Training, sleeping secret of my fitness at 40 –Falcons captain, Ebi

Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi, 40, featured at a record sixth FIFA World Cup — the first African to achieve the feat — at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The defender, in this interview with ’TANA AIYEJINA, bares it all on her career, staying fit at 40, her return to the domestic league and more

One of the major highlights of the 2003 World Cup was you appearing in a record sixth tournament. How does this make you feel?

I think I fulfilled a dream that I never had or thought was possible. I realised that whatever you put your heart to, nothing is impossible to achieve. I will say I am very grateful to God for giving me the strength because it wasn’t easy and for giving me the patience over the obstacles and every negativity and doubts that I couldn’t achieve it. I am grateful.

What is the secret to your longevity?

I will say first of all, I like training, I like to sleep a lot, because I feel when I sleep, I get back my strength. I have some things I take, which I will reveal later so it can help people stay active and fit as well. Also, I try to mind my business because I know there are so many negative things out there. You need to stay healthy and fit to still be active at 40.

How long do you think your legs can still carry you in football?

I just follow my body and I follow my strength every day and every second. The day I feel that ‘Oh, Onome, it’s time, it’s getting to that point’, I will definitely tell myself it’s time. For now, I am just enjoying every moment and being disciplined in what I eat, what I do, how I feel, and how I react, that’s just it. I can’t say I will retire at any particular time, but when the need comes, when I feel it, I will definitely answer my body.

What motivated you to return to Nigeria to sign for Naija Ratels?

There is so much behind my coming back home and signing for the youngest team in Nigeria. If we can remember back then what I was in China, I had my foundation and it was created to support the women’s league in Nigeria. I had the plan since, but I started it when I was in China, and after the league, I gave the winners, runners-up and the third-place teams something. My brand gave them something, so that has always been the plan, to always give back to our league. Before the 2023 World Cup, Naija Ratels were invited when FIFA came to unveil the trophy in Nigeria. I saw the organisation of the team, they are disciplined, and I had to find out what team this was, and when I heard about them, it led me to think differently. Before the World Cup, I met with the founder of the team, Paul Edeh, and when I told him my plan, he assured me that whatever I decided to do, he was going to support me. So, that encouraged me and after the World Cup, I said to myself, ‘I think now is the best time to do this.’ I went to him and told him I wanted to play for his team, and he was surprised because he believed I had opportunities outside the country. I explained myself to him, letting him know what I want to achieve, and he was really open to me and willing to support me. So, that was the reason for coming back home, to support our league and push our league to the next level. I know so many people never saw it coming but that’s Onome for you, I do what pleases me and I don’t care whoever likes it or not. I am very impressed with the reactions of so many Nigerians, that they love it and they appreciate it. It is something I really want to do from my heart, not for anybody. So, I’m always for the league and I’ll support the league anytime.

Were there initial challenges when you started football?

Sure, 100 per cent, there were so many challenges. Mostly back then when women’s football was nothing, my parents never gave me that 100 per cent support. My dad was like, ‘okay, you can play, but you have to go to school’, so that was my big challenge.  My father never thought I could combine going to school and playing football at the same time. So, him seeing me, being very disciplined in my training, going to training and going to school at the same time,  assured him that okay,  I can combine both, I can go to school and play football.  It wasn’t easy though, I’m just saying it like this just to cut it short. It wasn’t easy for me to convince him but at the end, he gave me all his support and, you know,  pushed me to play.  But honestly, it wasn’t easy.

Did he punish you at some point?

Definitely, he did.  When he came back from work and he heard that I was not home, that I went for training, he would wait for me by the door. When I came in he would ask where I went to and would scold me.  It got to some point that I felt sick. Normally those days when you go to the hospital, they will admit you for like two days and you’ll be out but I was there three, four days, and it was unlike me. The doctor now had to call him (dad) and whispered to him, ‘This girl is fine, but something is bothering her, that’s why her temperature is high. If you know whatever will make her calm, do it.’ So, that was when he came to me at the hospital. I had a trip then, we wanted to go to the US for a competition and our parents were to sponsor us. But my dad was not interested, that was why I felt sick. So, he came to me at the end and told me, ‘Okay, now I see you want to play football. I know it’s because of football you are here, you don’t want to stop, that is why you’re sick. Now I see that you’re really serious about it.  I’m going to support you.’  I even still have the picture of my dad taking pictures with me when we went for the screening and everything.  My dad and mum went with me, so, that showed they completely supported me to play. I think that night I left the hospital. I think I was 15, 16 or 17 years old then.

You’ve played with several generations of Falcons players, some of the best. Which of these players would you actually say inspired you the most?