Fuente: © Everton FC
http://www.evertonfc.com/

EVERTON FC: OUT OF AFRICA: PART FOUR

/noticias.info/ Last season Victor Anichebe had a tough decision to make.

The Nigeria born striker had the choice of playing for the country in which he was born, or alternatively opt to represent England’s national side.

Anichebe eventually decided to play for his country of birth.

“It was a massive decision,” explained Anichebe, during the making of a special series about African footballers. “It took me a long time to come to the decision as well, because the England manager was kind enough to phone me up. The reason it took me a long time is that Nigeria is my country of birth so I had to give that a thought.

“But then the England set-up was a lot more organised and I had to take that into consideration as well. Nigeria is where my family are from and I thought that I had to play for them.”

In hindsight it is not a decision that the striker regrets. In his first appearance for his country, turning out for Nigeria’s under 23s, Anichebe scored the goal that sent the side through to this year’s Olympics.

“They live for football over there, so to pay them back with a goal and to qualify for the Olympics, it was a great feeling and hopefully we can go to the Olympics and do really well there,” added Victor, who has now made four appearances for the full senior team.

That feeling of playing for his country is one echoed by Everton teammate Joseph Yobo, who has been playing for the Super Eagles for seven years since making his debut in 2001.

Yobo said: “I love playing for my country as much as I love playing for my club.

“I’ve been in [the squad] now for a few seasons and I still have that passion, that desire, that love to play for my country. I feel proud and honoured playing for my country and it’s sad in that in the times I’ve been in there we haven’t really won anything.

“That is a bit depressing from my side when I sit down and think about it but I’ve always enjoyed every time I’ve played for my country.”

As much as the African players enjoy returning to play for their country, Yakubu admits that when living in Nigeria as a youngster, there is nothing more that the players want to do than move away from the country and make it as a professional in a competition as big as the Premier League.

And with football at an amateur level being played without any kit or football boots, not many could blame them for wanted to move onto bigger and better things.

Everton’s record transfer signing knows all about what it’s like to play in Nigeria at grass-roots level.

“It’s not easy as an amateur when you play football at the same time as working.” Yakubu explained.

“I would be playing bare foot and with no football boots, but you have to be patient if you want to achieve something in football and I have now and I’m very happy about it.” notas_de_prensa_archivo