Bring Eagles to Lagos if you want them to fly- Geremi Njitap

Ex-Cameroon and Real Madrid star, Geremi Njitap in an interview with Daily Sunsports at Heineken Champions League Planet Lagos recently expressed his attitude towards Real Madrid, chances of winning this year UCL and he also spoke about his visit to Lagos ever since the last AFCON Nigeria hosted in year 2000.

Q: Can you brief us little about your international career?

A: I am Geremi Njitap born in Bafoussam, Cameroon. I played different wings on the field, mostly in the right back and midfield role. I have played for top clubs in Europe. I played for Chelsea, Real Madrid, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and some major clubs around the world. I have represented my country in different international competitions. I could remember I was here in Lagos 15 years ago for the AFCON, which was co hosted by Ghana and Nigeria and which I eventually won a gold medal with my team. I won two Champions league with Real Madrid before moving to Chelsea in the 2003 transfer window. I also won a Gold Medal in the Sydney Olympic 2000 event and here I am in Lagos to Champion the UEFA Champions League knockout stage with Heineken.

Q: You actually said you were in La¬gos 15 years ago, did you notice any changes in the city?

A: Yes I do. Although I have never visited the whole of Lagos. I could remember during the AFCON in year 2000, the team came for a picnic around the island and here I am again. Lagos has really change in terms of Infrastructure. The island has got a new look and everywhere seems to be cool. I have known the city to be one of the finest in West Africa so seeing more of its beauty really amazed me.

Q: As an ex-international, which club will you tip to win this year UEFA Champions League?

A: Well, I will go for Real Madrid; the club has really impressed me this season. I am not saying this because I once played there; I am saying this due to the fact that the team has a strong wining mental¬ity when it comes to a stage like this in European football. The club almost lost it at the second round against Schalke 04, but glory be to God the players found their form back with the victory against bitter rival, Atletico Madrid and with this I can assure any one that Real will win this season UEFA Champions League.

Q: Can you tell me about some of your great¬est challenges in your career?

A: Every individual has his or her difficult moment. I was unable to find my feet during my period in Chelsea under coach Jose Morinho, who would tell the press that he loved putting me on the bench because to him I am a low rated player, who can play at any wing when needed. I also remember the last time I featured for Chelsea was during the semi final stage of the UEFA Champions league during 2006/2007 season, in which I lost a penalty that sent us packing from the competition.

I also remember the last time I played at the Lagos National Stadium, it was almost heartbroken for me because my team was leading by 2 goals to nil against Nigeria, and the equalizing goals came in a tinkle of an eye, which almost made us helpless before the Nigeria fans, but I thank God we emerged the winner at the end of the day.

Q: Presently the Nigeria Super Eagles and Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are nowhere to be found in Africa football, what can you say to this?

A: Things have not been going well with Cameroon football due to the fact that they have lost players that have passion and physic. In my days, we all went to the pitch with the spirit of win or die. We fear no foe and we stung like bees, but this days the administra¬tors have started lagging behind, with the absence of our coaches going to the grassroots to look for raw talents, which I think is also affecting Nigeria football and other top rated Africa soccer countries.

Q: As an ex-international, which team do you fear most?

A: As an international player I am not scared of any team only that we players think about matches based on the level of rivalry between both teams and their records. For instance, Cameroon get scared whenever they face Nigeria in any knockout stage of major competition based on the rivalry on ground.

I could remember a night before the game against Nigeria in AFCON 2004 quarterfinal stage in Tunisia between Nigeria and Cameroon, the whole dressing room was quite because we know the team we are playing against is as good as us.

Q: Coach Stephen Keshi has just been given a new contract, what advice do you have for Nigeria?

A: Keshi is a great man who contributed a lot to the game of football as a player. He also won the AFCON medals as a player and a coach. I think the best thing Nigerians should do is to have patient and keep their hands to¬gether in terms of support. We are all human being and we are prone to error, if the administrators send him packing, who can understand the game of football in Nigeria as he as done.

I love what the NFF just did and if other Afri¬can nations can emulate the NFF policy on Keshi, I think African football would move higher and I am sure the Super Eagles would fly again under him.

Q: Who do you tip to win the next AFCON in 2017?

A: I don’t know for now due to the fact that the teams haven’t started the qualifier process, but if I am to choose I will love to see Nigeria playing against Cameroon so that people will see the best of African football.

Q: Can you tell me some of your greatest moment before you bow out?

A: I have a lot of greatest moments in football and most of them came from the moment when I won medals. I could remember when I was nominated for the Ballon d’or in year 2000, an impressive FIFA Confederation Cup campaign with Cameroon in the year 2003, my transfer to Chelsea which cost about 6.9 million Euros back then, my goals I scored in an important periods for both clubs and country, my appointment as the Newcastle United captain in 2007/2008 sea-son under Sam Allardyce, winning the AFCON title twice in the year 2000 and 2004.

Nevertheless, I also won the UEFA Champi¬ons League twice at Real Madrid and the FA Cup trophy with Chelsea in 2007.