YOUNG Nigerian striker Gift Orban has declared that he will one day want to play in the English Premier League with either Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool after beginning his professional career in Norway.
The 20-year-old Gent star is however not keen on Arsenal, whom he accuses of lacking the will to win after they blew an eight-point lead to be on the verge of losing the Premier League title to Manchester City.
“I hear the rumours about a transfer. But at the moment I only think about KAA Gent. I still have four years of contract here and I am not working on a departure,” he told Belgian outfit Sportsza.
“But of course I hope to play in a big league one day. You have to aim high in life and who says no to a bigger salary? But I’m still too young for Saudi Arabia, I want to experience football to the fullest. Playing in a stadium with three supporters is not for me.
“Above all, I want to end up somewhere where I am comfortable. Do you want to go to a big club where you don’t get much playing time and life is a bit difficult? Or do you prefer a team where you feel comfortable and play? Every player will choose the latter. Except for 35-year-olds who only do it for the money.”
He then mentioned the league and the clubs he prefers and the one he wants to avoid in the interview published today.
“My ultimate dream is to play in the Premier League. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City. Only Arsenal I don’t like – it’s like they don’t want to win titles. I want to go somewhere where they do.”
Orban, who is yet to play for Nigeria at any level, revealed how his childhood in Lagos has toughened him up.
“Do you know why I will never be afraid even against Real Madrid? Because I am a child of the streets. My parents both had a house – my father in Nigeria, my mother in Togo – but I started playing football as a little boy in the suburbs of Lagos,” the outspoken youngster explained.
“As a child you experience things that you should not really see. People are hurt, are under the influence of drink and drugs…it is a difficult life, but it makes you mentally strong.
“My parents always let me out. For example, they never pushed me to stay longer at school because they knew I was still playing football. I had to run away during class to play a match, so I passed the next day at school. Why? It got on my nerves.”
Orban narrated his journey from Lagos to Belgium, including a tough stopover at second division Norwegian club Stabaek.
“I didn’t go to a football academy until I was thirteen. I needed my freedom – I could do my own thing on the street, while at an academy they yell at you.
“Still, my dad wanted me to give it a chance, with the promise that I could leave if I felt bad. Deal. After a while it worked out well.
“One day a tournament was organised in the area, where many foreign scouts were present, including the technical director of Stabaek.
“As a child I played on the beach all the time. In the sand you not only play football, but you develop all the muscles. Fortunately, because in Nigeria you have to be famous to afford the gym.
“After those test matches, the director of Stabaek arranged for me to go to Norway. Did I not hope for a more famous football country? Many African players dream of an opportunity like this, it is a struggle to get to that level. I did not earn anything, but was determined to fight.
“I have to admit: life was difficult there. For the first time I experienced temperatures around and below zero degrees. And that Norwegian language…it hurt my ears.”
Orban endured a rough start to his European sojourn before an unexpected break came at the end of January.
“I really didn’t like that country and was alone at home watching series. There were also no African restaurants anywhere, as there are many here (in Belgium). The only thing I ate there was rice with chicken. At one point I even got sick from the weather and the food,” he said.
“There were also a lot of positive things. We had a good team and everyone was cool with me. But in my head I quickly decided that I would do my utmost to take the next step.
“Still, I never pushed to leave Stabaek – my agent takes care of those things. I didn’t even know until the last minute that I was going to leave. On that January 31st I was preparing for the new season, we had the day after a match. Suddenly they called me: I had to pack up and leave for Belgium.
“I was happy, because I had known KAA Gent for a long time via Instagram. It is not yet the absolute top, but it is a glorious club in Belgium, where you can gain a lot of experience and which has a good reputation in major competitions.”
Orban has scored 19 goals in 19 appearances in Belgium, but he cannot pick a favourite strike.
“What was my favourite goal here so far? All of them,” he said.
“You know, I never think about goals for long. If I score five times later, I will have forgotten it the next day – I forget. That’s why I keep moving forward. You have to have the mentality to always want keep scoring.
“Of course it helps that I feel great in Gent. My relationship with the coach, my teammates and the board is good – everyone loves me here. I can’t forget mister Peter (team manager Balette) He’s even there for me when I call him at 1am. He’s like a father and I’m his son.”
