Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah has earned positive reviews for his Premier Soccer League (PSL) performances for the Buccaneers, with many putting his name forward for invitation to the Nigeria national team.
In an interview with AfrikFoot, Ndah discusses his career, the influence of Stanley Nwabali and his international prospects.
What’s life like for you in the South African league and indeed generally in the country? There should be quite some difference for you comparatively.
For me personally life is okay here. I thank and appreciate God for everything; for the opportunity to be in this system. I am doing as much as I can as to do well and leave the things I can’t control to God. But so far it has been quite good.
Are there moments that become lonely for you, when you miss the Naija ways?
Yes, definitely, as human sometimes I get home sick and miss home. You know that I am alone here. Sometimes you miss your home boys but I am focused on the game and the league keeps me busy.
You have played in two major leagues…what’s the difference? We can already count the difference in financing, income but are there could be other things people on the sidelines don’t readily observe? What’s the difference between NPFL and the league over there?
I think one major difference is television. They use the power of the TV very well as almost every game we play is live on TV. This has made it so simple all over to follow the league and get people also very interested and this in a way also pushes up the interest to go to the stadium and watch the game. They have really invested a lot in their football here.
When you say they have invested a lot what are the things you refer to here. Is it money, personnel training or advertisement?
There are many things but one thing most people don’t know about is that they have good agents. It’s a part of their investment or proper organizational work. Their agents here are quite professional and their operations better than what we have at home (Nigeria).
Some Nigerian footballers landed in South Africa and settled there; they played and retired like goalkeeper Willy Opara. Would SA be a last bust stop for you if the offer is good or Europe is still on your mind?
I have personal goals and ambition and I am definitely not given up on those. I am open to taking every opportunity that comes my way that is very good. I see my playing here as a very good platform for bigger dreams and that has not changed at all in any way.
Talking about dreams…How did you arrive in the SA league? Was it a plan that has always been there or you grabbed an opportunity?
I think I was in my second season with Akwa United and after a particular game I was approached by an agent who put the deal on the table. It wasn’t like it was a mistake. I sat over the season to review the offer and check what is available here properly before I accepted to move.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was good at the last Nations Cup and got quite some good reviews. There’s rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa and it’s not as smooth and friendly as it is compared to Ghana. Has Nwabali’s output made any impact like getting both sides friendlier?
Wow (laughs), what impact can we say now? For me personally I have never had any problem here. I know there was xenophobia issue before I arrived here but I have never faced such here. People are friendly on the streets,
I have very good relationship with the people I work with here, a lot of respect. Personally, the respect is mutual perhaps because of the way I play and perhaps for the way I have lived well. And generally I don’t think Nigerian footballers and other professionals in South Africa have any issues. If there are issues it will largely be for those doing other things here but the footballers don’t have such problems.
Talking about the Super Eagles it has been quite a long while for you not being with the team. If my record is correct it’s more than two years now…?
Yes.
And that’s with the former coach Gernot Rohr around 2021 or so. Jose Peseiro came and left without giving you a chance. Are you not worried about this long absence?
For me I can say that I am blessed to have had the privilege to play for the Super Eagles. As at the time I got called I was not even expecting it. Getting a national call up as a Nigerian is a great privilege. Nigeria is quite a football nation. There’s no position where you cannot find a possible four or five other good players. We have quality players all over and so breaking into the team takes a lot. I have been there and that’s a door open for me already. I will just keep working hard and I believe that with the help of God it works.
How do you see the national call ups? It appears you guys hardly get the opportunity when you are in the Nigerian league no matter how well you play until you go abroad. Look at Taminu getting a call up from Tanzania, not even Europe despite the whole noise Nigerians made about him getting a chance while still with Bendel Insurance.
Personally, I don’t have any idea how that works. I can’t really comment on that. Let me just say no comment, preferably.
When Peseiro was getting ready for the African Cup he was in South Africa to check out the goalkeeper (Nwabili). Did he visit you at your club too or did he make some form of contact with you?
No, he didn’t visit me.
But was there any form of contact with you?
No, he didn’t contact me.
Were you not sad about this; disappointed having him so near but…
No, I wasn’t worried about that either.
By the little I know of the eligibility rules for CHAN you are still qualified to play for Super Eagles B as you play on the continent. If you get call again would return to that team that could be some kind of distraction for you now?
If I am called back of course I will honour it. My desire is to play good football with the national team. I don’t see any difference between Super Eagles and Super Eagles B. I don’t look at them that way.
You were not at the AFCON but I guess you followed very. How do you rate it?
The Nations Cup was quite an interesting one with so many goals. For one thing it showed that there are no more underdogs and that’s why virtually eve prediction was put to rest. There are no smaller countries going by the results. This shows that football has really changed in Africa. It was a wonderful tournament even though we didn’t win it. I was thrilled.
