NEW DELHI: The entire Kolkata is fuming at the moment thanks to the rising temperature and surging humidity. The Flaming Oranjes are poised to clash their swords with the Mariners, who are not too far, yet no so close from adding another feather in their cap, the coveted Hero I-league trophy. While the entire city would be rooting for the homies, there will a certain person who would hit the pitch silently with an oath to decimate them. There are certain untold anecdotes, copious unhealed gashes which are to be squared right tomorrow. Odafe Okolie, the talismanic striker from Nigeria, has already netted 6 goals this season and looking in perfect shape to decimate his former club singlehandedly as he did the other day in Goa. As he was handed the mandate to go for the kill and he was freed to hover around the opposition box, in no time the miracle happened and the monkey was off his back.
Odafe started looking deceptively brutal and the engrossing urge to score seems to be back viciously. The linchpin of Sporting Clube de Goa attacking third shared his thoughts with www.i-league.org in a candid conversation ahead of the high-octane match against McDowell Mohun Bagan.
EXCERPTS:
You have a mixed bag of experiences with McDowell Mohun Bagan. How do you summarise those three seasons?
Mate, when you are being an integral part of any club, there ought to be contrasting memories. Definitely everyday won’t go well for you, whereas some particular sweet memories are bound to be there back in your mind. I have spent important three years in Kolkata, with Mohun Bagan. I have learnt quite a few lessons which will pave the way better in future.
We could figure out recently that the Wolf within Odafe is back. Are you practicing some Hoodoo acts?
No way man (laughs). Actually it’s all about time, coordination and composition. While we were languishing at the bottom, we had nothing to lose and we had to bounce back and show others the true colour of Flaming Oranjes, so did we. We had already seen the worst phase by then and the frustration was piling up amongst management, players and all who are there around us. It was just about the right time while it started to move in our favour.
Mohun Bagan defence line played an almost perfect match against Royal Wahingdoh the other night. Are you guys well equipped to infiltrate them?
We beat them this season. If I’m not wrong, almost the same set of players played out against Wahingdoh. It’s beyond our prediction who’ll have a colourful outing and who’ll have an abysmal one in the next 90 minutes. We are concentrating to overcome our shortcomings and whop them once again in their den.
Are you going to be the lone striker or Mateus Costa will prefer to field a 4-4-2 team playing you and Anthoney upfront?
It’s entirely up to him. Whichever will be best possible lineup to outsmart them, believe me, we’ll embrace that one with both hands. Coach is the best person about these technical aspects whereas we are his pawns.
Incidentally, your last I-League hattrick came in Mariners’ jersey against Sporting Clube de Goa. Do you have a plan to level it tomorrow?
Oh, I did not know the fact. As a striker, I always hit the ground to score as many as I can. Scoring a hattrick will be nothing less than as good as I got. Primarily my focus is to concentrate and not to squander any of the chances what I get tomorrow.
Mohun Bagan supporters will come in numbers to tear you apart by constant booing and jeering. Are you getting yourself prepared to confront them?
You can’t be everyone’s darling whomsoever you encounter in life, my friend. While I donned their jersey, they cheered their heart out for me. Today I’m here to bash their dream so they won’t give me a standing ovation, I’m happy to accept that. It’s my pragmatic approach, my dogma to run a smooth life. I should be captivated within my on-field tasks, not amongst these off-field numbers which are there for nothing but to topple me.
By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team
