Last season, Sikiru Olatunbosun made the football world take notice of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in a most positive way. Indeed, it was a public relations stunt for the country as a whole which did not require any government committee and did not necessitate the hiring of any globally renowned PR Guru. He simply used his talent to make Nigeria great in the eyes of the world.
The goal scored by this Bariga, Lagos-born player was voted the best goal of the month in a global poll by the Atlanta, United States of America based Cable News Network (CNN) and the strike became an instant global viral hit viewed by close to 400,000 people in Googles video channel, YouTube.
Last Sunday, after being presented yet another award for the best goal of NPFL Match Day 18, Olatunbosun admitted he still feels nostalgic about the goal against Rangers International in a match at the Agege Stadium.
“It is natural that I won’t ever forget that goal but then I still want to score more wonder goalsâ€, admitted the lad after he was substituted in a league match against Niger Tornadoes. He netted a brace and was pulled out with few minutes left to play and his side 3-0 up.
Olatunbosun, last season, formed a strike force with Stephen Odey, now playing for a Swedish side and play-maker, smallish Chukwuka Onuwa that were nicknames the ‘SOS’ of MFM and despite admitting missing Odey, he said, “we are all happy for him and we do pray our own turn will come someday.â€
“Aah, I miss Odey oooâ€, he exclaimed in a typical Yoruba (South-west Nigerian) people manner of speaking. He was not just my teammate but my closest friend. We developed together and know what each other want on the pitch. It is difficult to have another like him but I will keep working hard to perhaps also join himâ€, Olatunbosun remarked with a dreamy look in his eyes.
Somewhat media shy, Olatunbosun however had a boldness to speak of his goal scoring exploits and attributed it to “first the unity in the team, the teachings of the coach and my personal hard work. I always seek to score goals that will please the fans and I work at it always especially after that CNN goalâ€.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to charity work through the VAT Wonder Goal and I thank the sponsors, the LMC and above all, the fans that voted for me. I usually visit motherless homes though not every month, so this is an opportunity to do it againâ€, concluded Olatunbosun, the eldest of two boys in a family that also has three female children.
