Keshi wants me to be next Finidi –Babatunde

Our reporter recently spoke with Nigeria’s injured 2014 World
Cup star, Babatunde Michael, in Lagos, about his career and
his hope to return to the Super Eagles to redeem the team’s
image, after missing out of this year’s AFCON in Equatorial
Guinea. He also spoke on a number of other issues. Excerpts!
Can you tell us a little about your career?
Well, I’m Michael Babatunde. I play as a natural left winger
for Volyn Lutsk F.C of Ukraine. I was born in the western part
of Nigeria, Lagos, to be precise. I started my career with
Waters FC in Abuja, and later joined Nigeria Premier League
side, Heartland F.C in the year 2010.
Can you recall your first invitation in the Super Eagles?
My first invitation to the Super Eagles came like of a dream. I
mean, I couldn’t imagine myself competing for shirt with the
likes of Victor Moses, Osaze Odenwingie, Brown Ideye and
others, who were playing in popular leagues in Europe.
Sincerely, I didn’t know I could be invited to the Super Eagles
despite the fact that I play in the Ukrainian Premier
League.The 2013 Confederation Cup in Brazil was the first and
biggest competition I ever attended and it put a lot of
pressure on me due to the fact that I heard fans at home and
abroad criticizing Coach Stephen Keshi for including my name
in his plans. But I thank God that I did what I know how to do
best for my father land.
What could be the worst moment of your career?
I am a footballer and I am prone to bad days. As a player,
when you lose, you lose your self. Nobody wants to lose; but
the worst moment of my entire career was when tNigeria lost
to France at 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Odenwingie’s mis­
take led to the goal we conceded to the French team followed
by the own goal by Joseph Yobo. Those goals made me weep
after the match, and that remains my worst moment as a
professional player.
Do you think your absence in that game cost Eagles the
match?
Not really, as teammates we’re meant to help one another,
even if I was in the game, I couldn’t have done more than
what my colleagues did to change the tide. God knows the
best and I think the better team carried the day. I would have
said Onazi’s injury was a big loss to Nigeria in that match
and the officials were also unfair with the officiating. Matuidi
should have been given a straight red card for the hard tackle
on Onazi, and the disallowed goal scored by Emenike in the
early minutes of the game made issues worst.The French
national team was not better than us, we lost to poor
officiating and I think we should forget about the World Cup
disappointment and think of how to move our football
forward.
How about the most memorable moment of your career?
My memorable moment was when I visited president Goodluck
Jonathan with my Super Eagles’ teammate and Coach
Stephen Keshi. I feel great and honored.Then, secondly, I was
also happy making the World Cup list for my country which
gave me the chance to play on same pitch with the likes of
Lionel Messi, Aguero and a host of other stars.
Who’s your role model among the Nigeria football legends?
Well, I can’t mention names due to the fact that I’m a natural
left winger and I remember that Coach Stephen Keshi once
asked me if I would like to become the next Finidi George of
the present squad of the Super Eagles. I laughed because I
was a baby in the days of Finidi George and I never got to
know his style of football, but I pray to met him one day so
that I can learn more from him.
Who would you blame for Super Eagles’ absence from this
year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea?
To me, I think the Super Eagles were not fortunate to be in
Equatorial Guinea.We’re the defending champion no doubt, but
I think the fans and the football administrators in the country
were the ones behind our misfortune. In Nigeria, every one
wants to act like a coach, they list the players that should be
invited to the national team and those that should not and I
think that affects the confidence of the team. So to me, I
won’t blame the coach and the players, I would rather blame
the fans for making Keshi a confused man.
As a professional player, where would you love to end your
career?
For now, I don’t know. All I know is that I want the best for
my self. I don’t mind offers from the English Premier League,
Spanish League and Italian Seria A; Later show up in nearest
future, but for now, I don’t know where my future lies.
You are just 22 and eligible to participate in next year’s
Olympics in Brazil, what should your fans be expecting from
you?
Well, it’s up to Coach Samson Siasia. If I make his list, I will
make sure I do my possible best to lift my team. It is well
known that most of the Super Eagles’ players will be on
vacation until June this year which will make us feel more
relaxed and fit for any competition. I have never failed before
in my career, and I will not fail when the Olympic qualifiers
begin.
Whats your plan after quitting football?
What’s on my mind is to set up a football academy here in my
country, Nigeria, and to become a philanthropist in the nearest
future and I also have plan to become a cool business man,
but the type of business is best known to me.
Which player in the national team do you prefer to be paired
with in the attack?
I think my pairing should be best known by Coach Stephen
Keshi, but if I have the right to choose, I’d love to play with
Osaze Odenwingie and Ahmed Musa on the right flank, while I
handle the left wing. I think if this pair is been use always I
bet you we can beat any team but that’s not my duty Keshi
knows best.
You have been absent for months in the national team due to
injury, do you still think you have a place in the team?
Well, I am not the one to decide that. I have been nursing an
injury since last year which denied me invitation to the team,
but my target right now is to be fully fit to fight for a place in
the squad, which I think will be easier for me because I know
my worth under Coach Stephen Keshi. So I am confident of my
self, while I leave the rest to Keshi and his technical crew.
Which country do you tip to be the next AFCON champion?
You know it’s a game of football, and in football, any thing
can happen. If I must choose, I’d go for Ivory Coast due to the
quality of players it parades. Ivory Coast has been consistent
in recent years; to was in the final four years ago in same
Equatorial Guinea and I think with Yaya Toure and Gervinho,
the team can clinch the title this time around.
What advice do you have for the upcoming stars and your
fans home and abroad?
My advice for the upcoming stars is for them to stay focus
and show commitment to any thing they are doing.You see in
life once you lose focus you are out of the race and before you
could rejoin the race it might be too late.So therefore I urge
you all to remain focus because better days are ahead.