Veteran Nollywood actor and multi‑award winner Charles Awurum talks about his love for Arsenal, the Super Eagles, and his early playing days in the Principal’s Cup in 1979 in this interview with Peter Akinbo.
When asked if he was involved in sports while at school, Awurum replied, “Yes. I played for Ansar Ud Deen High School and participated in the Principal’s Cup around 1979. I played as a number 7 and sometimes as a number 2. I was a good player; otherwise, I wouldn’t have made the team that went to the competition.” He added that the team did not progress far because they faced strong opponents such as CMS, which were dominant at the time.
Regarding a possible football career, Awurum said his father discouraged it, insisting that he focus on his studies. “If you like playing football, you still have to pass your exams,” he explained, noting that most of his time was spent studying rather than playing. He does not regret not pursuing sports professionally, saying that if football were as lucrative then as it is now, he might have considered a career, but at the time the best option was to concentrate on education and develop his talents elsewhere.
Awurum’s favourite football team is Arsenal, a club he has supported for many years. He began following Arsenal because of Nwankwo Kanu, and even after Kanu left the club, his loyalty remained. “Kanu is always my favourite player,” he said. He expressed happiness about Arsenal’s recent league success, recalling a period when the team’s inconsistency used to make fans cry.
When asked whether this season would bring a league title, Awurum responded confidently, “I don’t think we can win it, we will win it. We are winning it.”
Awurum is also a big fan of the Super Eagles. “Even if I don’t watch other teams, I must watch the Super Eagles when they play,” he said. He noted that while he used to feel devastated by losses, he now feels less affected because the players earn substantial money. “If they are out there to make money, let them do it. The players themselves don’t seem as determined to succeed as before,” he observed, suggesting a decline in the passion and commitment that once defined Nigerian football.
He believes the enthusiasm for football in Nigeria has dropped since the 1994 Eagles. “Most players don’t know what they want; they just play and come back, whether they win or lose they don’t care,” he lamented, pointing to the lack of drive that contributed to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Awurum named Austin Okocha as the best African footballer of all time, praising his contributions to Nigeria and the sport. “He never won the Best African Footballer award, and I don’t know how they selected the best players then. Okocha deserves an apology for not receiving that recognition.”
On the global stage, he declared Lionel Messi the greatest player ever, dismissing any comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo. “Messi is the best player of all time; anyone else is just trailing behind. Ronaldo’s success is more about luck and determination than extraordinary talent.”
If any of his children chose a sports career, Awurum would support them, just as his father allowed him to pursue his interests. He also mentioned that he still stays active by jogging occasionally, which he considers essential for maintaining health at his age.
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