Uchebo: My EPL dream still alive
Uchebo hopes to feature for Eagles after taking Belgian league by storm next season
Uchebo close to Stoke switch
Nigerian striker Michael Uchebo has said he has not given up on
his dream to play in the EPL even after Stoke City did not sign him.
In this revealing Q&A interview with MTNFootball.com, the former Enugu Rangers front man also touches on his recent transfer to Belgian club Cercle Brugge from VVV Venlo and his desire to feature for the Super Eagles soon.
Excerpts:
MTNFootball.com: Congratulations Michael on your recent transfer to Belgium. Was this the best step for your career?
Uchebo: It was a big move. Look at it this way, from Rangers to Venlo and then Cercle Brugge in Belgium. The Jupiler League is a great league, it’s a haven for African players and Keshi, “The Bull” Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwengie as well as Yaya Toure, all great players, started out in this league.
Belgian players now are making waves in the transfer market in Europe - Eden Hazard, Fellani, Vermelen and a whole lot more. Belgium is a great country with a great league. It is a good step and from there I will move higher.
Tell us more about your transfer.
I have signed a two-year contract with Cercle Brugge, who feature in the top league, but would rather not disclose the financial details.
How was it when you left Enugu Rangers to move overseas.
It was a tough decision to take but I had to move on in the interest of my career. But no matter what, I still love Rangers.
Some controversies trailed your departure abroad as when you first moved out to Qatar on trials, Rangers declared you missing (AWOL). What was it like then?
Every player will like to move to greener pasture. I left Rangers then to better my life and that of my family. That was why I left.
How quickly did you adapt when you finally moved to Dutch club VVV Venlo?
It was a little bit difficult because the game they play in Holland is different to what we play in Nigeria. It’s better in Holland, the welfare of players is taken seriously and there are a whole lot of other differences like the training programme, physiotherapy and so on.
I really want to thank VVV Venlo for the exposure, but I would give more kudos to Samba-Uwani and Rangers for teaching me the rudiments of the game. I owe them a lot.
At a time we had four Nigerians at VVV - Ahmed Musa who now plays with CSKA Moscow, Alex Nkume, Uche Nwofor and you. So, tell me what was it like playing alongside these other Nigerians, were you more at home?
Yes, because we are all from Nigeria, we are like Brothers, we communicate very well, the pidgin way. It was great being together with my brothers. Uche, Alex and I all played for Rangers, while Musa played with Pillars. I was at home with them and there were times we all played together in a game. We were like a family.
You had other options outside VVV before you finally moved to Cercle Brugge.
Yes. Last year, Barclays Premier League club Stoke City and their manager Tony Pulis were interested in signing me, but you know the rule that you have to have played 70% of your country’s team recent matches and I have not and so that ruled me out.
I still have confidence that I will go on to play at Stoke or some other club in the Premier League. Also Feyenoord were also interested.
So, when do we expect you to finally feature for the Super Eagles having already played for the U20 team, the Flying Eagles.?
In football, everything is time. When my time comes, I will play in the national team, everybody is expecting me to play in the National team, a lot of people have been asking me, why have I not been playing Nigeria. I hope and strongly believe that I will still play for my country.
What is your honest assessment of the Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is rebuilding?
Keshi is a great coach, one of the best on the continent. The Eagles have done well on the road to Brazil 2014 World Cup. They lead their group with four points. The team will qualify for Brazil, I am so optimistic.
There are some great lads in the team, mostly the home-based players. How many coaches will give them a chance previously. It was not long ago that a top coach looked at them as inferior but Keshi came and gave them opportunity and now they form the bulk of the team.
I know one day the ‘Big Boss’ having played in Belgium, will look towards the Jupiler League and he will invite me, Joseph Akpala and others who are doing well in Belgium.
How soon do you think you will be lining up for the Eagles then?
Hopefully very soon. I believe Keshi will invite me very soon, maybe for the world qualifiers, Nations Cup qualifiers or in a friendly.
You have described your late father as your No.1 fan. How have you coped in his absence?
I really miss my dad, I miss his fatherly advice. In life we have to move on and I pray his soul rest in peace. I need to forge ahead in life and also in my career. My mum is now my No. 1 fan, I cherish her prayers and support.
