I’ll choose Poland Nigeria again

olisaDEE

Former Poland international, Emmanuel Olisadebe, tells ’TANA AIYEJINA about how he overcame racist attacks to play for Poland and more in this interview

What have you been doing since you retired from football?

Actually I have been in Nigeria for the past two years. I am just trying to see what exactly I’ll be motivated to do. Maybe it’s to go back to school or get my coaching degree. At this point, I am trying to see that out, but I’ve not made up my mind yet.

If you eventually choose coaching, will it be in Nigeria or in Poland, your adopted country?

I have to be logical in situations like this. You don’t have too many black coaches in Europe, so I think it should be in Nigeria, my birthplace.

Reports in the media said you quit football due to frustration at your last club, Veria …

There’s a little bit of truth in that. If I am not motivated, I can’t play; I play if I really want to play. I got to a stage in my career, where I played in a team for five months and they didn’t pay; it was really frustrating and I just decided to quit. I played three years in China, which was the best time I’ve ever had. I tried to come back to Europe but it was very difficult; once you play in China, it’s always very difficult to return to Europe and I wasn’t getting younger. It was very difficult, so I decided to stop.

What made China the best place you played football?

Firstly, the money was good and it was a new experience for me. Before I went to China, I was in England with Portsmouth and I had a bad time there. I went back to Greece and I also had problems in my team. Then I had to go to Cyprus and from there I went to China and I don’t regret it.

What actually happened to you at Portsmouth?

I don’t know. It’s a long story because there is a lot of politics involved. The way I came to the club was different from the way some other players came in. (Harry) Redknapp was the coach then and he came after I made the transfer to Portsmouth. The team wasn’t doing well and when he came, he tried to bring in his own players. He pushed the guys that were there before, including the Senegalese (Papa Bouba) Diop, aside. I only spent six months there; I decided to go back to Greece and stay one year before moving to Cyprus and then China.

You left for Polish side Legia Warszawa from Nigeria in 1997. What was the initial experience like in your first sojourn in Europe?

When I got to Poland, what I got wasn’t what I expected. Many of my friends told me not to go there. But it was my destiny and I told myself, ‘I will go there and if doesn’t work, I will come back.’ It wasn’t the best experience because the football then in Poland was low-class but for me as a young boy, I enjoyed the experience being in Europe.

How did you feel when you first encountered racists in Poland?

I experienced a lot. At that time, their football was very low and they were not so used to foreign players, not to talk of black players. Initially I didn’t understand it. I was harassed by the fans; they threw bananas and beer at me and even spat at me. But I just took it like an experience in life because I knew what I went there to do.

When the then Poland national team coach, Jerzy Engel, wanted to bring you into the team, was there a resistance from the fans, players and officials?

Yes, there was from some players who thought I was a mediocre player. They said, ‘No, we don’t need a foreigner to play for Poland.’ But in the last 16 years Poland hadn’t qualified for the World Cup and I helped them qualify. I was top scorer with eight goals in qualifying and the team qualified for the World Cup after 16 years. But they resisted a little bit. Some of the coaches didn’t want me in the team too. But like I said, it was my destiny and nobody could stop it.

How did you feel about the rejection?

What I did was to read less of the newspapers. That was my only way of not getting demoralised. I didn’t listen to the news; I just knew what I wanted and that was it.

Why did you choose Poland ahead of Nigeria?

Many people ask me that question. It’s a matter of choice, I always tell them. I just chose that option. If I wanted to play for Nigeria, maybe there would have been a few things I needed to do to play for Nigeria and I would have done that. But when the Poland option came, I didn’t have time, I had to make that decision there and then. I didn’t have six months to think, I had a few days. So, I took the decision to play for Poland. I could have decided to play for Nigeria but you know that at that time, it would be difficult because I was playing in Poland. As at then, they didn’t call up people playing in Poland. Probably, when I went to Panathinaikos, I would have stood a chance. Nigerian national team prefers players playing in France, Germany and those countries. So, I thought the clever thing to do was to play for those people who needed me most.

You scored on your debut for Poland in a friendly game against Romania in Bucharest. What was the reaction of the fans and players who didn’t want you in the team?

I remember that first game clearly. We didn’t have too many fans from Poland there; the Romanian fans were everywhere and there were monkey chants from them. And then something happened; before half time, I pulled my shoulder, so I went back to the dressing room and the team doctor said, ‘You’re off.’ And I said to myself, ‘It’s impossible. My first game injured? No way.’ I wanted to prove something to the Romanian fans, so they gave me this big injection and all the pain went away and I came back into the game. It was still the same monkey chants from the stands and in the 79th minute, I scored. It was my first goal and the game ended 1-1. Because of the sacrifice I made despite my shoulder injury, they (Polish people) were happy and I was just scoring afterwards.

