Sunshine Stars midfielder, Kehinde Adedipe, talks about his love for music, relationship with fans and how he relaxes, in this interview with ‘TOSIN OLUWALOWO
How did you become a footballer?
I started playing football from birth because my father was also a footballer and he wanted us to follow his footsteps and become professional footballers. So, the passion for football started from a young age, with my brother and me, because our father wanted us to also play the game.
How was it like playing football while growing up?
I just loved playing football because I saw many people and so many great stars coming up and I looked up to them and wanted to be like them. That was the passion that pushed me into the game, and seeing some people around me in town playing football. I saw how good they were and I aspired to be like them.
If you were not a footballer, what else would you have been?
I would have become an engineer, an estate agent or a businessman because I grew up in a business-oriented family.
You have played across several cities in Nigeria. Which would you say is your favourite?
I enjoyed playing in Port Harcourt and Enugu, they are outside my state and I had to adapt to life, leave my comfort zone and chart my career course somewhere else. Port Harcourt has a social atmosphere because there are so many recreational facilities there. There is also the seaport and many other water areas where one can relax. There are times when there wouldn’t be any game when I can just go to the recreational centre to look at nature, wildlife and the likes.
What do you do when not playing football?
I mostly relax at home, stay with my family, listen to music or watch football.
Who is your best Nigerian musician?
My number one is P-Square. I love their songs; I can’t say which one is best because I have almost all of their songs on my phone and I listen to them every day. The situation warrants the song you listen to, and their songs carry everything about life. When you are happy, there are ones you can listen to, if you want to relax, you have another or you are even thinking about your life or family and loved ones, so all their songs fit in for me.
As a big P-Square fan, how did you feel when you heard about their break-up?
I felt bad because I believe they were the ones that made me start listening to Nigerian music. I preferred foreign music until I started listening to them. I believe they will still be back together because I believe there is no straight road in life, there are ups and downs, so I believe their crisis period is their down moment and they will come back together again.
Now that they are not together, which of Rudeboy and Mr P do you listen to the most?
I listen to Rudeboy more.
How do you relate with your female fans?
It has not been easy, but a disciplined person will always be a disciplined person. So, having a female fan calling or talking to you, and even ask to snap with me when I am with my family and my wife beside me isn’t easy. But the moment they greet me, my wife knows they are my fans, she understands everything about me and my profession.
What is your normal pre-match ritual before every game?
In the morning after taking my breakfast, I rest, after the pre-match talk, I rest again, listen to music and I talk to my family before every game, if they are not around, I talk to my wife and she prays for me before going for the game.
Some footballers say they have sex before going out for every game, is that he same with you?
That’s why I said we are different. What will work for me might not work for somebody else. On match-days, some people just like to walk around after eating, some people like to joke, laugh and play. But there are some other players that don’t pick phone calls on match-days, they don’t talk to anybody. So, I don’t know, having sex before games is what works for them, if it doesn’t work for them, they won’t do it.
But what is your view about that personally, do you think it takes strength away from giving one’s best on the field of play?
I believe so, but the person that does that believes that is the best for him before every game. What I don’t do, I don’t believe others shouldn’t do it.
What was your first car?
My first car was a Toyota Camry 2012 model which I bought in 2018.
What’s your model car you would love to drive?
That will be a Range Rover or a Toyota Venza.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
