Benue State-born Nigeria football star Gift Orban has disclosed why players show a reference for European countries over Africa when it comes to national representation. In his interview shared by Fabrizio Romano, Orban said that states and Charities in European countries can help you when you get bankrupt, but the reverse is the situation in Africa—asserting that life is nearly impossible when you are poor in Africa.
“I can’t explain it because you can’t understand. You were born in Europe, it’s not like being born in Africa.”
“If you’re poor in France, the state can help you, charities can help you and take care of you. In Africa, no one gives you anything, and you die of hunger.”
“That’s why we all want to play football. Where I grew up, if you’re in a poor family, life is impossible.”
Furthermore, he discussed his zeal to succeed in life so he could help the poor and the orphans.
“That’s what gives you determination… now, I want to succeed in life to be able to help. Not only my family, that’s already obviously the case, but I want to help all poor people, orphans.”
While Gift refuses to explain explicitly, he revealed that being poor in Africa and the European countries has no proximity.
“There are poor in Europe and poor in Africa. You can’t compare, it’ll never be the same. You need to have lived it like I have. You get up in the morning, and you find nothing to eat, don’t ask me to go into detail”.
Gift recently moved to Lyon from Genk for a fee of around 15m. In his 10th cap with Lyon since joining in January, he has only seen the back of the net once.
Having represented Nigeria at the Academy level, Orban has been invited to the senior team of the Eagles yet to make an appearance.
