup of Nations.
While Odewingie, in twilight of his career, still
have the “Rebel and Unpatriotic” tag hanging on his neck, Mikel has since
redeemed his image and is now displaying some rare quality of his true
personality.
If Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi
decided to run for a political office today, chances are that he will win by a
landslide.
His huge popularity and millions aside, the former
Chelsea midfielder has shown time and again that he bleeds green and white,
bailing out the country from embarrassing situations on and off the pitch.
After the reconciliation, Siasia went ahead to appoint
Mikel as captain of the 2016 Nigeria men soccer team for the Olympics game. Mikel
put aside his personal interest to save national embarrassment. He used his own
money to pay hotel of the entire team during their training camp in Atlanta USA,
when the government virtually turned their back on the team.
That team,
against all odds, went on to win Bronze Medal.
We saw Mikel display such rare patriotism again at
2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia…
After the
painful defeat to Argentina that saw the team kicked out of the World Cup,
clips of the skipper trying to fight back tears quick went viral.
The initial conclusion was that he was trying to
come to terms with the loss. But unknown to millions of fans watching that day,
Mikel had another issue bothering him: hours before the match started, he was
told he his father had been kidnapped and there was a sword of death dangling
above him.
But he still led his team against Argentines and
gave his all. It was his latest act of bravery and undiluted patriotism that
Nigerians are appreciating. And they believe there is a possibility he will
display such if he becomes a politician. What Buhari and other Nigerian leaders
should emulate…To sweep aside personal interest for Nationality.
