MY LOVE STORY WITH HALIMA ABUBAKARÂ -IFEANYI UDEZE

Former Super Eagles ace defender,  Ifeanyi Udeze has finally opened up on his alleged romance with diminutive  Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar.  In this exclusive interview with Entertainment Express, the one time PAOK Salonika of Greece captain spoke at length on his relationship with the Kogi State-born thespian as well as other personal issues.
Udeze, a member of the Super Eagles squad that participated at the 2002 and 2004 African Cup of Nations also commented on the performance of coach Stephen Keshi-led Super Eagles at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa, life after football, his business empire among other issues.
The father of three from Imo State, also spoke on the injury that has completely kept him out of active soccer, for almost a decade.

It’s been a long time, how are you doing?
We thank God for keeping us alive to see the year 2013. It is not by our power or might. To God be the glory.
What are your New Year resolutions for 2013?
I have a lot of resolutions but I prefer to keep them close to my chest for now.
How about your targets for the year?
I have a lot of targets for 2013.That is also personal to me. It is something I don’t want to share in public.  Action, they say, speaks louder than words.
How do you see the ongoing African Cup of Nations in South Africa?
It has been a great tournament with lots of  surprises. I think it should be one of the best Nations Cup in recent time. My prayer is that Nigeria should bring the trophy back home.
Are you still hoping that we can win the trophy despite starting on a poor note?
I think we have a good chance of going all the way for the trophy because we have the players who can do it for us. But that will only be possible if the players see themselves as a united family with one mind and one team spirit. Above all, they must raise the quality of their games.
Which of the 16 countries taking part in the Nations Cup are you tipping for glory?
For now, I only know about my country Nigeria. I hope and believe that God’s favour will continue to be with them. I am tipping the Super Eagles to lift the cup.
Do you think we are missing the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche and Taye Taiwo in South Africa?
I don’t have much to say about who he picks and who he does not pick. Stephen Keshi is the chief coach, he knows what is best for the team. Nevertheless, I believe the presence of Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Osaze and especially Taye Taiwo would have made a lot of difference in helping the team. Like I said earlier on, he is the chief coach and he has the final say. If the team flies high, he takes the glory and when they fail to fly he takes the blame too.
How would you rate Taye Taiwo and Elderson Echiejile in the Super Eagles’ left wing back position?
It is too obvious that we are missing Taye at the Nations Cup. Taye is a more experienced player in that position. There is no doubt that Echiejile is a promising player but Taye is more experienced. This is just a personal opinion.
Let’s deviate from football a bit and talk about your life style. How do you relax?
Whenever I am in town and  less busy, I relax at home with my family. I club with my friends once in a while but it is not an everyday thing.
It was recently reported by an online media that you have turned a gambler. How true is the story?
It is annoying and disrespectful for a sane human being to have written such a malicious thing about me. Instead of people to show concern on how I am coping with the injury I sustained in the course of playing for Nigeria so many years ago, they are busy assassinating my character. Is that the price to pay for serving the nation? I know those behind the story and I will do everything within my power to make sure they are brought to book. My friends and family felt bad about the story but I have told them not to worry about it.
You had a career-threatening injury which you are still battling with, what is the position of the injury now?
You can see that I am still down. It is unfortunate that I have been jumping from one operation to another. Even if it is not possible for me to play active football any more, I will feel happy if I am able to at least play football for fun and enjoy myself with my friends once in a while. I will be having my last operation in the United States very soon and I pray God to help make it successful.
There were rumours that your injury was caused by a spiritual attack because you rejected a chieftaincy title given to you by your community in Orlu, Imo State. How true is this?
I don’t know what they are talking about (laughs). It is really a funny thing. Everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. It is a free world. Yes it’s true that I was honoured with chieftaincy titles some couple of years ago. I took some and turned down some. For instance, I am the Okwute na eshi mmiri of Umu Obum. My people love me so much and they can never hurt me because I refused to take their chieftaincy title. That is not possible. Chieftaincy title has nothing to do with my injury.
Could you still remember when you sustained the injury?
Why not? I still remember vividly. I sustained  the injury while I was in action for the 2006 World Cup qualifier match between Nigeria and Angola in Kano.
You played professional football in Greece for so many years before making your debut for Nigeria. Were you at any time approached by the Greek football federation to play for them as it is usually the case with some other Nigerian footballers abroad?
Yes, Greece actually approached me to play for them in 2000 before Nigeria came calling. I chose to play for Nigeria despite the mouth-watering offers they used to tempt me. I love my fatherland and I cannot run away from serving my country of birth so I decided to come back home to play for the Super Eagles.
How helpful has the Nigeria Football Federation been since you started nursing this injury?
It is a pity that nobody has cared to show concern towards my plight. If I had known I would have gone ahead to play for Greece knowing that they would have taken better care of me.
You seem to be regretting playing for Nigeria?
I have no regret at all. I am just expressing my feelings. I had wonderful memories with the Super Eagles and I am proud of flying the green-white-green colours of Nigeria.
What are your targets in the next five years?
First and foremost, I pray for good health and long life so I can take my young company to the next level. By the grace of God, I am the CEO of an oil company which is gradually growing.
Prior to athe Nations Cup, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi had a disagreement with Osaze Odemwingie and as a result of that he dropped him from his team and it led to the player lambasting Keshi on his Twitter handle. What is your take on this?
I have not spoken with Osaze to hear his own side of the story. But if he actually did a thing like that, it is disrespectful of him. I hope to speak with him soon before heaping blames. It will be  unfair to shave Osaze’s hair in his absence.
Let’s go a bit personal, so much has been said about you having a love affair with Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar,  we would like to know the true story?
That was a false story. I am a happily married man with three kids. One boy and two girls so I don’t have anything to do with Halima Abubakar. We are just friends and there is no romantic or emotional attachment to it. Honestly, I don’t have a love affair with Halima.
It was also rumoured that you have been showering cash and gifts on her
That is a big lie.  How can I shower her with cash and gifts when there is nothing between us, is that not ridiculous? If I want to buy gifts, I will buy for my mother or my wife and our three kids. Nobody should believe such stories. They are all white lies against me.
Do you subcribe to celebs marrying themselves?
Celebrities are human beings. There is nothing wrong with them getting married to themselves. It is a good thing. It is all about understanding. If they understand themselves there will be no problem. For instance, look at Joseph Yobo and his wife Adaeze. They are good role models for people to emulate. Nobody has ever heard anything negative about their marriage. Yobo is a fine gentle man and Adaeze is a cool-headed, down-to-earth woman. Their marriage has so far been successful. The most important thing in marriage is understanding. That is the key to every successful marriage.

Source: Sun