South Africa-based striker, George Akpabio, almost became the highest goal scorer in the Nigerian league before leaving for Ajax Cape Town. He tells KAZEEM BUSARI the secret behind his prowess
How did you start?
I started playing from the primary school level and continued at my secondary school. My impressive academic results and my football skill earned me a scholarship when I was in SS1 at St. Lumumba’s College in Jos. At that point, I had an ambition to study Law at the University of Jos but that plan had to wait when Plateau United drafted me. I sat for the JAMB exams but the admission didn’t come as I expected, so instead of waiting around doing nothing, I trained with the Plateau United youth team during the interval. Within eight months, I was promoted to the senior team, and it was then I had to discuss with my father on how I could go about education and football.He wanted me to study but I wanted football. Both of us agreed that I would still continue with my education during and after football. He didn’t want me to play football and dump education.
That means you’re still going back to school.
Definitely. But Law is out of the picture as it is. I’ve decided to go for Arts and Communication or Sports Management.
Nigerians expected you would be part of the Flying Eagles, considering your success at Plateau United.
I was a member of the team during the preparation for the Africa Youth Championship in 2011 when John Obuh was the coach. I only just applied for my passport but it wasn’t ready on time for me to join the team for the AYC. I think missing out on the AYC also cost me the chance to join the team for the U-20 World Cup; I had everything ready for the World Cup but the coach didn’t call on me. I don’t blame him (Obuh) for what happened; he did what he must do to get the team ready on time. I just thought it wasn’t my time, even though I was looking forward to the tournament. Immediately after the disappointment, I got an invite from Viking FK in Norway for a three-week trial. I believe I had what it takes to be in the national team at that time and I know it’s just a matter of time before I get another chance.
Why didn’t you stay with Vikings FK?
I really don’t know what went wrong. Everything went well at the club and the coaches rated me highly but something went wrong between the club and Plateau United. I don’t know exactly what it was and I was not really disturbed as to start probing the clubs.
It was believed Plateau United didn’t release you because they needed you to help them survive relegation troubles.
The club was facing relegation at the time and they needed everybody to be on ground, but I also learnt Vikings were not willing to pay the amount Plateau United demanded. As I said, I was not sure what went wrong; I was new in club football, I was younger and just wanted to play.
Can you recall your experience of your early encounters in South Africa?
It was difficult for the first six months, especially when I had to live without my family around me. Throughout the period I was with Plateau United, I was living with my parents. But moving to South Africa meant I had to do everything myself – I do the cooking and the laundry all by myself. It was the first time I would live alone. But it’s not difficult to make friends over here. People in the neighbourhood recognise me easily as a footballer so it is easy to make friends.
Ajax Cape Town were quick to loan you out in 2012 despite knowing your ability to score. How come you didn’t meet their expectations?
I had just played about 10 games in six months before getting injured. I went for treatment but couldn’t recover quickly before the start of the 2012/13 season. By the time I returned, I had missed out on the pre-season, but I wanted to play. I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing. So the coach thought it would be wise for me to play on loan at another club in order to keep me active. That was how I joined Vasco da Gama.
You were on loan at Vasco da Gama for one season and in 17 appearances you had as much as 14 goals.
Scoring goals is a gift from God. I can’t say I find it easier than others to score goals but as a striker, I have to fight and score goals. Sometimes I get the job done, and at other times things may not go my way. It happens to all top strikers all over the world. Scoring goals is something you get used to especially when you play in a team that understand you. The whole process is team work.
You’ve not had your chance of playing in the Super Eagles. Does this not bother you?
Everybody wants to play for his national team; it is the ultimate goal of many players. I’m a Nigerian and I’d love to be in the Super Eagles. I’m always available for the coaches. It doesn’t bother me to the level of making me depressed but I’m always thinking of playing. The best thing I can do for myself now is to play as best as I can for my club so that when the national call comes I’ll be ready.
After the Norway trial, have you made another attempt to play in Europe?
