Exclusive: Anthony Ujah Q&A

23 June 2011

Ujah ready for the big stage

The 20-year-old Lillestrom striker is set to take his shooting boots to a big stage soon after painting Norway with goals.

The full interview:

MTNFootball.com: Tony, congratulations on your second set of four goals on Sunday in Norway this season. It seems you are forming a habit of scoring four goals in a game.

Anthony Ujah: (laughing out loud) It has not been easy but we thank God.

MTNFootball.com: The way you are going now, how many goals are you targeting to now score?

I want to score 20 goals, last season I scored 14.

MTNFootball.com: Your goals have already attracted so many suitors including Brondby of Denmark, but the report in the media is that they have been scared away by the two million euros asking price by your club.

Brondby are still interested in signing me and money is not really the issue because they have investors.

But my club too are not in a rush and would want to wait a little longer before they take a decision.

Because of Brondby other clubs have also become interested. We now have clubs like Mainz (Germany), Nancy (France) and CSKA Moscow, who have called my agent.

MTNFootball.com: Are you worth the two million euros Lillestrom are now asking for?

My records have shown that my club are not asking for too much. I’m under contract and I’m loyal to my club.

MTNFootball.com: How soon do you think your future will be resolved?

I hope any time from now because I really need my holidays at least for two weeks before I report back for pre-season.

MTNFootball.com: In January, you were very close to signing for Spanish club Real Mallorca?

I was in Spain to sign but half an hour to the transfer deadline Mallorca could not produce the bank guarantee as demanded by my club.

I was disappointed but because I have worked very hard, I know I will have so many of such opportunities. I therefore returned to my club in good faith.

MTNFootball.com: Were you to choose, where would you want to play next season?

I want to go to a big stage where I would continue my development for the next two, three years. Really a step higher than where I am now. I want to keep learning and also improve my profile.

MTNFootball.com: What has got you this far within such a short time?

Number one is God and prayers. There is also my determination to succeed in Europe. I am hungry for success, I put in extra work and from a very young age my parents gave me all the support I needed in my career.

MTNFootball.com: Norway too has been good place for you to begin your career in Europe, like a finishing school before you head to the big time.

Yes, Mikel and Ogbuke also took such a step. It is a stepping stone for you to show yourself to other clubs in Europe, it’s not likely that Chelsea would have come to the Nigerian league to get Mikel. Norway is therefore a good place to start in Europe.

Today, there are so many Nigerians doing well here, (Solomon) Owello, Nosa (Igiebor), Fengor (Ogude) and Kim Ojo, who has so far scored seven goals.

MTNFootball.com: Nigerians don’t usually get to follow your exploits on television like they would other Nigerians in the English Premier League for instance. What kind of a striker are then?

I’m a top nine. I have power with my head and also have shots. I’m not a dribbler. I focus less on skills. I’m a striker who just wants to score goals because as a striker it is the number of goals you score you will be rated by. I also play for the whole team. I can trouble defenders when I don’t have the ball.

MTNFootball.com: You made your debut for the Nigeria Olympic team earlier this month in Tanzania. How was it?

I played the last 25 minutes in Tanzania and I believe I gave a good impression. I was to have started the return leg match in Nigeria along with Odion (Ighalo) but for the fact that I had to be with my club.

For the first five minutes when I came on, it was like I was in dream land because this has always been my dream and to now actually experience it, it was incredible.

I now look forward to a long lasting career with the various national teams, I don’t want to be a one-off.

MTNFootball.com: Are Dream Team V living up to their name?

There is a lot of talent all through this side and competition for places is very serious and this can only be good for Nigeria.

I am proud to be part of this team and I just want to get my chance to prove myself.

I followed our second leg match against Tanzania on the internet by half time as we were also playing about the same time in Norway. I scored a goal by half time and in the second half I scored three goals.Nigeria have done well lately at the Olympics and our target is to emulate what they achieved in 1996 – Olympic Gold.

I’m therefore looking forward to playing in London next year.