KEY POINTS
- Comedian Gordons praises Israel Adesanya’s strategy, confidence, and pride in his Nigerian heritage.
- He reflects on the challenges faced by African sportsmen and Nigerian athletes abroad.
- Gordons expresses support for his children’s sports aspirations despite past family discouragement.
Godwin Komone, a.k.a. Gordons, is a Nigerian comedian who recently showed his support for Israel Adesanya, the UFC fighter, describing his return to Nigeria as a calculated effort to “activate African power.”
Gordons discussed his opinions on Adesanya’s performance, the difficulties African sportsmen encounter overseas, and the situation of Nigerian sports today in an interview with The Punch.
An avid sports fan, Gordons said that although he had fantasies of being a football player, his family discouraged him from participating in sports.
Although my family intended for me to concentrate on becoming a doctor or lawyer, I had a deep passion for football. “There was no motivation to participate in sports,” he clarified.
Gordons, who says Israel Adesanya is his favorite fighter in the UFC, is a big fan of the organization despite having missed out on his own sporting opportunity.
Adesanya’s return to Nigeria and African heritage
“I adore his delivery, assurance, and resolve even though he is a Nigerian. We are proud of him because he fights with strategy and doesn’t take shortcuts,” he said.
In light of Adesanya’s recent trip to Nigeria, Gordons hypothesized that the fighter needed to get back in touch with his heritage.
Gordons remarked, “You can’t use Australian food to activate African power,” alluding to Adesanya’s Australian origins.
“He returned to Nigeria because he is aware of the inherent power and vitality of Africans.” We’re hoping he’ll channel his African energy into his next battle.”
The comedian also discussed the relationship between Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, two Nigerian UFC stars who have publicly declined to compete against one another because of their brotherhood.
Gordons thinks that Nigerian expatriates share a shared sentiment regarding this fraternal bond. “Once Nigerians leave the nation, they discover they are brothers. But, unfortunately, they don’t realize this until they’re abroad,” he said.
Gordons’ views on Nigerian football and sports future
Now let’s talk about football. Gordons reminisced about the heyday of Nigerian football, which was anchored by the late Jay-Jay Okocha, the man he considers to be the country’s best football player.
“Anyone would be inspired to play football by Okocha’s enthusiasm for the game. After his tenure, I stopped following the Super Eagles,” Gordons said, adding that the team’s play had recently improved.
Gordons stated that he supports his children’s choice of career route when questioned about his thoughts on pushing them to participate in sports.
“I can’t predict their future, but I will fully support them if they wish to play sports. This industry isn’t what it used to be, but I’ll back whatever they want to do,” he said.
