Ex-Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye talks about hanging up his boots, transitioning into sports punditry, his humble beginnings in Ajegunle, glittering European career, and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO

How did it all start for you?

It all started back home in Ajegunle, the ghetto part of Ajegunle, which everyone knows about. Back in Ajegunle, football is the only thing that you can do there that can bring you out of it. Out from the struggle, out from the poverty. I was in the school team, Oshodi Secondary School in Tolu Complex.

When did you get your big break?

I would say thank you to Yomi Itsekure because after playing at AJ Leicester, we had a competition in Navy Barracks. Yomi saw me, and he said, “ Look, I like you, I like your style of play, and I want you to play for the Nigerian League. He said Ocean Boys. He told me, “ Look, I have a plan for you. I want you to play one season in the Nigerian League, and from there I can draft you to the U-20. From U-20, I can draft you to the U-23 and the Super Eagles. So, at then, a young boy that grew up from Ajegunle, I didn’t believe him at first. I thought maybe he was just blabbing or just talking to get me. So, I got to Ocean Boys; everything was perfect. In fact, I was treated like a king. They loved me, the fans loved me, the president of the team loved me. Yeah, I started playing, started scoring goals, and that’s it.

How did you get your first call-up to the national team?

I just finished training that day in Bayelsa. I was driving home, so I had a phone call from Yomi. He called me and said, “ Where are you? I said, I’m in the car; I’m driving to the camp because we just finished training. He said, “ Okay, when you get to the camp, call me. From the sound of his voice, I can tell that there’s good news because he told me that he’s talking to Ladan Bosso (coach then). He said, I’m talking to Ladan Bosso; don’t worry. When he gives me the go-ahead, then you can pack your bag, and you can join them at the camp. So, that’s how it is.

What was your very first tournament for Nigeria?

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My very first tournament was the U-20 World Cup with the boys (in Canada). At first, for me, I was a bit scared because it’s my first major tournament, which is the World Cup. I was a young boy who just came from nowhere. I was a bit scared. But I think from the U-20, I became a bit relaxed because from the U-20, I got drafted to the U-23 (under coach Samson Siasia).

How did you make it to the Super Eagles?

After the U-23 games, Siasia told me that he liked my style of play. He said he thinks I’m ready to play for the Super Eagles. So, I got the invitation. Siasia has been for me like a father figure and as a mentor too. So, he helped me get to the Super Eagles with Yomi Ishikure. My first friendly game with the Super Eagles, I think it was a friendly match against Niger in Abuja. I ended up scoring the winning goal. So, I believe that’s how I won the heart of the late big boss (Stephen Keshi). The 25-man list came out; I was not surprised my name was on it.

How was your time moving abroad, starting with Neuchâtel Xamax in Switzerland?

It was not a good one because I left Nigeria injured. I had an accident while in Bayelsa—I had a bike accident. So, I travelled with this injury to Neuchâtel Xamax. And I can say today that I’m the first player in the history of football who signed a contract injured, you know, with a bandage on my leg, below my knee. And I had a very deep cut. They took a look at it, and they said, okay, we’re going to sign you. And I stayed, I think, six months without playing because of the rehab.

How was your spell in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion?

First, I was happy. The dream of every player is to play in the EPL. I was happy, but my time there was short because of injuries, and because the coach who brought me got sacked. They brought me a new coach. The new coach signed more players. And I didn’t really have playing time. So, my agent then had a meeting with the coach, who said, “ Look, Brown is a very good player, but at the moment, I don’t have a spot for him in the team.

So, I suggest you find a new team for him. That’s how I moved from England to Greece, to Olympiacos.

How did you enjoy your time at Olympiacos?

I really enjoyed my time at Olympiacos because the level had improved. Then, with Olympiacos, I played in the Champions League. I played in the Europa Cup, which is a dream for every player to play in the Champions League, Europa Cup, and the World Cup. So, yeah, I did that with Olympiacos, and I enjoyed my time, and my family did too. We were happy being in Greece. And Olympiacos treated us as family. And I really enjoyed my time there. And that’s why I felt comfortable banging in the goals.

How would you describe the rivalry between Dynamo Kyiv, where you won your first title and Shakhtar Donetsk?

Shakhtar Donetsk is a hard nut to crack. You know, they are our rival team. Anytime you’re playing against them, it’s always like the World Cup final. They have tons of good players. We have good players in our team, but sometimes they win, sometimes we win the game. But the most important thing is you can’t take away the fact that Shakhtar Donetsk is a very good team. And I’m not saying that Dynamo Kyiv is not good, but sometimes they tend to overpower us.

How was your short stint back home with Enyimba?

For me, I always believe in doing different things. I don’t believe in staying in the same path. I believe in trying new things. I believe in exploring. When I spoke to (Nwankwo) Kanu to say, “ Look, I have this idea in mind; I want to come to play half a season before my retirement, and he said, “ Yeah, no problem. So, that’s how I travelled to Aba, signed a contract, and I started training with the team. So far, I won’t lie to you, it was good. It was very good. Minus the problem they have (which every team in Nigeria has. So, I’m not trying to kick them when they are already down, but I know that it’s not just Enyimba who has this problem. Other teams have this problem. It just takes a brave player to come out and speak about it. So, I won’t say that my time there, I didn’t enjoy it. I enjoyed every bit of it.

Would you encourage your children to play football?

My two sons play football, 15 and 13. They play football, and if that’s a path they want to choose, I will support them. It’s even better because they have someone who has played at the highest level, so I can really mentor them and advise them on how to go about it. If they want to play for the Nigerian team, yeah, why not? If they want to play, I can’t stop them from playing. It’s their fatherland.

Where do you see Nigerian football in the next 3, 5, or 10 years?

We all have been campaigning for this change. We want Nigerian football because we are the giants of Africa. At the moment, we don’t act like we are the giants of Africa. We have to think about how to build facilities that can help the youth, facilities that can help the Super Eagles. We have to start from the secondary school. We have to set up competitions where we can get all these young talents and bring them up in a good way. Take them from 17, feed them to 20, feed them to 23, and feed them to the Super Eagles. So, I don’t believe the path that they said there are no good players in Nigeria. There are good players in Nigeria. You just have to have a structure that showcases these players.

What is your advice to upcoming footballers?

It’s to be careful. We have a lot of sharks in the sea. You have to be around the right people. Be around people who know your dream, can support you, and can help you grow.