As far as new Orlando Pirates striker Christian Obiozor is concerned, Orlando Stadium is as good as the Santiago Bernabéu.
The 22-year-old frontman of Nigerian origin, who switched from Enyimba to the Sea Robbers last week, sees his new club in the same light as Spanish champions and Uefa Champions League holders Real Madrid.
“Pirates is like Real Madrid, it’s a club that wants to win trophies all the time. In order for you to do that, you have to give 100%,” Obiozor told the Sunday Times on Friday.
On the same day he wore the club’s colours for the first time when he played 45 minutes against Polokwane City in an exchange of friendly fire which also included Bloemfontein Celtic and Bidvest Wits at Sturrock Park in Braamfontein.
“My agent and I met with the chairman last week. He has a good relationship with the chairman of Enyimba,” said Obiozor.
“Chairman Khoza told me a lot about the club and made me aware that an Enyimba player once came here and played for Pirates. ” Onyekachi Okonkwo was that player.
The problem with likening Pirates to Madrid without any hint of irony is that the fortunes of the two stand in stark contrast: Sergio Ramos captained Los Blancos to two trophies. His counterpart Oupa Manyisa led Pirates to 6-1 annihilation and 6-0 destruction and only managed to score a consolation in a 4-1 Nedbank final drubbing.
“A season without a trophy is sad for the players. By the grace of God this is going to be a good season for Pirates. The coach [Kjell Jonevret] gave me aword of encouragement. He talked to me as his son, saying ‘this season we need to push and me I say Ok Sir’.”
Obioz or ’s compatriot Raphael “The Chukwu Train” Chukwu was the last striker from Nigeria to set the Premier Soccer League in flames: 63 goals in 124 matches for Sundowns, PSL Player of the Year and joint Players ’ Player of the Year in 1997-98 ranks him among the best foreign forwards to grace our fields.
“What Chukwu did for Sundowns motivates me. If I can get 15 goals this season I will be very happy for myself. By the grace of God it will happen.
“As a striker, when you come to a club you have to set targets. Otherwise what is the point ? ” asks the man who says he scored eight goals last season. South Africa is not entirely virgin territory for the lanky marksman.
Those blessed with elephant memories will recall him heading in the solitary goal in the 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe that secured a bronze medal for the Super Eagles in the African Nations Championship (Chan) 2013 edition on these shores. It was his first cap for his country under the late Stephen “Big Boss” Keshi.
The former Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars man is convinced that doing well on the PSL platform will enhance his chances of consolidating his position at the national team.
“I’ve played nine or 10 times for Nigeria. Keshi gave me my first cap here in South Africa and I scored. His death was a very big loss. He gave me a platform. He believed in me so much. Every time I think about him it is painful. He was a great man.”
His job, along with fellow new acquisitions Wayne Sandilands and Thamsanqa Sangweni, is to help Pirates return to greatness. “Through God we will,” Obiozor said.
He will do well to remember that he will not be playing with a Bible in his hand and he has no monopoly on the Lord. And God, by the way, loves all his children and that includes the opposition...