NOISE AT OGBE STADIUM ATTRACTED ME TO FOOTBALL - DUDU-ORUMEN
By Kate Obodo
Godwin Dudu-Orumen is a lawyer, journalist, marketer promoter and a lover of sports. He has carved a niche for himself in the world of sports promotion. In this interview, with Hi groove, he talks about lifestyle, how he met his wife and many more.
Excerpts:
Growing Up
Growing up for me was memorable. I'm from a polygamous family, my mother was a matron in a General hospital. She also hails from a privileged family where her elder brother and her young sister trained as lawyers. So, I got gripped with life too early. Yes, growing up in a polygamous setting really taught me what life is all about.
I hail from Oke Ora in Owan Local Government Area of Edo state . But in reality, I'm more of an indigene of Delta State because my mother came from Itsekiri. I'm the first child of three children from my mother's side. But my father had 16 children from his different wives.
Godwin Dudu-Orumen
I happened to be the second child in that order. I have faced so many challenges in life. At a time, I battled and survived a cancer related ailment. I still have reasons to thank God for sparing my life up till today.
As a child, I was a handful. Whenever I was not around, everybody would feel my absence.Interestingly, I became fond of sports early in life. While growing up, I got involved in playing football in the street. One important aspect of my childhood was the fact that I respected my parents and never got involved in bizarre activities. I was respected by people who were older than me. Then, I did not cultivate the habit of smoking and drinking.
Romance with football
I encountered football very early in life way back in Warri. During my early years, I was living behind Ogbe stadium in Benin City. Obviously, the noise generated as a result of the football matches frequently played in that stadium attracted me to football. Later, I started going to the stadium to watch football matches.Then, I watched one of the best football teams in the country known as Bendel Insurance.
I also watched the then Green Eagles when they came to play in Benin. Later, I got interested in European football too, as I subscribed to foreign magazines that provided me with more information about European football. Soon, my interest in sports, especially football became stronger.
Typical day for me
My typical day begins by getting to work at 7.30am, clear my desk and eat my meals at 12 noon and I'm done for the day.
Most times, I set my appointment between 11.00am and 2.00pm . I also do everything possible to avoid being held up in traffic.After attending to my appointments, I hit the road to watch European matches for a minimum of 3-hours everyday. And of course, since my family is based abroad, I'm always at home; this means that I have to stay out of trouble.
Most times I hang out at my two sports bars in Surulere and Victoria Island with some friends. I don't do too much things outside sports- that doesn't mean I'm an introvert. It's just that I tend to watch what I do.
My kind of dressing
I wear suits most often, especially whenever I have meetings to attend. I also like T-shirts and ties. But in the 1990s, after my surgerical operation, I was advised on medical grounds not to wear ties anymore. In terms of native attires, I wear Buba and Sokoto to social gatherings.
I'm not particular about labels. I'll rather wear what makes me comfortable but if it has a label and it's worth the price, I won't hesitate to buy it.
Although I'm not too expensive in my dress sense, but I could buy a suit worth 200, to 1000 pounds. The cost is not an issue to me. Of course, my shoes and wrist-watches could be a bit expensive. I also wear good and quality perfumes. My mood also affects the way I dress. I dress as the occasion demands but I wear more of T-shirts and trousers.
My kind of car
I like big engine cars, minimum of V6 and I'm a fast driver even at my age. Reason is that, I learnt to drive very early in life and I derive joy in driving. I also like to do road journey a lot. If the road is on a good stretch, I could go as fast as 200 or 240 Kilometers per hour and within two and half hours, I'm in Benin.
Me and my Women
I have a lot of female admirers' right from time. I actually grew-up amongst women. My mother was Itsekiri and she had a lot of sisters, this made me have many aunties and I was loved by them all.
Also, in my primary and secondary school days, I had a lot of female students in my class. Even in my University days and also in the Law school, I had a lot of female friends. Coming to sports and entertainment, I have a so many female admirers but nothing intimate.
Meeting my wife
My late Uncle formed my idea of what a pretty lady would be. So, when I saw my wife at the University of Benin then, we were both freshers on campus. I knew she was going to be my wife because of the beauty she possessed. When we met, I told her I liked her and we became friends.
Really, it was not love at first sight. When I saw her, I liked her as a person especially as she was very beautiful. We dated for 10 years after which we got married. We now have two sons.
Relaxation
I relax mainly by watching sports programmes. I also play scrabble- that's one sport I enjoy most. It may also sound funny, I relax by driving and anybody who knows me would testify to the fact that I drive extremely fast. I also exercise twice or thrice in a week.
Happiest and saddest moments
I lost my younger sister and my favourite uncle but my saddest moment was when I lost my mother. Her death pained me because we were close to each other. Watching her die, was as if I was watching a movie.
She sang some glorious songs and before I could realise what was happening, she gave upthe ghost . My happiest moment was when my first son was born.
My best meal and fruits
My best meal would always remain white rice and stew or vegetable. I don't like swallowing eba, fufu or pounded yam because my system responds to such food very fast and I also put on weight very fast.
For fruits, I eat a little of them, like pineapple, carrot and apple. I don't like orange because it runs my stomach.