Exclusive: I Knew This Will Be My Last Season In Nigeria - Okardi Inikurogha

Exclusive: I Knew This Will Be My Last Season In Nigeria - Okardi Inikurogha By Omolagba Oluwayemi Former Bayelsa United player, Okardi Inikurogha said he knew he would not played than the last in Nigeria before signing the dotted line for another European club, BSNSports.com.ng can exclusively report. France Ligue 2 side, Grenoble Foot 38, on 28th of November announced the signing of the sensational player on a two-year deal, a move which has been on the table following the player's contribution to Bayelsa United run in the 2020 Aiteo Cup and also their run in the CAF Confederation Cup. The skillful and fast forward in an exclusive interview with BSNSports.com.ng stated that he knew the season would be his last in Nigeria and as result of efforts he put in whenever he played for the Nigeria National League club. He knew as well tha a deal was going to materialize following his outstanding performances and as a result wasn't surprised when Grenoble Foot 38 came calling although he was happy to have achieved his targets. "Honestly speaking I will say I was really happy, I was not scared at all, but I was happy because this is what have been working for all season for this call. "The call didn't come as a surprise to me because I think have worked myself up to that level where everything is expected so I was not that anxious but I was happy for the call because its a big chance and a big challenge and I was not scared because I was really prepared for this very moment but I was very excited, its a top team." Asked about how he was able to find his ways to the heart of his new club despite playing in Nigeria's second tier league, Okardi Inikurogha said: "First of all, I will say its been God all along. All trust was on Him because life they say once you put God first, every other way, every other doors opens. "Secondly, prayers from family and loved ones and then thirdly the mentality. I didn't see myself in the Nigeria League anymore, I thought this season will be my last so I had to put all possible best to make that dream come true and last season was a very big opportunity because we had the chance to win the Aiteo Cup." "The consistency also and taking every game as the last one really took me to the very level because especially in the Aiteo Cup like the coach said, the shortest way to play the continental football is by winning the Aiteo Cup and that really motivated us because we really wanted to play the highest level of football in Africa and which is the continental to represent the country so we thought that was our chance to showcase what we have to offer to the world so we grabbed that opportunity taking every game in the Aiteo Cup like is our last game and that got us to the final and here I am now, its been God all along." Okardi Jr was instrumental for the 2021 reigning Aiteo cup champions Bayelsa United against Nasarawa United where Bayelsa United secured their first win for the first time in the club history via penalty after playing 2-2 draw.