http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=165231It’s Tough Playing in Africa01.28.2010
Super Eagles and Fulham's defensive midfielder, Dickson Etuhu, has sensationally revealed why he is yet to adapt fully to African football. Speaking exclusively with the Daily Sunsport in Angola, Etuhu said it had not been easy for him since he has been playing for Super Eagles, saying that he's still trying to cope with the weather climate in Africa.
"For me personally, it’s a bit difficult playing African football. I sometimes find it difficult adapting to the climate and the heat, which is not the same as in England. And also, the style of play is totally different. I am still learning everyday when I play for Nigeria and I want to keep improving," he said.
On his reported toothache infection, he said: "Yeah, before the last game, I was sick and I couldn’t train much because I had toothache and I was on antibiotics. It could have been extracted in Angola but they are not sure which tooth is actually affected because it has to do with the nerve.
A scan must be performed to ascertain the actual tooth but the facility is not in Angola, so I have to wait until I go back home. I've been on tablets, and these can sometimes make you weak. I felt very weak in the game against Mozambique, for instance. But I did my best and put in more than 70 minutes, which was enough.
On the wave of criticisms that the team had suffered in recent times, he said: "You know I keep wondering about the negative press and the negative impression we have created in the minds of Nigerian soccer fans. We, the players, go out there and give our best, sometimes it comes off well and sometimes it doesn’t. At the end of the day, we just want our fans to stand by us and try to be behind us because we understand they get frustrated by some of our performances and results. If they stay behind us, that would help us a lot. But if they keep telling us how bad we have been, it’s not going to help us in any way. For us to move forward, we need the support of everyone. Sometimes our style of play doesn’t look good. Everybody is trying, and things can only get better.
“I play in the Premiership, and anywhere my coach wants me to play, I will play. I'm a player that has that special passion to play for Nigeria. Playing for the Super Eagles is the best feeling that I ever had and I love to wear that green and white strip. So, wherever the coach wants me to go, I go. If he wants me to play right, left or centre, I gladly accept.
“Wwhatever tactics the coach employs is not my business. My business is to put on the green and white jersey and play to my coach’s instruction. We get told what we need to do and we just go out there and do it.”
On lack of playmaker in the midde, Etuhu said: "I understand that our people want more flair and are craving a Jay-jay Okocha type. Mikel is a holding midfielder for Chelsea, but at the national team he has been given the role of a playmaker. He’s our number 10 and he tries to make the team play. People must remember that we play with three attackers whereby most teams play with two, so obviously you have to be more solid in the middle.
On his background, he said: "Well, I was born in Kano. My parents hail from Delta State. My dad is Agbor and my mom is from Okpella. I live in London. I moved to London when I was about six years old. When my elder sister passed away in London (she had cancer) we decided to remain in the city and be close to her grave, and I’ve been there ever since. I have two brothers – one is playing for Manchester City and the other one is looking after the family business. Mom is in London with me, and our dad is still in Kano.”
He, however, described Danny Shittu as his best teammate in the national team: My number one guy is Danny Shittu. We do everything together and everyone says we are like twins. He’s my very good friend, and we both grew up in London. Of course, there are others that are also close to me, like Mikel, because we are not far from one another in London. Osaze’s also a good friend, as well as Yakubu. But my number one person is definitely Danny.”