Before leaving Plateau United, I had interest from Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Sweden and South Africa. The European teams were the first on the list but I considered that it would take a longer time to process their visas than that of South Africa. Besides, it was Ajax Cape Town that wanted me in South Africa, and I thought their affiliation to Ajax of Amsterdam would further increase my chances of improving my game. If I had gone for the other clubs, it could have cost me staying back in Nigeria for another six months before getting visa; that would mean not playing for about a season. I’m having a good time in South Africa at the moment, but I’m always looking forward to improving my game and playing at bigger clubs.
It’s not every day you see a player scoring 18 for his club in his first season. What exactly was the factor that helped you at Plateau United in the 2011/12 season?
Determination and the grace of God. I was a bit raw at the time so all I wanted to do was score. I was eager to always get in front of the keeper with the ball and do the damage. I also have very good teammates that made sure I got the ball at the right time. I still have that attitude, but I’m a bit more refined now. The outcome is that some fans call me Goal Machine and all sorts of fancy names. I remember when Chippa United was on the verge of getting promotion to the Premier Soccer League, some fans started calling me The Beast, Bulldozer or something like that. It was an interesting season for everyone because I scored 13 goals in 21 appearances, and it really got everyone excited. The names don’t bother me, really. On the contrary, I try to get inspiration from them because I wouldn’t want to disappoint the fans the next time we play. These nicknames show that you’re always noticed no matter what you do.
How would you rate the Nigerian league beside the PSL?
The Nigerian league was highly rated in the past, but the PSL seems to have everything that is aiding a fast growth. The PSL can be compared with some of the big leagues in Europe. The Nigerian league, on the other hand, is lacking a lot in terms of infrastructure, financing and the administration. The PSL has attracted a lot of foreign players and coaches but the Nigerian league can’t compare with these. Another thing is that the PSL has emphasis on developmental football where every club has an academy for youth. In Nigeria, many players rely on raw talent to play football; with the talent, the player gets straight into the team. The PSL clubs respect contracts better than Nigerian clubs.
What do you do when you’re not playing?
I relax and play with teammates. We often engage in video games and discuss how best approach our next games. I watch movies too, and I don’t joke with my Bible-reading time.
You deliberately left out spending time with girlfriends.
Ha! I don’t have girlfriends in South Africa. Some people say it’s impossible not to have girlfriends in South Africa but I don’t agree with them. It depends on what plan you have for life and your career. I take my career seriously and girlfriends could be a distraction. I have female friends but I don’t create the feeling I want something more. The pressure will definitely come, especially when they see you as a football star, but you have to know how to manage your friends and plan for your life.
Which goalkeeper or defender would you rather not want to face in the PSL?
I don’t really look at anyone trying to stop me, they are the ones watching out for me. I always have at the back of my mind that our opponents are coming out with their best, so I have to be at my best. Nobody wants to play second fiddle to another so we’re all out to outdo one another. The PSL has a number of wonderful goalkeepers and defenders but if strikers keep looking at this, nobody would score any goal.
Do you always have goal targets at the beginning of the season?
I try to give myself targets, but it’s a personal thing. The first target is: I want to do well for my club. The second is: I want to do well for myself, I want to shine. I always want to surpass what I’ve done the previous season. I keep the number of goal target to myself; it’s something I strive to achieve without having to give room to external pressure.
Nigeria was thinking about going for a foreign coach after removing Stephen Keshi. Would you have seen it as a good move?
The Nigeria Football Federation should be able to make the best decision on this, they should do what they feel is right. But largely, Keshi has done well with the team. Nobody gave Keshi a chance at the Africa Cup of Nations we won last year but he later got praises for a job well done. If Nigeria hires a foreign coach today and he loses, nobody will talk about him or remember him. That was what happened at the 2010 World Cup when Lars Lagerback managed the team. It will surprise you that 90 per cent of non-football followers can’t tell you who coached Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup, they just know that Nigeria failed at the event. But the same number of non-football followers can easily tell you that Keshi coached Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup. What we should be looking for is a coach that loves Nigeria, and the players should also play with commitment.
So how did you feel when Nigeria won the AFCON in South Africa last year?
Not just me, but every Nigerian in South Africa. The victory gave us a bragging right in the neighbourhood. Nigeria had finished second or third in the past, and we had not won it for a long time so you can imagine how a footballer like me felt among my teammates. It made me stand tall. At that moment, you could wear the Nigeria team jersey and feel proud as people wanted to take pictures with you.
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