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Vanguard - Daniel Okechukwu Olerum could
not make the headlines while he featured for both Enugu Rangers and
Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan in the local league.
Attempts by the Mass Communication graduate from the University of
Nigeria, Nsukka, to secure clubs in Europe failed as the clubs offered
various excuses for their decision. Almost frustrated, Olerum decided to
gamble when he got the chance to play in the Middle East. The events of
suicide bombings, natural disasters stared him in the face but determined
to succeed, he took up the challenge.
Today, the Nigerian export is the most sought after striker in Iran and
even Partizan Belgrade is giving him a look. In this interview, the former
Rangers player tells the story of how he scored 28 goals in 31 matches and
his experience in the war-torn zone.
Here are excerpts:
When did you take up football?
I really cannot remember when but I recall that I started playing football
at the tender age of five and ever since then, I have had the passion for
the game. As I grew up, I developed more interest and decided to follow it
up. I played for my primary and secondary schools and when I got into the
University of Nigeria Nsukka, where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Mass Communication, I also played for the school.
Why Iran, for professional career?
Before my trip to Iran, I played for Rangers for some seasons but my stay
was unpleasant. I was with the Flying Antelopes for two seasons and for
that period, I was on the bench, even when I knew I should be playing. I
later moved to Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan where I was
instrumental to the club returning to the Premier League.
While in Ibadan, I travelled to Europe on two occasions and to Asia once
for trials, but my attempts to secure a club failed. So when I got the
opportunity to travel to Iran, I took it up and today, I am based in Iran
with a second division side known as Pasagrade FC. The team was at the
lower ranks of the table when I came but I was able to help the club
escape relegation.
There were a lot of expectations from the fans because I was a foreigner.
Their hopes were laid on my shoulders and I had no option than to take the
bull by the horn and did all I could do. And at the end of the season,
Pasagrade, a modest football club in Iran, escaped relegation. During the
league, I scored 28 goals in 31 matches. I was very impressed with my
performance because it was my first outing outside the shores of Nigeria.
You appear to have adapted quickly in Iran…
It was not really easy for me. There were ups and downs but I would say I
did well because I was determined to make my mark in Iran.
How would you describe football in Iran?
Football in Iran is much more physical than we have here in Nigeria. It’s
physical in the sense that a lot more concentration is paid to the
physical aspect of the game. In Nigerian league, it’s more about skill but
in Iran, you need to be strong and you must have speed for you to make a
headway. Players in Iran are not as hard working as Nigerian players, so
if you have the speed, skill and good weight, you will succeed in Iran.
How would you describe your first season in Iran?
I am not boasting but the 28 goals I scored was less than what I had
expected. I had planed to score 36 goals in my first season. This
notwithstanding, it was a pass mark for me considering the fact that I
played under a lot of pressure.
When I got to the club, I was told that I had only two months to perform
or get kicked out. So I knew what I was into and because a lot was at
stake, I had to summon courage to do my best and that was why I could
score as much as 28 goals in the league.
But why Iran, one would have expected that you secure a club in the
European leagues where the true worth of your talent would be appreciated
and valued...
Actually I did not intend to play in Iran, I had gone to Europe on four
occasions but the clubs I had trials with had one or two reasons why they
could not give me a contract. I came back to Nigeria almost frustrated and
then another deal came and it was in the Middle East, Iran precisely. I
decided to start from Iran hoping to exhibit my talent and also hoping
that it would be a stepping stone to the clubs in Europe. That is why I am
in Iran today.
Given your performance in Iran, it is normal that some teams will show
interest in you, have you any of such interest or offers?
Top on the bill of clubs seeking my signature is Partizan Belgrade, we are
still negotiating at the moment but nothing for now is on paper. Apart
from Belgrade, other teams which have also shown interest in me are Al
Wasa and Al Wada in the Dubai league. In Iran, about 10 teams are keen on
having me on their payroll but I still have a two- year deal with
Pasagrade and my club president is not keen on letting me go.
According to him, he hopes to get to the Premier League with me in his
team that is why with all the money they are offering he is not shifting
grounds.
