Sodje (right) in action
Onome Sodje comes from one of Nigeria’s biggest football families. The 26-year-old tells ’TANA AIYEJINA about his career, his love for travelling and more in this interview
How are you finding life at your new club Nuneaton Town?
It is very difficult for us at the moment because we are in a relegation battle but hopefully, things will get better. We have a group of good players and we are all geared towards remaining in our division. If we can’t gain promotion, then we shouldn’t be relegated.
A lot of your fans wouldn’t have expected you to be playing for a club in the fifth tier of English football. How do you feel about this?
Well, that is life for you. It is football and we can’t all play at the level we want to all the time. So, I am just happy to be back here (England) playing and having fun again.
Records show that you scored two goals in two games for FK Partizani Tirana. Why did you leave the Albanian club after just two games?
Honestly I do not want to disclose why I left.
You showed so much promise as a youngster playing for Charlton Athletic in the early period of your career. Do you think you have realised your potential?
It is difficult to say if I have realised my potential or not but I am happy with how things have gone personally. You live and you learn. I have just gone with the flow of things regarding where my career has taken me so far.
Having played in six countries and three continents, how would you describe your experiences in these places?
I had some great experiences in these countries. It was a learning experience for me, meeting new people and learning their ways of life. I love traveling and I have met some really good people and made good friends as well.
In all these places you have played, where would you say you have had your best time so far?
For me, the best place would be Slovakia; I really enjoyed my time while there. But it was similar to the way I was treated in Malta. They are very nice people. They were all caring and made sure I had whatever I needed.
At 26, do you think you can still play in the English Premier League, like your uncle, Sam Sodje?
Why not? I am still very young and my career can still witness a turnaround. I have seen stranger things happen in football. So, you just never know what will happen next.
You have been described as a journeyman footballer. Are you still hoping to play outside England, if the opportunity beckons?
Yes I would definitely do so again to be honest. I quite loved the heat in all these countries. And I love flying; I am like a kid when I get on a plane.
Which influence did your uncles: Efe, Sam and Akpo have on your career?
I come from a big footballing family like you know but as a young boy in Warri, I knew I was always going to play football. I think the game runs in the family.
Unlike in the past, Nigerian players have been finding it difficult playing for the big European clubs. What do you think is responsible for this?
Sodje celebrates a goal
I think other African countries have stepped up their game. For example Algeria have really good players in the top European leagues so do Ivory Coast and Ghana just to name a few. There is a very big competition amongst the players.
What are the high and low points of your football career?
The high point of my career was playing at Wembley in a Cup final for York City FC. It was definitely a high point of my career. Not every footballer, even those at the Premier League level, gets to play there. So I always cherish that moment and hopefully, I will play more times at the stadium. My low moment would be as a young kid getting released at Charlton Athletic.
What is your advice to young Nigerian players hoping to play football professionally abroad?
They should be prepared to take risks and be brave at taking these risks. They need to work hard and be humble no matter how they are being treated by their clubs. They must be professional in their attitude always and also be prayerful as well.
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