John Obi Mikel: It is never too late to make a mark, by Simbo Olorunfemi

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In the last few years, Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi has grown in stature. He has re-invented himself – for club and more importantly for country.

It is not just about his play on the field but more importantly about his conduct off-field. He was so influential and dominant in one of Chelsea’s matches last season that the fans erupted into a musical band in his honour.

Years back, it might have been difficult to secure Mikel’s services for the Olympics, especially at a time his club had just secured the services of a new Manager, with everyone who mattered in the club eager to display allegiance to the new man and secure a place in the team. Mikel chose country ahead of self-interest, in this instance.

Perhaps, his participation at the Olympics might have even served him better to audition and secure his place in the team.

Not many could have predicted this turn-around in Mikel’s career, especially with his love-hate relationship with Nigeria/Nigerians over the years. But it would appear that Mikel has succeeded in re-writing his place in Nigeria’s football history. It is never too late to make a mark.

The other day, I shared the story of South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, the South African athlete who broke the World Record in 400 metres, held for years by Michael Johnson on his way to winning Gold at the Olympics. But that story, from my perspective, was only partly his. What was even more compelling was the story of his Coach – 74-year old Great-Grandmother, Anna Botha, who has been Wayde’s coach for 4 years now.

Now that was something. I listened to her tell the story of their journey. The way she kept mouthing ‘We’, you would think she ran the race with Wayde. She most probably did, in her mind. Her methodical approach to the job was proof, to me, that she was exactly how she was described – a benevolent disciplinarian.

That must be something – a 74-year old Great-Grandmother travelled all the way from South Africa to Brazil as Coach to a young Athlete. In some part of the world, she would not have been deemed qualified to even sit on the board of the Athletics Federation. Remember, we had a civil war here over the appointment of an 83-year old man to chair a board of a commission, even when the man is still in active legal practice..

But that is the way of the world. If they do not seek to cut you down on account of gender, ethnicity, religion or something else, they will bring in the factor of age. They forget that often, age is only a thing of the mind.

Even Anna Botha was barred from gaining access to his athlete after he had won, as the Security team could not reconcile her age with her status as his Coach. They saw the badge but it did not make sense to them.

Colonel Sanders’ successful Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise story did not come to life until he was 65. It can never be too late to start. It is never too late to make a mark.