‘Alex Iwobi’s Decision to Play for Nigeria Strictly His’

By Kunle Adewale

Against the backdrop that Alex Iwobi’s decision to don the colours of the Super Eagles as against the Three Lions of England was influenced by his uncle and former national team captain, Austin Okocha, the father of the Arsenal player, Chuba Iwobi has said Alex’s decision to star for Nigeria was strictly his.

In a chat with THISDAY during the unveiling of Iwobi as the Brand Ambassador of LG Electronics at the company’s showroom in Lekki, Lagos at the weekend, the senior Iwobi said Alex’s decision to dump England for Nigeria was strictly his.

“Deciding to play for Nigeria and not England was his own decision really without any external influence. All I did was to support him, and I believe he took the right decision,” Chuba said.

Alex himself admitted that it was not an easy decision to take considering the fact that he had lived in England for almost all his years.

On when he really realised that his son could really make a career in football, Iwobi Snr who said he started taking Alex to the park to train as early as when he was 18 months revealed his son showed great promise of becoming a great footballer at a very early age.

LG Electronics officially signed on Iwobi as its official brand ambassador.

Speaking at the unveiling, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Taeick Son said: “the choice of Alex Iwobi went through a thorough process and in the end we zeroed in on him, going by his antecedent in the field of play and most importantly how he is generally perceived as a player around the globe, we have no doubt whatsoever that he is the right face to represent the brand, and at the end he would do us all proud.”

Responding, Iwobi said: “For me this is a rear privilege and honour to be the Brand Ambassador of a renowned electronics giant as LG Electronics, I must say I am indeed happy and I will continue to do my best in the field of play which obviously was what attracted the brand to me in the first place and secondly, as an ambassador of the brand I will continue to perform in ways that connect with the performance of the brand in millions of homes.”