NIGERIA PREMIER LEAGUE HOT SHOT, JUDE ANEKE, REVEALS…
Until last year, the name Jude Aneke meant nothing in the lexicon of Nigerian football. But the graduate of Political Science from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki took the Nigerian football scene by storm with modest Kaduna United, scoring a total of 20 goals, 12 of which he netted in his first season in the Premier League and eight in the Federation Cup to help his team to its first major trophy in the club's history.
With barely four matches to the end of the current league season, the Enugu State-born striker tops the scorer's chat with 15 goals and has accounted for three goals in his team's campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup and one in the Federation cup.
In this exhaustive interview with Saturday Sunsports, the consummate striker revealed that he went to the University just to please his father who has never supported his football career despite his rave reviews in the sporting press following his exploits in the round leather game.
The confident forward regretted that he is yet to get a look in by the national team coaches despite his heroics boasting that he's good enough to play in any team in the world. He spoke about his strong point as a striker, how he frustrates defenders, his dream and lots more. Excerpts.
How I started my football career
When I was in secondary school, I joined an amateur football club called Young Players Football Club. We used to travel to play against other clubs in other cities. That gave us a lot of confidence. When I finished my secondary education, I got admission into the Ebonyi State University. And while I was in the university I tried to combine academics with football and it was so strenuous. In my second year in the university, the then Coach of Enugu Rangers, Lawrence Akpokona, watched me in a State Challenge Cup match and after the game he asked me which of the Premier League clubs I had played for before. I told him I was playing for an amateur side and that I was a student. He was surprised and said, a student with this kind of mind. I remember that we played that match on Wednesday and I had an examination to write on Friday, two days later. And he said to me, how about playing for Rangers? And I said it wouldn't be possible because of my studies. I could not combine both. Even then, my father would not support me paying football. He would always tell me to concentrate on my studies and forget about football.
So while in the university, I played for my faculty and at NUGA Games. Everybody knew me on campus as a footballer. I always found time to train in the morning before going for lectures because I knew that at the end of the day I would play football. I knew that God gave me the talent. I went to the university just to acquire the certificate and to please my father.
Professional career
By the time I graduated from the university, Ebonyi Angels of Abakaliki, a Professional League team invited me after I scored against them in the State Challenge Cup final. I played about two matches with the team before the state government said they could no longer fund the team and disbanded it. I left for Anambra United. But I took ill after a while and left for Lagos to treat myself. When I recovered from the illness, I returned to Anambra United and played a few matches before somebody asked me to Kaduna United because the club needed an attacker. Within that period, the coach Maurice Cooreman spoke to me on phone and said, Jude they said you are a good striker come to Kaduna let me see you. That was how I came down to Kaduna. When I arrived at the training I told him that I was not a top striker but a support striker, I used to play from the flank. But after watching me in training, he said no, you have the potentials of a top striker, you have the heart. You will play as my point man. I said okay. We played a match, 2-Aside, and I was in the reserve team. Later they decided to draft me into the first team in the match against Kwara United last season. That morning, we had a light workout after which the coach announced the list and I was to start the match. He told me to simply play the way I played during the training match and reminded me that the fans would be expecting a lot from me.
That was my first match and at the end of the day I was voted the man of the match. Against Sharks I came in as a substitute and did the same in the next match. Then against Heartland in Owerri I was going to start but I sustained an injury and was out for about one month. When I came back from the injury, we travelled to Bayelsa United and I thought that I would play as a substitute, but coach started me in the match and I was surprised. But I accepted the responsibility as a professional. I scored my first goal in Kaduna United in that match. At the end of the season, I scored 12 goals in the league and eight in the Federation Cup making a total of 20 goals. This season I've scored three continental goals, one in the Federation Cup and 15 goals in the league making a total of 19 goals so far.
Personal Target
It is the dream of every player in the domestic league to play abroad, particularly, in Europe. As a striker, you need to score goals so that your goals can speak for you. The coach would always tell me, as a striker, keep on scoring so that you can get a professional deal in Europe. So I always try to put the ball at the back of the net.
Typical match day
Normally, I just wake up on a typical match day, pray to God and I tell myself, Jude, today you have to score. Sometimes, before the match, people would tell me, Jude today you're going to score and I would say, sure. Nothing bothers me. I don't think about anything. I don't even pray so much.
I'm not afraid of defenders
Yes, sometimes, I wish I didn't encounter certain defenders on he pitch. As a central striker it is usually difficult for you to score because you have to cope with a many challenges. You must be fast to beat two to three defenders and then the goalkeeper. It's even more difficult to meet the goalkeeper one-on-one and score. The toughest defenders I have met on the pitch are the defenders of Warri Wolves. Those two defenders are very tall and strong and they're very good in the air, Ike ThankGod and one Azubuike something (Egwuekwe). After the match, they came to me and said, guy do they pay you extra? They said no attacker had given them tough time like me before. I really defied their height and size. But I must confess that both defenders were the ones that really gave me tough times both home and away. But I'm not afraid of any defender because football has to do with strong mind. I frustrate defenders. I get then angry and make them lose focus. That way, I make things easy for myself.
Wish to play for bigger team
Yes, sometimes. I wish to play in a bigger team in Nigeria like Heartland, Enyimba, Dophins or Kano Pillars. Even last season I had contact from some of these clubs asking me to come and play them. But the fact that I play under a good coach that is very experienced and knows what is good for me, having been in Nigeria for so many years with a rich knowledge of Nigerian football, motivates me to remain with Kaduna United. He tells me, Jude work with me and I will make you. I would love to play in other clubs but right now, playing in Nigerian League does not really excite me. With the rate at which I'm going, very soon, by the special I shall get a good offer from abroad. Hopefully this would be my last season in Nigerian League because I'm having a lot of contacts from abroad.
Invitation to national team
I'm not surprised that I've not received a call up to any of the national teams. You know Nigerian football. A journalist once asked me, guy, you need to be in one of the national teams. But I'm not really bothered because the coaches in the national teams read the newspapers and watch the television. But for now, it does not disturb me whether I'm invited to the national team or not. My mind is just focused on how to leave the country to play abroad because I know that once you're a foreign-based player, they would be calling you, come and play. Nobody seems to have confidence in home-based players. But believe me, I can play in any club in the whole world. Just give me the opportunity. Football is a gift to me from God.
Graduate player
Being a graduate only gives me exposure but it does not add anything to my game. Education is quite different from football. Education only helps me to relate with people.
Father's impression about football career
My father has negative impression about my career as a footballer. But recently when he travelled abroad and came back, he was in a bank with my younger brother and somebody sent money from abroad to his mother and when she changed the money it was so much. And my father asked the woman what his son does abroad and she replied that he plays football. And he wondered, so playing football could be so lucrative. May be I should jut give this guy a chance to play football. People do call him to tell him how good I'm playing but he is hardly thrilled by the rave reviews I enjoy in the sporting media. I hope that on day, perhaps, when I move to Europe, he would change his mind and begin to support my football career.
My strong points as a striker
I'm good with the head. That's my strongest point as a striker. I score most of my goals with the head. And I'm physically strong. I can take on any defender on the pitch.