I dream of playing at Chelsea under Mourinho — Namo

 

Namo

| credits: File copy

Nasarawa United striker, Victor Namo, emerged as the highest goal scorer in the Nigeria Premier League last season, he tells KAZEEM BUSARI what he expects as the 2014 African Nations Championship approaches

 How would you rate the last season for yourself?

The season was great for me. I have many reasons to thank God even though we didn’t finish in an enviable position. It was fun for many of us and we learnt vital lessons about what not to do in the coming season.

 Why do you say it was a good season when you only managed to avoid relegation?

We started the season very well and we had big plans about how we wanted to end it but along the way, some things didn’t go as expected. We found the team going down the table. This was not because we were not good enough to battle for the top spot; some factors just didn’t work in our favour. Sometimes these things are unexplainable. But in spite of all the challenges, we were able to escape relegation. That’s I said it was a good season; maybe not as good as we wanted.

 Nasarawa United were only 11 points behind Kano Pillars who won the Nigeria Premier League title. Was this an indication that the season was tougher than many people thought?

The past season showed that Nigerian league has improved greatly. It was a better season for all the clubs, even the officiating improved a lot. The away had confidence they could pick points on the road, while the home teams knew they could lose. It was open for everyone. The league organisers did a good job which gave the clubs the confidence to play anywhere. Based on the performance of most of the clubs last season, I can agree with anyone that we have the toughest league in Africa.

 What’s the feeling being the highest goal scorer last season?

It’s a good thing for a striker to score, and it’s even greater to be the highest goal scorer. I give God the glory. But I would have loved to have such honours alongside winning the league title. I had the target of scoring very high at the beginning of the season; I set a target of 20 goals, but I had 19 instead. That was not bad by any measurement. I’m happy because that feat put Nasarawa United in everyone’s focus despite not finishing in the top four.

 Did your ambition to score the highest number of goals not cause disharmony among the team?

That didn’t happen. In fact, my teammates wanted me to meet the target. They all wanted me to be the highest goal scorer of last season. Before every game, they would remind me to keep my composure and urge me to utilise every opportunity they would provide. They were a source of motivation for me.

 Can you say the team suffered from exhaustion midway into the season?

Not necessarily. It was more or less a new squad that played last season. Most of the players came from various clubs and it was their first time to play for Nasarawa United. It’s usually a problem for a new squad to challenge for title in their first season together, but we still did well. I still cannot put my finger on the cause of our decline midway into the season.

 From scoring 19 goals, what would be your next target? The former highest goal scorers in the league – Jude Aneke and Ahmed Musa – are both playing abroad.

Playing abroad is the prayer of every player in the Nigerian league. Every player wants to play in Europe and excel. The way they manage football in Europe is better than what entails in Nigeria. I have a passion for Nasarawa United, I love the club and I know they’ll give me every support should a club in Europe come for me. I have set targets for myself irrespective of where I play next season and one of them is to go beyond the 20-goal mark.

 If you were leaving the Nigerian league, where would be your likely destination?

I love to play in Turkey. This is not because many of our footballers are heading that way but because I stand a chance of getting regular playing time in the league. They give young player the chance to grow.

 Don’t you think there could be such opportunities in England and Spain? Or are you afraid of competing with big name players?

That’s not true. I love challenges. Playing in England has some challenges which include the number of times you play in the national team. I’ve not featured in the national and Turkey does not require such conditions. Sometimes you join a big club and they don’t have immediate plans for you; they next thing they do is send you on loan at a club with less ambition. Of course, I’ll love to play in England. It is my preferred destination; I love to play in Chelsea, my favourite club. And I love to play under Jose Mourinho whom I consider to be the best coach in Europe.

 Which club gave you the biggest challenge in the NPL last season?

Playing against my former club Kano Pillars was tough. It was like they never wanted me to shine against them; they were so hard on me. Their defence was so difficult but somehow we managed to score against them when we hosted them in Lafia.

 The former Kano Pillars coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru is now to coach you at Nasarawa United. What will this mean to you?

He’s a good coach. We met and spoke briefly at the League Bloggers Award in Lagos. We were together for about four seasons at Kano Pillars before I left for Nasarawa United two seasons ago. He has a way of making players play at their best; I know I can work with him. He knows what I can do; we have a good relationship.

 You started your football career with Mighty Jets, is that correct?

Yes, that was in 2003. I was the club’s highest goal scorer in that season and we got the club promoted to the Premier League that season. We also won the state FA Cup that year. The following season, I went to Yobe Desert Stars where I played until 2006 when I joined Kano Pillars.

 You started footb all at 15, didn’t your parents ever complain?

They did. They never wanted me to play. They would buy the ball for me but they didn’t approve of me playing on the streets. Each time I had the chance to play after school hours, people in the neighbourhood would tell my parents how good I was, urging my father to let me play freely. At the end of the day, my parents started buying boots and balls for me for me to play. At some point, my father would hide behind the crowd to watch me play during local competitions.

 How come you’ve not played in the national team?

I’m ready to play in the Super Eagles if given the chance. Sunday Mba and I started football about the same time in Jos. If I’m given the opportunity, I’ll grab it. I have the experience to play top football; I was just one goal short of being the highest goal scorer in the 2009 CAF Champions League when Kano Pillars reached the semi-finals. I scored seven goals but another player scored eight in the final. I believe my time will come to play in the national team.

 You may just get your invite to play in the African Nations Championship.

I’m looking forward to that because it’s for players in the domestic leagues. The players in the squad are some of the best in the Nigerian league. If I’m handed a chance, I won’t hesitate.

 Do you think Nigeria stand a chance to win the tournament?

I believe we do. The Nigerian league is not as bad as many people think. I don’t see players from Egypt or other top African leagues stopping us at the competition. This is not a competition of clubs where we expect teams from the North African countries to excel. The best players from the various teams in Nigeria will be selected to make the national team, that’s why I’m sure we’ll succeed in South Africa.

 If you had not chosen to play football, what would you have been?

A pastor. I had the tendency right from my childhood to be a clergyman but football got my attention.

 Is it true you have girls swarming over you each time you score?

(laughs) I get that all the time. Most of them know who I am and they come across every time but I just try to play nice and respond without putting them off. Sometimes it’s through Facebook and other times I get funny phone calls or text messages. I try not to lead them and I don’t behave rudely. Football is a fans game so I have to find a way to accommodate compliments from everyone.