Obafemi Martins: Former Nigeria striker reveals secrets to football longevity

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has disclosed that ability to manage information and live a quiet lifestyle were secrets of his long span in football career.

The former Super Eagles star came into football scene at a very tender age when he featured for Italia side, Inter Milan at age 17. He went on to play for several clubs in Europe, Asia and United States including Newcastle, Wolfsburg, Birmingham, Rubin Kazan and Seattle Sounders among others.

The Lagos-born star opened up on how he almost retired from the spot due to frustrating injuries and how he enjoyed football longevity throughout his illustrious career.

“I was lucky to have played that long because I thought my career would have ended at Newcastle around 2007 and 2008 when I have a problem with my tibia,” Martins told Brilla FM.

“I still have to play forcefully with the same leg and I was lucky to have gotten a move to Germany, yet in Germany I could not play well because the injury slow me down a lot.

“Those times that seemed that I slow down and it was all due to injury and people did not understand what was really going on as to why I had a sharp drop in form.

“They were convinced that I’m already getting old even when my career was just starting to pick but I don’t respond to social media, I like to what low key.

“I realized how it bad was when I moved to Russia and when I went on loan to Birmingham City after I played in the final, I went to see a doctor. The doctor told me that if I had not checked it sooner my leg could have broken and I have it operated.

“I spent two years on the sideline before my shin healed and then I started to get fit before I move to Levante and Seattle Sounders and then to China where I started to enjoy football again.

“I later had a problem with the other knee a stress fracture and I had to get it operated on again then after the surgery, I decided to slow down and not aggravate it.

“Even then I still played away from the pitch like kick about for fun with the boys and that was why I quit professionally.”