Ighodaro: I’m Not Competing With Anybody

Jun 24, 2024 - 10:46 am

By Masebe Qina

Ighodaro: I’m Not Competing With Anybody

Masebe Qina: Etiosa, first of all, congratulations for reaching the Last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.

Etiosa Ighodaro: Thank you very much. It's a very nice feeling that we got to be rewarded with good results for showcasing our talents. We are all very happy and everyone in the team wanted to reach the next stage of the competition and we are all pleased that we have done so, and we feel confident.

MQ: How are you finding the current season so far?

EI: We didn't start the season properly, but moving forward, I think we have improved a lot, especially after coach Morgan Mammila took over – I think that's when the most notable improvement started. Coach Morgan added more value to the team and since he took over, the team did well. I am saying this fully aware that we have struggled a little bit since coming back from the (FIFA World Cup) break and that's probably due to the fact that we didn't have too much activity during that time. By that, I mean we didn't have what I would call a mini-pre-season, like playing friendlies and so on. We didn't play too many friendlies and that affected us a little bit in the first few weeks after coming back from the break. But going forward, we are improving as we have been pushing and working very hard to improve, and we are getting there.

MQ: Describe how coach Mammila, who's since been let go, improved the team…

EI: He has been emphasizing on us aiming for clean sheets in as many games as possible because we haven't been doing badly when it comes to scoring. Another aspect of our game that coach Morgan helped us with is keeping the ball and maintaining possession, that's something we struggled with before he came. We are now a team that keeps the ball and dominating possession, and it's all thanks to him.

It is unfortunate that we didn't get to work and fight together until the end of the season

MQ: How did you feel seeing the coach being relieved of his duties?

EI: He was a very nice coach. He used everybody according to our strong points and he was an honest man. It is unfortunate that we didn't get to work and fight together until the end of the season. So, it's really sad to see him leave because he is one of the best managers I have ever worked with and I wish him all the best for the future.

MQ: Seeing you've been banging in the goals, what do you attribute your form to?

EI: I am someone who is high on confidence, and I believe that I am a good player. All I just need is consistency going forward because ever since I came to this country, it hasn't been easy for me due to the challenges I have had, like the injury that delayed my progress. I just have to push myself and be consistent and I believe the best is yet to come for me. I just need someone (the coach) to believe in me and I will definitely do well.

MQ: How have you managed to hit the ground running in Mzansi's topflight in your first season?

EI: I have been in South Africa for four to five years now and I am familiar with the country and the football. I am on loan from (Mamelodi) Sundowns and I played in their academy when I first arrived here. From there, I played for Tuks last season, so this is not a new thing for me. I have been around for quite some time and I am used to South African football, and that is why I haven't struggled in the PSL. Last season, while playing for Tuks (in the Motsepe Foundation Championship), I gained so much experience there. Everything I did there helped to prepare me for this season. I gained valuable experience and being the flexible player that I am, I adapted quickly to the club and the league. My flexibility as a player is helping me to be able to do whatever the coach requires of me and it's good for my growth. Last season was a different ball game for me because I needed that platform for my first real professional season. It wasn't easy, I must say, because the tempo in that league is very, very high and that's why I say playing there prepared me for this level. NFD (National First Division) is a very tough league and in my view, it is a good platform to prepare for the PSL (topflight).

MQ: Were you following the DStv Premiership while turning out for Tuks?

EI: I have been following the league big time because I always watch Sundowns as it's my dream… it's one of my dreams to play for Sundowns. I dream of playing for the club one day and, as a result, I keep up with whatever is happening with the team to know what is required to play for the team.

MQ: Talking of Sundowns, how did you join the club?

EI: I arrived here during the 2018/19 season through the assistance of my agent (Mohammed Lawal). I went to Sundowns for trials and I was signed after doing well in training. But soon after, I got injured and that was a little bit of a setback. When I came back from injury, I played a little bit with the academy, and yeah, that's how it all happened. So, I was part of the U23 team, which was known as the MDC (MultiChoice, now DStv Diski Challenge) team.

I went to Sundowns for trials and I was signed after doing well in training

MQ: What do you think of your chances with Downs' first team?

EI: (Sighs heavily) I don't know… I really don't know. For now, I appreciate the fact that Chippa has given me the opportunity to play at the top level in this country. It means a lot to me and that's where my focus is right now. I won't know what will happen in the future, but I feel like I'm ready to play whenever I am given an opportunity to do so. That's me, I just want to play and do what I love doing.

MQ: How do you think you would do at the Brazilians, if given a chance?

EI: I believe in myself, I really do. Although it would not be easy because there are top players there that I would have to compete with, but I believe I would do well because I believe in myself. Given the opportunity, and playing with those players they have there, I believe that I would be an even much better player. Playing for the team would help me to improve a lot.

MQ: One Nigerian who really did well for the Tshwane giants is Raphael Chukwu, who scored goals for fun. Are you hoping to emulate him?

EI: Yes, why not? Sundowns is a very big club and it would be nice to play for them. It is a club that is also recognized in Nigeria and it would be nice for me to showcase myself with such a club.

MQ: What are your strengths?

EI: All-round, I am a player who can play with my feet and aerially I am also good. I am flexible and I think that is making it easy for my teammates to understand how to play around me. They know me and they know where to pass the ball to me. I feel that if I can go there and continue like that, with the help of the players there, I could be much better.

MQ: Having scored seven league goals, you are among the league's leading sharpshooters like Peter Shalulile and Bradley Grobler in the goal scorers' charts. That must be a great feeling.

EI: It's very nice for me and it's motivating me. It's not easy and I am not doing this alone as I am having the support of my teammates, who are helping me and pushing me to be where I am. But, yeah, it's very nice as I used to see these people on TV scoring goals and, all of a sudden, I see myself rubbing shoulders with them. It is motivating and they are also pushing me. It's an honour.

MQ: So, what would it mean for you to finish as this season's Top Goalscorer?

EI: Yho, it would mean a lot! It would be a huge achievement if from my first season in the PSL I can finish as the leading goalscorer. It would mean that I have had a very good start in this league as one of the young players. However, whether I do or not, I'm not competing with anybody. I'm competing with myself, you understand, in trying to score goals for the team to take us to the Top Eight. That's my goal. I'm never going to be competing with anybody, and my job as a striker is to score goals. So, if it happens, I will love it, but my mind is not focusing on that but on scoring goals for the team.

MQ: Let's leave it there, Eto'o. As for your dream of playing for Sundowns, we can only say: The sky is the limit!

EI: Thank you, and I'm really grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to play in this beautiful country, starting from Tuks, and now at Chippa. I really appreciate it. God has blessed me to be around good players wherever I have played and I'm grateful. I thank each and every one of my teammates for the support and I've made this progress because of them. Without the players at Chippa, I don't think what I have done so far would have been possible. The guys have played a very big part in my growth and I appreciate them.