Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel
Obi who captained Nigeria’s Dream Team to the just-concluded Rio Olympics games
is still in awe of the squad’s achievement. Nigeria’s football team claimed the
nation’s first medal since 2008 at the sporting event after defeating Honduras
in the third place match on Saturday. However, the excitement the victory has brought will not wear off quickly from the 29 year-old.
“When I woke up in my hotel room on Sunday morning, I opened my eyes to
see my Olympic bronze medal lying there
beside me. It just hammered home to me what I had achieved with the rest of my
Nigeria team-mates the day before. We beat Honduras 3-2 to get the bronze
and secure Nigeria’s first Olympics medal in any sport since 2008.
All of
us went into the game knowing this and it put extra pressure on the squad to
perform.
The
team actually played very well for the most part. We controlled the game, I
created three goals to put us 3-0 up and it was all very comfortable. But we
conceded two late on and all of a sudden it looked like everything was going
downhill. They made us sweat a bit and we were relieved to come out victorious.
I was
obviously very clear before travelling to Brazil that my target was the gold
medal. But to get the bronze is still an amazing achievement. There
was a celebration at the hotel afterwards, we were all jumping around. Everyone
was so excited.
But we
managed to get everyone to sit down together and have a team meal. After
everything we have been through, it was great to have something to show for it
and we all thanked each other. I went
to sleep last night with my medal beside me; I couldn’t and didn’t want to let
it out of my sight.
It
really is a dream come true for me, for my family, my two little angels – my
twin baby girls – my wonderful girlfriend, who has supported me all the way.
I
might take the medal to the Chelsea training ground to show to the other
players – I hope I don’t make them jealous though! But
first off all I want to celebrate with my family, put it around my daughters’
neck, take pictures and make sure they get to see what daddy achieved.
This
experience has given me the hunger to do it again at the Olympics in Tokyo in
2020. I will be only 33 then and my game will still be at a high level.
I
enjoyed every minute of being in Brazil and I have been talking to the other
guys about playing in another Olympics. I’m already looking forward to it and
the countdown is on!
It’s
also provided me with a nice lift as I return to Chelsea. I will go back to see
the manager [Antonio Conte] and see what his plans are for me. I want
to get back into training and prove myself. I want to play and help the team to
win games.
I know
it will be difficult because I have missed most of pre-season and the coach has
a new way of playing. But it
is a positive thing for me that I have been playing well out here in Brazil and
I’m in good shape.
I will
need a few days off first because this tournament has been so draining. I
arrive back in London on Wednesday morning and the game against Burnley on
Saturday will come too early to feature in.
The
plan is to have a little break, which is why the timing couldn’t be better as
the season stops for two weeks for international fixtures after the Burnley
game anyway. It
will give me plenty of time to enjoy my bronze medal and reflect on what has
been a magical few weeks in my football career.
