Etie Obi Ikechukwu: The “Ajegunle Boy” Who’s Done Well

It is the perfect rags-to-riches story of someone who rose from a humble beginning to become successful. As a young boy growing up in Lagos, Etie Obi Ikechukwu did not have the best things that life could offer. His family was not rich. They lived in an area of Lagos called Ajegunle, a place that, to some people, evokes the images of squalor, poverty and want. Life in Ajegunle, according to the footballer, was rough and tough. But young Ikechukwu was determined to be successful. He did not want his environment to dictate his future. So, right from an early age, he began to dream big. And football was what he thought he could use to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful man. Knowing that he had a passion for football, Ikechukwu decided to take the game seriously, believing that it would pay off handsomely someday.

It has. Today, Ikechukwu is a successful footballer. He is on the payroll of Vasby Football Club, one of the top clubs in the Swedish second division. By all accounts, life for Ikechukwu is different from what it used to be. Unlike before, the young man can now afford some of the luxuries of life. He drives a Mercedes Benz 430, for instance.

Comparing those days with now, Ikechukwu has this to say: “Yes, football has done a lot for me. It has done a lot in my family life and changed our lifestyle, different from what it used to be. My early life was tough. I didn’t come from a rich family. It was tough.” Remarkably, he has achieved success at a relatively young age. He is only 22 years old.

To some people, age might be a factor or hindrance in achieving something, but to Ikechukwu, it’s merely a thing of the mind.  That explains why, apart from braving the odds to travel abroad early in life, he also decided to get married early. He married Ifeoma Vera in 2007 and they both have two children. This gives the impression that the young man is in a hurry to achieve things in life.  

“I was about 15 years when I knew I could make a career out of football. I first left Nigeria when I was with Nigerdock, which was then coached by Maurice Cooreman. This was in 2002. I went to Lille of France as a youth player. Although they were interested in me, they didn’t come up with a good offer. So I came back to Nigeria to continue from where I stopped and joined FC Ebedie in 2004.”

FC Ebedie is owned by Churchill Oliseh, brother of former Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Sunday Oliseh. He was the one who later facilitated Ikechukwu’s trip to Denmark, to join FC Mitjylland. The player explains: “I moved to FC Mitjylland as a youth player and played for over a season but it didn’t finally work out, contract wise.  So I moved on and I’m now with Vasby United FC.”

On why he married early, Ikechukwu says his decision was informed by the moral principle of doing things right: “I married early because I’m a religious man, a born again Christian. I want to do things the right way. But it’s also profitable to marry early. If you know you can afford it, go ahead and do it as long as you know what you are doing. For me, it’s been a great marriage and I’m happy. Some people were surprised about it, but God has been helping us.”

Indeed, the player’s zeal to get things done quickly probably has something to do with the environment in which he grew up. Reflecting on his days in Ajegunle, Ikechukwu says he was challenged to be the best he could be. “Ajegunle is for the strong and hard ones, a place where you need to be strong in what you do, if you want to succeed. If you are not strong, you can’t make it, you can’t make any headway. Apart from that, Ajegunle is also a rough place, but it all depends on what you want in life, it depends on the individual.”

Despite this grim picture, the Kwale, Delta State born attacker is proud to be called an Ajegunle boy: “Despite everything, I appreciate the place. I appreciate it no matter what. That’s where I grew up. Yes, I’m an Ajegunle boy.”

His love for Ajegunle, he says, makes him to visit the place whenever he is in Nigeria, even though his family no longer lives there. “My parents now live in another part of Lagos, but I still go to Ajegunle to see my friends. The fact that I no longer live there doesn’t matter.”

At the moment, he is enjoying life in Sweden. Sweden, unlike Nigeria, is cold, but that doesn’t make it less attractive or does it pose a barrier to him as he seeks to make his mark in Swedish football. He was a regular for his team in the Swedish second division league (known as Superettan) that ended last year. “I played 27 out of 30 league games last season. I scored four goals and made some assists. Although we missed promotion to the top league, we would want to make up for that this season.”

On life in Sweden, Ikechukwu says it’s been interesting. “I enjoy Sweden because it’s peaceful. It’s fantastic. I like the place.”

Although English is not the official language in Sweden, the player says that majority of Swedes understand the language, hence he does not face a challenge in that respect. The only challenge he faced initially was the food, which is different from Nigeria’s. But with his wife around, he says, that is no longer a problem. They are able to get Nigerian foodstuffs to buy.

Many people may argue that Sweden does not rank in the league of top soccer playing nations, but the footballer asserts that, regarding remuneration for instance, it’s not far behind. “I won’t say that the standard or wage compares with the best, but it’s one of the best,” he says.

To Ikechukwu, racism is not something to bother about, because it’s more of a distraction. “There’s no place in the world where there’s no racism. It depends on the people you associate with and how you comport yourself. I don’t care about that because I know what I’m looking for and where I’m going. Sometimes it’s silly when people do that, but it’s like that everywhere.”

Ikechukwu happens to be one of a few Nigerian footballers in Sweden. This makes him an ambassador for the nation, outside football.  He says he has had to defend his country whenever the need arises. “Some Europeans don’t know much about Africa. You know, much of what they know about Africa is based on what they see or hear from the media. They get to hear or see some images of war, or poverty and they think that’s all there is to Africa. But I used to tell them, especially my teammates, that Africa is much more than that. Some ask me funny questions, like whether there are cars in Nigeria or big houses. It’s funny. Of course, I tell them that Nigeria is a big and rich country. We only need to work harder and utilise our resources well. I’m proud of my country.”

Having realised his dream of becoming a professional footballer, the player’s next target is to play for Nigeria. He wants to gain an invitation to one of Nigeria’s intermediate teams such as the U-23. “I believe I’m good enough, I believe so, and I know one day it will happen. Although I know it’s not easy for new players to break into a team as coaches tend to stick with players they are familiar with, those they believe will give them results, I believe my time will come.”

However, he is well aware that any invitation to the national team will depend on his club performance. “I hope to do well in my career. That’s the easiest way to be noticed. When I perform well in my club and the world sees me, I will be invited. I know it will happen one day,” says Ikechukwu.

Beyond his ambition to play for Nigeria’s national team, the young man says he would one day want to play in the English Premiership, probably the most exciting football league in the world.

As someone who has come a long way and done well for himself, Ikechukwu is no doubt well placed to offer one or two words of advice to aspiring youngsters. “My advice to the young ones is that, they should first keep doing what they are doing so long as they believe in themselves. You have to keep your head up, work hard and trust in God, and surely, your success will come.”

He is grateful to God, he says, for the “talent he has given me” and to his family, especially his mother, who supported his dream to be a footballer. “I received encouragement especially from my mother. She knew I had talent for this game and she supported me by buying me kits, in addition to other things she did for me. It was tough, but all glory to God that today, it’s a good story. I’m grateful to God and I know that He’s gonna take me higher.”

According to the footballer, his success is a source of joy to his family. “My parents are so proud of me today, especially my mum because all her efforts are not in vain.”

The striker, who also plays in the right side of midfield, says that football has taken him to places he never hoped he could travel to, and has brought him into contact with many people. He is an admirer of the great Diego Armando Maradona, the former Argentinean footballer who, in the estimation of some analysts, is the greatest footballer the world has ever seen. He also loves Clarence Seedorf, the Dutch star who currently plays for AC Milan, in the Italian Serie A.

A product of Suru Alaba Primary School, Ajegunle and Odofin Secondary School in Mile 2, Ikechukwu’s happiest moment, ironically, has nothing to do with football. “It was when my wife gave birth to our second child, a boy”, he says, with a smile.