‘Obagoal’ hopeful of August return

28 June 2011

Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has told MTNFootball.com he hopes to be fit and playing again in about a month.

‘Obagoal’ underwent surgery for a stress fracture in London and he has now said he hopes to complete his rehabilitation in Italy and be back playing for his Russian club Rubin Kazan.

“I hope to be back soon, say in a month and a bit,” the striker disclosed to MTNFootball.com.

“I miss football because it is my life.”

The 26-year-old striker revealed that he has had to spend most of his holidays in Lagos indoors because of the rains.

Martins still has three years left on his contract with his Russian club and admitted he would have preferred to stay put in England after his loan spell at Birmingham City.

He would also maintain he has so far not faced racists’ attack in Russia, like those of compatriot Osaze Odemwingie and most recently Brazil World Cup star Roberto Carlos.

“I don’t know about that because I just train and go back home and so far I have not experienced it,” he said.

Injury has kept Martins out of the Super Eagles team Samson Siasia is rebuilding, but he told MTNFootball.com he hopes to be back in the international setup once he has regained full fitness.

“It’s a great honour to play for your country, but there is no point being there if you are half-fit,” he said.“The Eagles are doing well and I hope to rejoin them very soon when I’m fit again.”