You scored Poland’s first goal at the World Cup in 2002 in a 3-1 defeat of the US. What was it like scoring at that level?

The World Cup is the highest stage in football. It was the third game in our group and we were already out. We had a lot of controversies in the team; there was accommodation and other problems. We didn’t go there as a team; that’s why we didn’t perform well. In the last game against the US, the whole team changed. I think I was the only player who played the first two games left in the team and I scored in the second minute. It was a corner, a header, a rebound and I shot the ball into the net. It was a very exciting moment. After the goal, I ran to my coach to say, ‘At least I scored a goal in the World Cup.’ It’s a goal I will never forget.

Nigeria was at the same World Cup too. Did you feel you should have been in the Nigerian camp and not with the Polish?

We were far apart. Really, I didn’t have emotions because I had made up my mind. If Nigeria and Poland were playing and I wasn’t playing, I would say Nigeria should win but if I was playing, I will help my team to win. I still have sentiments for my place of birth. It’s like you nationalising for another country but you are still a Nigerian. It’s my job. Some people say, ‘Why didn’t you play for Nigeria?’ And I say, ‘Maybe I wasn’t good enough.’ But I made the choice I needed for my career and I think it wasn’t a bad one.

Did you face any discrimination in Nigeria after opting to play for Poland?

Just a little bit; Nigerians are a special kind of people and I think they understood that I had to play for Poland. We have a culture of Nigerian athletes nationalising and running for the US and England. So, it wasn’t such a big deal and I think it was normal for them.

Is Emmanuel Olisadebe Polish or Nigerian?

I am a Nigerian; I still like Nigerian food, Nigerian music and I stay here. You cannot spend 15 years in Poland and don’t assimilate some of their culture and the way they do things. Here (Nigeria) is my home and I feel Nigerian. I love being here.

Are you hoping to give back to the Nigerian society?

I would try my best; every footballer would like to give but you have to choose exactly what path you want to follow. It could be to help young players travel abroad or maybe set up an academy. Coaching too is like giving back.

If you had a second chance, would you still choose Poland ahead of Nigeria again?

It’s a very difficult question but based on the ride I had playing for Poland, I think I will do it again.

How do you think racism can be curbed?

It will never stop. I think somewhere along the line, they are being taught to be racists. It’s a personal statement. If you look at it closely, you will find out that most people who are racists are males. I think it’s the testosterone thing. It’s complex and I don’t know what it is. It’s like saying fear will end. It can’t. In my opinion, racism will never end, it’s been there. Racism evolves; we’ve passed the stage where you see someone on the street and you point fingers at him and say, ‘You are black.’ That stage is long gone. Now it has reached an extent where because you are black, you will not be given a job, where your value as a football player is reduced because you are black, where you cannot be captain of certain teams because you are black. There are so many things like that. You can reduce it in the stadiums but deep down inside the system, it’s still there. You see great black players but they never have the chance to coach. It just happened in the US, with a racist basketball club owner. It’s there but they try to hide it. The whites want to stamp themselves as the superiors; it’s a system and its always been there and it will never change. For us as Africans and black people, we should also find a way to make ourselves proud and it’s simple. The leaders should help. If our country is good and we have the basic things we need and there is security, we will be proud people too as blacks. I find it difficult to fight against racism because I feel like a hypocrite. It’s like I will go there, fight but deep down within me, I know it’s not going to end. So, what is the point fighting. As black people, we have to be proud of ourselves because on their side, it will not stop.

Who was the toughest defender you played against?

I think it was the big Arsenal defender Sol Campbell. We always played in the UEFA Champions League and I played four games against him. He was so big, fast and tough.

Which is your best goal?

It would be the first goal I scored for Poland in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup against Ukraine in Kiev. Before the game, it was Olisadebe versus Andrei Shevchenko. I scored two goals in that goal and we beat Ukraine 3-1 in their home and the my first goal was my best. It was a cross and I got my head to it.

What’s the favourite city you have visited?

I like Athens, I have a place there and I like going back there. After the crisis, it’s not so good but I love Athens and London.

What attracts you to women?

The first attraction is the eyes, before we start talking about her intelligence.

Do you live the flashy lifestyle, with big cars and expensive jewelry?

I used to like cars but at the moment, I just drive a CL 55 AMG. I am not crazy about cars any more because when you stop (playing) you have other things in your mind you want to do.

What are your best and worst moments?

I had some very good moments; winning the Polish Championship for Legia Warszawa after 40 years, qualifying to play in the World Cup and helping Panathinaikos to win the Greek league after 10 years. The bad moment was when I had a terrible injury in China. I helped my team qualify for the Asian Champions League and we had five games left before I had the injury. It took me eight months to come back. I felt bad because I was really at my peak then.