By Valentine Amanze
Super Eagles of Nigeria and Manchester United striker, Jude Odion Ighalo, says he does not use juju to play football.
But he revealed that his investment in charity was the secret of his current status in his career.
Ighalo, who was the highest goals scorer in the last edition of African Nations Cup, with five goals, disclosed that whenever he had a deep in form he calls children in his orphanages for prayers.
“Whenever the children in my orphanages pray for me I receive instant result.
“It was their prayers that helped me get a fat contract in China, which I used to build my mansion in Lagos.
“I built the orphanages in Lagos and Abuja before building my mansion. Before my career break, while in Ajegunle Lagos, I had prayed to God to help me provide shelter for the orphans and widows,” he said.
Ighalo was talking in a live programme of Brila FM Lagos on Thursday.
On his move to Manchester United, Ighalo said that it was a dream come true.
According to him, the Manchester United is his childhood club.
He said that every member of his family loved the Manchester club, including his mother and the late sister, stressing, “That was why I did not hesitate when the offer came from the Manchester club.”
The striker also revealed why he shunned the 400, 000 pounds per week offer from the Chinese club to play for less for Manchester United.
“The offer was tempting; but money is not everything. I weighed both offers and realized the benefits that come to you after playing for Manchester United; it is a life-long benefit. The China money is quite huge but stops when you quit the club,” he said.
Besides, Ighalo did not rule out going back to China after his stay at Manchester United.
On the current Super Eagles team, the striker, who quit the national team after the last edition of the Nations Cup, said that he was in touch with the Super Eagle manager, G. Rohr, and other players like Victor Osimhen, whom he said comes from the same state (Edo) with him.
He described the present Super Eagles team as a bunch of young, good and talented players, stressing that he might reconsider his stand on the national team.
According to him, “For now my priority is club football; though I speak with Rohr every week. He even congratulated me when I signed the contract with the Manchester United.”
Ighalo also revealed his plan after retirement.
The striker, who has scored four goals in eight appearances for Man Unted, said that he was building a football academy at Epe Lagos, which he would use to boost the growth of football in Nigeria.
