By Akeem Lawal
SUPER Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi has rated his Rio
2016 Olympic Games bronze medal equal with his UEFA Champions League and Africa
Cup of Nations trophy achievements.
Mikel who was part of the Chelsea team that won the 2011–12
UEFA Champions League trophy and also played a key role as Nigeria claim the
2013 AFCON trophy, said he is very proud to captain his country’s Under -23
side, Dream Team VI to a bronze medal outing in Rio after missing out of the Beijing 2008
Games as the country also failed to qualify for the London 2012 edition.
The 29 year old returned to Cobham at the end of the
Games, only to then go on full international duty and featured in Nigeria’s 1-0
win over Tanzania in a dead rubber 2017 AFCON qualifier at the Goodswill Akpabio
Stadium ‘Nest of Champions’ in Uyo, last weekend.
While sharing his Olympic adventure on Friday afternoon, Mikel
who is now training with the London club ahead of the Premier League clash with
Swansea City, said it was a great experience to represent Nigeria in Rio.
“It ranks up there. Obviously the Champions League is the
Champions League and winning the African Nations and Premier League are
massive, but this is up there with those trophies. I can’t express how proud
and happy I am to have achieved this,” he
told Chelsea’s official website.
“The reception at home was great. The Nigerian people
were very happy, it was the only medal we won and they were very proud.
“I hadn’t played in an Olympics before, I missed out in
2008 in Beijing and in 2012 we didn’t qualify for London, so I spoke to the
club and got their permission to go. It was an amazing experience to play with
the Under-23s and lead the team, being the captain of the nation leading it to
Rio. I’m very, very proud.
“As a footballer you probably only get one opportunity to
play in the Olympics, it was a great experience and the Brazilian fans were
amazing too. They supported us all the way and wanted us to do well, to make
the final. It was one of the best tournaments I’ve had."
The former Lyn Oslo man however said he was glad to
assist the team financially after witnessing problems in the build-up to the
Games.
“It wasn’t a great experience in the build-up in Atlanta.
There was no food for the guys, no bus to go to training, no pitch to train on.
“Coming into the team I tried to help as much as I can.
The boys had suffered for two years, working very hard trying to play in Rio. I
wanted to help as much as I could and they all say they owe me. It’s a great
achievement that we managed to go there and win a medal.”
Photo credit: Chelseafc.com
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