Adesanya visited Nigeria to activate African power — Gordons

Gordons

Nigerian comedian Godwin Komone, popularly known as Gordons, talks about the quality of the current Super Eagles team, his love for UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO

What is your sporting history like?

I was a strong football lover, but I grew up in the type of family where sport was not encouraged. My dad expected me to go to school and become a doctor or a lawyer, so I wasn’t encouraged in the area of sports, but I loved football a lot, and I can still play football perfectly.

Why did you not pursue your interest in football?

In the days where sports were being developed in our area, I didn’t have any sort of encouragement to pursue sports. I didn’t even know that sports were lucrative because the mindset was that if you were ever going to be a very successful and notable person in life, you had to be either a lawyer or an engineer.

Where you a member of your school football team?

I wasn’t allowed at all, and the parental fear was there, so I didn’t play for the team, but I was always attending games.

What’s your favourite sport as a spectator?

UFC

Who is your favourite fighter in the UFC and why?

Isreal Adesanya. Apart from the fact that he is a Nigerian like me, I just love his delivery, his confidence, he fights tactically, he’s very skilled, very determined, and serious about what he’s doing. And the reputation of our country outside the nation is not a good one; people are treated less than a lot others, so when you are privileged to see a Nigerian who is’repping’ correctly and not cutting corners and making his money, you should be proud.

These people don’t want us Africans going where they ought to go because they just believe that we are supposed to struggle, and being a Nigerian and dominating the middleweight, overcoming a lot of challenges, and with the work he has put in to get to where he is, so whether he has a fight or not, I make sure to watch him on all his platforms.

What do you think of his performance in recent times?

There is a reason Adesanya came back to Nigeria; he had to come back to his roots. Because the natural strength and vigour are given to Africans, but when you live in Australia and you eat Australian food, you can’t use Australian food to activate African power. And that is why he came back; he knows that if you stay abroad and claim African, true Africans who stay here will beat you. He was very sensible when he came back with the places he visited, so we do hope that in the next fight, the spirit and the energy of Africa can be restored, and there can be something we celebrate again.

Do you think that Joshua can win his fight against Dubois on Saturday today?

We are hopeful. I will watch the fight, so let’s just hope that Anthony will fight like the professional that he is; that is our expectation.

Adesanya and Kamaru Usman have repeatedly said they don’t want to fight each other, saying they are ‘brothers’. With that mindset, do you think they can last in that industry?

One thing Nigerians get outside this country is that they suddenly realise that they are brothers. I come from the Urhobo tribe in the Niger Delta, and some other tribes don’t agree with us, but if I meet these other tribes overseas, they treat me like family, but once we come back to the Delta, they suddenly stop talking to me.

It is sad that it is only when Nigerians get out of this country and have a level of prosperity and security that they realise that Nigerians are their family. I think two of them can compete though; it’s sport, not war, and the better person should win.

Who do you think is the greatest Nigerian footballer ever, and why?

Jay-Jay Okocha. I think the passion with which he played football would make anyone want to play football. He loves football, so I think he’s just the best.

What do you think of the current Super Eagles team?

Honestly, I stopped watching Nigerian football since the days of Okocha. You will agree with me that during the time of Okocha, we were all glued to our TV screens to watch the Super Eagles play. However, in recent times, they have been improving a lot, so I think the love that we all had for the Super Eagles will come back.

Would you encourage your children in sports?

I do not know the destiny of my children, and I will be glad if none of my children pursue entertainment. This industry is no longer what it used to be. If any of them is good in sports, I will wholeheartedly encourage my kids. I’m not a father that would discourage them; whatever they want to do, I will support.