"Donning Eagles' Jersey Not Anyone's Right But Privilege - Olofinjana

"Donning Eagles' Jersey Not Anyone's Right But Privilege - Olofinjana

By Niyi Busari

Ex-international, Seyi Olofinjana has said that playing for the Nigeria senior national team is a privilege and not a right for any player, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The former Super Eagles defensive midfielder Seyi George Olofinjana was born in Lagos and later acquired a degree in Chemical Engineering from the award winning Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology in ancient city of Ogbomoso.

Olofinjana who began his career with local sides Crown FC and Kwara United, later seeks the greener pastures in Europe with SK Brann in Norway where he appeared thirty four (34) times and scoring 11 goals.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder who was capped 56 times in green white green color made his debut for Super Eagles in June 2000, in a 3–2 win over Malawi and was in the national team for over a decade.

"I have no regret whatsoever playing for Super Eagles."

Olofinjana who is the Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy pathway manager revealed to a Soccer Platform, Family United By Football (FUBF), his source of motivations and those who calmly influenced his career.

"Donning country's jersey is not anyone's right but a privilege, I didn't have the dream of playing in Super Eagles in the first place but it's God's doing, l feel blessed playing with great talents in a country of about 200 million people. I cherished every games l played for the Super Eagles and l feel blessed.

"How do you begin to thank people for over ten years I represented the country, l met quite a number of players, administrators, coaches, admin staffs, loads of people which I couldn't name but there are four people in particular that really helped my career.

"I must say a huge thank you to late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi who was the Secretary General by the time I came into Eagles, he knew l was so shy and I have something to deliver so he lifted me with words of encouragement, Christian Chukwu, Amusa Adisa and Austin Eguavoen really moulded me to what l later became.

"They are so influential and believed in me, l didn't know anybody in the national team, l just got the invitation and they took me under their wings and helped me.

"I never played in defensive role before coming into the national team but Christian Chukwu and Eguavoen converted me and the rest is history," the former Stoke City midfielder told FUBF.