By Kayode John
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has revealed that he could have joined Italian giants AC Milan, instead of Ajax Amsterdam, where he featured alongside his compatriot Tijjani Babangida.
Oliseh moved to Ajax in 1997 from FC Koln in Germany and won the Eredivisie title with the Dutch club in the 1997/1998 season and back-to-back KNVB Cups.
The former Super Eagles captain turned 50 last Saturday, and in a special publication by Ajax to celebrate him, he recalled his time at the club between 1997 and 1999.
Oliseh revealed that the unique project presented to him by then Ajax coach, Morten Per Olsen, convinced him to move to the Netherlands.
“You’re making me feel old now. But I remember it well. I was ambitious and hungry. I wanted to make a name for myself at the club. My parents always told us: make a positive impact. Leave your mark,” he said.
“Olsen is still a friend of mine to this day. He’s one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met in my life. I could have gone to AC Milan in Italy, the biggest league at the time.
“But then Ajax and Olsen called. Morten was very clear and specific about what he wanted from me. I found the project and challenge in Amsterdam a better fit for me.”
Oliseh, who won an Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994 and Olympic gold in 1996 with Nigeria, disclosed his close bond of almost 30 years with former Super Eagles teammate Babangida.
The two were teammates at Ajax and won titles together, though Babangida spent four more seasons there after his friend left for Juventus.
They also played together in the national team, winning silver in the 2000 AFCON co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana, as well as the aforementioned Atlanta ’96 Olympic gold.
Babangida was involved in a car accident back in May in Nigeria, in which he lost family members and was badly injured himself.
Oliseh proved the level of their friendship over the incident, standing by Babangida in his hour of need.
“I just saw him yesterday, and we laughed about our time at Ajax. I flew directly to Nigeria to see him after the incident, once he was out of the hospital,” he narrated.
“He’s like a brother to me. ‘Baba’ is recovering here, and he’s doing better now than he was in Nigeria. He’s a strong man.”
