Bolaji Okunola
Nollywood star, Femi Adebayo has revealed his love and passion for football. In a chat with Sunday Sun Sports, he explains how he was treated by his parent while playing the round leather game on the streets of Lagos and his greatest regret watching the Nigeria Super Eagles.
You are known more as an entertainer, what is your involvement with football?
Most Nigeria men out there, sees football as life. As a matter of fact, the world would have been boring without the round leather game. You can’t take football away from us. Just like Women love make up, men see football as a uniting factor in the world. It’s the only sport that can make you forget your enemy.
Football during your childhood days?
Why not? I did. As a matter of fact I joined grassroots football club and played a lot of street soccer. I represented my school team during my primary, secondary school days. I also did same during my early days at the University of Ilorin where I studied Law. I would have played till my final year but the course I studied was a very difficult one. Then I had no choice than to quit and faced my study which is my primary assignment in school. I played as a defender.
Who was your role model?
The likes of Christian Chukwu and Stephen Keshi inspired me. I would We grew up watching 3SC, Rangers, Mighty Jets and host of others. The likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Barca, Real Madrid and others were not in our plan. It’s not as if we don’t know them as clubs but our players were not plying their trade in Europe back then.
How did your dad, “Oga Bello” react to your football passion?
You know those days; parents hardly supported their kids to go into sports. They see footballers as irresponsible set of people. Although he never stopped me from playing the game but he always made us realise that education comes first before any other thing. My dad is not a man to run away from. Although other kids in the environment I grew do leave football when they notice their parents are around, but my dad won’t stop you from doing what you know how to do best. That alone made us different from other kids in the neighbourhood.
Which NPFL club do you support?
I am from Kwara State, and what else do you expect me to say? I remain a Kwara United fan. Kwara State remains one of the best in the country. I am not saying this because I am a special Adviser to the Governor on Arts, Culture and Tourism but I am saying this because I believe with the game plan on ground, we will revive the club to world standard.
What’s your most memorable moment on the round leather game?
I have got lots of memorable moments in the game. I don’t think there is any footballer or soccer enthusiast who has never witnessed a sad or happy moments while playing football. Is it the injury I sustained playing street soccer or how the Super Eagles always make me weep whenever they go out and fumble. I am a passionate person who gets moved over little things. I recall how my heart beat raced when Nigeria was losing 3-1 to Brazil during the Atlanta’96 Olympics. Nigerians all cried including me, until legendary Nwankwo Kanu showed class by putting smiles back on our faces. Ever since then, I developed more passion to the team and I realised in life, one gets to keep struggling until you get there.
Why did you choose acting?
Let me say I inherited that from my dad. I never knew I will go this far in acting until I featured in the ever green movie, “Owo Blow” in the mid 90s. That movie really changed my dream. Even the law I studied in School, I hardly have time for it as much as acting. I was shocked by the overwhelming applause I received from the movie. The fame makes me forget so many things I dreamt of doing.