| Manga Mohammed: Man
who read his own obituary
By Sport Desk
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Former Flying Eagles’ star, Manga Mohammed, is among
the exclusive few who were alive to read their obituaries
on the pages of newspapers.
Mohammed, who was known for his pacy and dazzling runs during
his days in the Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles, was rumoured
dead in a ghastly auto crash, which claimed the lives of players
of an amateur side, Wunti FC, who were returning to Bauchi
after a game.
In his first major interview after the news about his death,
Mohammed told Sunday Sunsport that he was shocked and surprised
when he read the story on a sports paper (not Sunsport) that
he died in the accident.
“I thank God that many Nigerians now know that I’m
hale and hearty, in spite of the story that I am dead,”
began the former Zamfara United player.
“I was very surprised and shocked because by the time
the accident happened, I was sent to Lagos by my elder brother,
David Musa, to see my former Golden Eaglets teammate, Festus
Odinni.
“I was in Lagos when I first read the story about my
death. Thereafter, I got a call from an NFA official, who
instructed me to come over to Abuja immediately so that people
would be assured that am alive.”
Mohammed revealed that when he first saw the story, he started
getting in touch with the people who are close to him, especially
his girlfriend to forestall unnecessary panic.
“I called my girlfriend, Ogechi Nnamani, who is attending
school in Enugu and told her that I’m alive. I told
her to disregard the news about my death. I made sure I spoke
with her before the news got to her.”
Most of Mohammed’s teammates in the Golden Eaglets and
Flying Eagles like Kanu Nwankwo and Wilson Oruma had gone
ahead to make fortunes by playing in Europe. But the light-complexioned
star said he was not losing sleep over that.
“I am very happy for them (Kanu and co). That I am not
as successful as they are does not mean that I should be jealous.
In fact, I am proud of them.
“When the Super Eagles played the Mena of Niger Republic
recently in Abuja, I spent some time with Kanu in his hotel
room. Wilson Oruma even gave me a pair of boots,” he
said.
Mohammed said he does not have any plan to retire from active
football now, adding that he still has about two years to
play the game.
“I am doing very well at the moment. I played for Zamfara
United last year, but since I came back from Abidjan this
year, I have not signed for any club.
“I still have about two to three years to play football,
but I must admit one thing, I can no longer play for the national
team,” he added.
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