We won’t shy away from saying this – Chelsea star, John Mikel Obi, is a fine boy. In fact, a very, very fine boy. The heavily loaded ladies’ man, at the NB PLC Bar in Iganmu, Lagos, on Monday, July 14, 2014, shared some of his candid thoughts with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, AZUH ARINZE. Born on April 23, 1987, the admirable midfielder who grew up in Jos, Plateau State but now plays in England for Chelsea, took time out to talk about his success secrets, love life, Amstel Malta deal and more. Enjoy…
Tell us – what’s your contract with Amstel Malta all about?
The contract with Amstel is to make this brand even bigger; it’s to promote the brand and make it bigger and I’m here with the family, Amstel Malta family and I’m very happy, I’m very proud to be part of this family. I mean, it’s an amazing thing. The future is looking brighter and all we have to do is to keep working together and I’m 100 percent sure we will achieve even better success and make this brand even bigger.
As a footballer, what’s the connection with Amstel Malta?
I love the drink, it’s the drink I drink most of the time. Even when I was little, I’ve always drank the drink. It’s not a co-incidence that now I endorse this drink. I’ve always drank this drink when I was little. My mum used to buy it and pour a little in the glass for me to drink. So, I’ve always…I mean, for me, it’s a dream come through to work with this brand and I’m looking forward to making it even bigger.
We saw you in a poster with Genevieve Nnaji, what’s that all about?
(Laughs) – We work together, it’s a working relationship, we endorse Amstel Malta together. We work together, She’s a very nice person. I mean, I’ve spoken to her a few times and she’s a very lovely person.
When are you getting married?
(Laughs) – When am I getting married? (Laughs again) I’m in a relationship, I’m in a relationship now for 2 years and yes, I’m in love, I’m in love.
What’s the most difficult thing about stardom?
Stardom? It’s part of your job. You have to live with it. There’s no hiding place for you; you have to live with it. I love coming out here and enjoying myself with my fans. I’ve always said if something is planned properly, I will come out and share my time with people. I love interacting, but if it’s not done properly, it’s very difficult sometimes to meet someone and start talking. I’ve always said that I’m a very simple and easy going person, but things need to be done properly. I like to work with schedule, I like to work in a very professional way. So, sorry; sometimes if you guys think I don’t wanna talk to you. I just like things done properly.
It’s obvious that God has been nice to you, what more do you want from God?
Just long life and blessings from Him to bless the people around me and long life for my family, my mum, my dad, my brothers, my sisters and for you fans too. I mean, to be there and keep watching us play and keep supporting us. It gives us joy any time we see our fans come out and support us and keep praying for us. So, all I can ask God for is long life and prosperity.
Football has done a lot for you, what has it not done for you?
(Laughs) – Nothing! It’s done everything for me. Everything! (Laughing).
Many Nigerian players have not spoken up about the situation in Chibok, Borno State. Can you speak about it and what’s your opinion?
No, I think if you look at the social media, I’ve done something about the Bring Back Our Girls. I think so far, that’s all I can say about it, that’s all I can do about it. I wish I knew where those girls are, I will go there and pick them up and bring them back, but it’s out of my hands. But we will keep praying and keep hoping that they are all safe and they will return back to their families.
What is the costliest mistake that any footballer can make?
Not being dedicated; if you are not dedicated. Hard work. If you run away from hard work and think there’s a short cut. There’s no short cut to success. You always have to give up all extravagance, night life and all that to succeed. You have to!
What’s the best way to attain success and sustain it?
Hard work, and sustaining it is the most difficult part of it. It’s not how you get at the top, it’s how you maintain it, how you stay at the top. So, being at the top, you have to even work twice, three times harder than you did even before getting up there and that’s how you succeed and sustain it.
What don’t you like about being a footballer?
(Laughs) – Nothing! I love everything about it. I love when you guys criticize me for not doing something right, I love when you guys praise me as well. I love all of it!
What made you endorse Amstel Malta after Glo?
That’s the thing with me – I am very picky and I need to find the right brand to work with and for me, Amstel Malta, when I spoke to them, and what they had to offer was what I was looking for. I don’t do too many adverts and it’s about finding the right brand and this is the right brand for me.
Some people feel Mikel is arrogant, why do you think they have that misconception about you?
Yes! Yes! I think so. I can tell you in this interview that you judge me. I’m a very easy going person. I think my friends, my family all know this. People who know me know this. But if you look from afar, you think differently. They say don’t judge a book by the cover, so people need to know me sometimes before they judge me. I’m not arrogant at all.
What are your hobbies?
I play tennis; I play tennis after football.
What’s your fashion fetish?
Fashion? (Yeah!) I wear anything with no logo (Laughs). Yeah! No logo!
NB: First published July 2014