Christian Obodo: National Team Refused To Play When I Was Kidnapped

Published: May 29, 2013

Nigeria international Christian Obodo has sensationally revealed to the media in Belarus that he was courted to play for the Italian National Team by former manager Marcello Lippi.

''I chose to play for Nigeria. When I played for Perugia in 2002, Marcello Lippi came to watch me and told me I have to play for Italy.

''But parents have asked me to play for my native country. And in the first game for Nigeria I scored a goal,'' Obodo said to pressball.by.

The 29 - year - old central midfielder was kidnapped while holidaying in Warri last summer. Just a day later, he was rescued by the Nigeria Police.

''At 8 am I arrived at the church where I was attacked by a group of armed men. To be honest, I'm slightly worried because I knew they were not going to kill me.

''They needed only money. I asked why they do it in a day, because all the banks are closed. And the amount they asked for, was not home.

''In fact, the kidnappers were not aggressive towards me. On the contrary, even apologized for the inconvenience and I was removed from mosquitoes,'' says the Dinamo Minsk star.

Adding to his previous statement, Christian Obodo said:

''Thank God, everything was resolved very quickly. Police struggled to search for me. And I was quickly found.

''Struck by the fact that the day after, that as I was kidnapped, the national team of Nigeria refused to play until I was found. I was shocked by it. But I was incredibly pleased that so many people are worried about me.''

The skillful midfielder joined Belarusians Dinamo Minsk in the winter transfer market after rejecting the overtures of CSKA Sofia and APOEL, Cyprus.

Photo Credit: dinamo-minsk.by