Right now I want to take things easy, I am not in a hurry to move to a
bigger club because I have a blossoming career ahead of me. I would not
jeopardize my chances by getting into transfer mess and in the process,
lose the confidence of the people that I have worked with. Pasagrade is a
nice club, they are not very rich but they take good care of their players
in every aspect. It’s my desire to play in top leagues in the world but
considering my age, I am still young and I have time on my side, so I want
to take things easy. I am sure with time I will get into the big league in
Europe. For now, I am not in a hurry.
How do you see the Super Eagles team under Coach Christian Chukwu and your
chances of breaking into a team with the likes of Inter Milan’s Obafemi
Martins, Lens of France's John Utaka, Portsmouth's Yakubu Aiyegbeni and
other gifted forwards in the team?
I am a striker and my business is goal scoring. I am not scared of any
player because I know that if I get the opportunity to play in the Serie A
for instance, I will make my mark. Likewise, if I get the chance to play
in the English Premiership, I will also make my mark. Playing for the
Super Eagles should be on merit and I praise Coach Chukwu for his
introduction of young and talented players into the team. I hope he looks
in my direction and equally give me the chance to show what I can do. If I
get a chance to play in the Super Eagles, a new star would have emerged in
Nigeria.
I do not see the likes of Martins, Utaka
or Yakubu Aiyegbeni, giving me any problem, they are young men like me and
I have this ambition to play in the Super Eagles. They have had time to
prove themselves and that is why they are still in the team. All I need is
a chance to prove myself too. They are not better than I am even if I am
playing in Asia.
Tomorrow, Nigeria will be playing Zimbabwe in Harare for the Nations
Cup/World Cup qualifiers, what do you think are our chances?
Coach Chukwu knows what it takes to achieve results and he also knows that
Nigerians need this ticket. He has assembled a team that he is confident
would give him the kind of result he wants. I am confident in his
abilities to take Nigeria to both the Nations Cup and the World Cup. I
believe what Chukwu needs is the support of Nigerians and the efforts of
the players who would be dorning Nigeria's colours. I am not bothered
because I know that we would qualify for both competitions.
Let's come back home, what do you think are the draw- backs in our
domestic league?
There are lots of draw- backs. The first is administration. The league is
not as organized as it ought to be. Our league is fashioned after the
English league but we are not doing as well as they are. If we want to
copy then we should do it to the letter. Right now, the sponsors of the
league do not see money as a big attraction but in Europe and other big
leagues, a lot of money is pumped into the league. They do a lot of
corporate investments and this brings a lot of money because it attracts
offers.
In Asia, there are a lot of foreigners playing football and an investment
in these players is big money. But in Nigeria, football, especially the
league, is not seen as big business and that is responsible for the low
investment by the corporate bodies in Nigeria and that is why the standard
is low and that is also why the facilities used in the league are
substandard. They do not see football as big business.
The playing fields in Nigeria are nothing compared to what you see in
Europe or Asia. And that is why when Nigerian players get to Europe, it
takes time for them to adapt to the facilities over there. We have
everything it takes to be world champions in football only if the
government and the corporate bodies invest in football.
How did you adapt to the situation in Iran, given the natural disasters
and suicide bombings (violence) and religious discrimination?
It was not easy; it was really tough physically and psychologically. What
really disturbed me the most was the natural disasters. Iran is prone to
earthquakes and natural disasters, and this really disturbs me. I was a
witness to the earthquake that claimed lots of lives because the site of
the earthquake was close to our camp . We were affected by the last
earthquake that happened three months ago. In Iran, we sleep with one eye
open because nobody can tell when the next disaster will happen. Another
thing that disturbs me is the violent nature of the people. This, I would
attribute to the long war with Iraq.
The people carry arms and we, as foreigners, do not go out for the fear of
being attacked and we live a low profile life so as not to attract
attention from the people. Even during matches, they threaten us,
especially if you do not meet their expectations. They will tell you that
they pay you good money to score goals and that you should score goals or
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