At the beginning of December we sat together with Chidera Ejuke in the tavern of the MAS. In the run-up to the gala match against Barcelona, the Nigerian winger, who had finally ended up in the starting eleven, gave us an insight into his youth years in Zaria and Kaduna.
Jullie verkiezen Chidera Ejuke tot Player of the Month! 👊🔴⚪ #RAFC #AntwerpFirst pic.twitter.com/UwPY0ftL2v
— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) April 3, 2024
He also said that he couldn’t wait to visit his home again during the winter break, and not just to hand out football boots – shoes that he only received when he was thirteen. No, also just “for some good energy”, he added.
It quickly became clear afterwards that this had done him good, because in 2024 Ejuke started playing even better and became more important for Antwerp. He has started all fourteen matches so far and played a crucial role in qualifying for the cup final and the Champions’ play-offs. He is shining in the press room of the Bosuil.
“Of course it gave me a boost to see everyone again during the Christmas period,” he says. “My family – and especially my mother, who was super happy – but also my friends, with whom I always go out and play on the street like I used to. It was really nice. I was able to clear my head and return with a big smile.”
Superiority
In the meantime, the Ejukes have to stream the matches again to be able to see Chidi, but that is by no means a punishment, because he provides the show every week.
Even in his lesser matches, he always has a few worthwhile actions, in the style of his old idols Ronaldinho and Jay-Jay Okocha – so nice they named him twice. “When Okocha got the ball, you knew he was going to do something special,” he says. But that also applies to himself.
“Very nice to hear. But it’s not like I just dribble for the sake of dribbling, or necessarily to make fun of someone. Of course I want to enjoy myself on the field – the coach also tells me to do that – but with my dribbling I mainly want to create space and opportunities, for myself or for a teammate. Because winning remains the most important thing.”
Mark van Bommel has further instilled that winning mentality. He has ensured that Ejuke also takes his defensive duties to heart – the winger recently recovered ten balls against STVV.
“One hundred percent correct! The coach gives me advice about that and I have to say: I even enjoy defending now. You help the team, and stealing a ball from someone also gives you a boost. It gives you a feeling of superiority over your opponent. Very nice.”
Cold and rain
In short: Ejuke is feeling great. “This club feels like a family and the fans are great. The atmosphere in the stadium always gives me a boost,” he says. Then we would think he would like to stay here.
This season he is playing football in Deurne-Noord due to a favourable measure for players from war zone Russia, but his four-year contract with CSKA Moscow expires in June and he could come over permanently.
“Staying in Antwerp is certainly one of the options, I am not saying no in advance. But to be honest, I’m not concerned with that at all. I am completely focused on the play-offs. Once those are over, we can start thinking about the future and talking about it.”
Becoming a free agent for the first time in his career clearly doesn’t stress him out.
“I’m an easy guy. I take it as it comes. I also have a manager who deals with that – Atta Aneke – so I’m not worried at all. Neither does my girlfriend. She’s happy here, but she’s happy wherever we go.”
That’s easy. But what we wondered when we drove to the stadium in the pouring rain: is Ejuke no longer made for a southern competition? We certainly don’t want to call him a fair-weather footballer, who only performs at plus twenty degrees, but we simply associate his type of player more with Spain or Italy. Less with Germany, Russia, Friesland,…
(grins) “The thing is: I started in Norway. It was so cold there and there was so much snow that I got quite used to those kinds of conditions. In comparison, Heerenveen and Antwerp are not too bad. So it doesn’t matter much to me where I play. As long as I play. I no longer have any specific football dreams, because I have already achieved my biggest dream – becoming a professional.”
First cup final
But believe us: he secretly dreams of starring at the Heysel. There he can finally win a first prize in his career on Thursday, May 9, against Union.
“Yes, that is something big. I’ve never been in a cup final before, so I’m really looking forward to it.” Again: without stress. “I’m never actually nervous before a competition. It’s just football, right? You just have to do your best. It may happen that you are having a bad day, but all you have to do is go for it.”
Adapted from GVA