What message do you have for your fans?
I love them, I appreciate all they have been doing.
In this revealing Q&A interview with MTNFootball.com, the former Enugu Rangers front man also touches on his recent transfer to Belgian club Cercle Brugge from VVV Venlo and his desire to feature for the Super Eagles soon.
Excerpts:
MTNFootball.com: Congratulations Michael on your recent transfer to Belgium. Was this the best step for your career?
Uchebo: It was a big move. Look at it this way, from Rangers to Venlo and then Cercle Brugge in Belgium. The Jupiler League is a great league, it’s a haven for African players and Keshi, “The Bull” Daniel Amokachi, Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwengie as well as Yaya Toure, all great players, started out in this league.
Belgian players now are making waves in the transfer market in Europe - Eden Hazard, Fellani, Vermelen and a whole lot more. Belgium is a great country with a great league. It is a good step and from there I will move higher.
Tell us more about your transfer.
I have signed a two-year contract with Cercle Brugge, who feature in the top league, but would rather not disclose the financial details.
How was it when you left Enugu Rangers to move overseas.
It was a tough decision to take but I had to move on in the interest of my career. But no matter what, I still love Rangers.
Some controversies trailed your departure abroad as when you first moved out to Qatar on trials, Rangers declared you missing (AWOL). What was it like then?
Every player will like to move to greener pasture. I left Rangers then to better my life and that of my family. That was why I left.
How quickly did you adapt when you finally moved to Dutch club VVV Venlo?
It was a little bit difficult because the game they play in Holland is different to what we play in Nigeria. It’s better in Holland, the welfare of players is taken seriously and there are a whole lot of other differences like the training programme, physiotherapy and so on.
I really want to thank VVV Venlo for the exposure, but I would give more kudos to Samba-Uwani and Rangers for teaching me the rudiments of the game. I owe them a lot.
At a time we had four Nigerians at VVV - Ahmed Musa who now plays with CSKA Moscow, Alex Nkume, Uche Nwofor and you. So, tell me what was it like playing alongside these other Nigerians, were you more at home?
Yes, because we are all from Nigeria, we are like Brothers, we communicate very well, the pidgin way. It was great being together with my brothers. Uche, Alex and I all played for Rangers, while Musa played with Pillars. I was at home with them and there were times we all played together in a game. We were like a family.
You had other options outside VVV before you finally moved to Cercle Brugge.
Yes. Last year, Barclays Premier League club Stoke City and their manager Tony Pulis were interested in signing me, but you know the rule that you have to have played 70% of your country’s team recent matches and I have not and so that ruled me out.
I still have confidence that I will go on to play at Stoke or some other club in the Premier League. Also Feyenoord were also interested.
So, when do we expect you to finally feature for the Super Eagles having already played for the U20 team, the Flying Eagles.?
In football, everything is time. When my time comes, I will play in the national team, everybody is expecting me to play in the National team, a lot of people have been asking me, why have I not been playing Nigeria. I hope and strongly believe that I will still play for my country.
What is your honest assessment of the Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is rebuilding?
Keshi is a great coach, one of the best on the continent. The Eagles have done well on the road to Brazil 2014 World Cup. They lead their group with four points. The team will qualify for Brazil, I am so optimistic.
There are some great lads in the team, mostly the home-based players. How many coaches will give them a chance previously. It was not long ago that a top coach looked at them as inferior but Keshi came and gave them opportunity and now they form the bulk of the team.
I know one day the ‘Big Boss’ having played in Belgium, will look towards the Jupiler League and he will invite me, Joseph Akpala and others who are doing well in Belgium.
How soon do you think you will be lining up for the Eagles then?
Hopefully very soon. I believe Keshi will invite me very soon, maybe for the world qualifiers, Nations Cup qualifiers or in a friendly.
You have described your late father as your No.1 fan. How have you coped in his absence?
I really miss my dad, I miss his fatherly advice. In life we have to move on and I pray his soul rest in peace. I need to forge ahead in life and also in my career. My mum is now my No. 1 fan, I cherish her prayers and support.
What message do you have for your fans?
I love them, I appreciate all they have been doing.
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