21st March, 2011
O B Odense of Denmark and Super Eagles striker, Peter Utaka, has expressed strong optimism in the ability of the Eagles to crush the Walia Antelopes of Ethiopia come 27 March, when both teams square up in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifying match at the Abuja National Stadium. The younger brother of former Super Eagles striker, John Utaka spoke in an interview monitored on brila f.m. by ADEBOBOLA ALAWODE
How is life in Denmark and how are you adapting to the new style of play?
I enjoy the style and life here in Denmark. I’m also adapting to everything and it’s really good being here.
What necessitated your move to Denmark?
Change, as they say is the only thing that is constant. So, I had to make the move and I feel I made the right move.
Back to the national team, how will you rate yourself now compared to when you made your debut for Nigeria?
I can’t rate myself; I would leave it to the fans to decide that. I don’t also like to rate myself because it would be as if I’m boasting. The media can rate me as well.
People are still speaking about how badly the Eagles played in the friendly match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone. How would you rate your performance in the match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos?
I wouldn’t say we didn’t play well, but at least we won. We defeated our opponents 2-1. There are no longer minnors in football; the main issue was that we defeated Sierra Leone, no matter how badly people said we played.
Did the vociferous Lagos fans put you under pressure?
They did not at anytime put me under pressure. I have played where the fans were more vociferous that the fans in Lagos, and I enjoy it when the fans are routing for us but not when they are booing us.
The fans booed the team at the tail end of the match, what would you say happened?
I wouldn’t know, may be we didn’t play to their expectations. But, the Lagos fans were not suppose to boo us. They were expected to stand by us throughout the encounter.
What’s responsible for the team’s poor play?
People should understand that majority of those players played their first match for Nigeria. The team didn’t blend very well. If we had been playing together, we would played better.
What is your expectation in the next qualifying match against Ethiopia?
We will win, even if it is half a goal. What is important is that will get the three points at stake.
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