EXCLUSIVE: How Coach Nduka Defied Critics’ Tongue-lashing To Sign ‘Little Boy’ Mikel Obi At Plateau United

Veteran Nigerian League Coach Ndubuisi Nduka Narrates Tough Experience Giving Former Super Eagles Captain His Career Breakthrough In Jos

 

Enyimba Assistant Coach, Ndubuisi Nduka, who gave former Super Eagles Captain and midfielder, Mikel Obi, his first career leap by signing him at Plateau United at a very tender age, has exclusively told Completesports.com how he signed a “moral undertaking” before bringing Mikel to Plateau United.

Despite a modest media profile and 12 years as a journalist before fully committing to football coaching, Nduka has remained humble and deeply focused on his work.

After Enyimba’s hard-fought 3-2 comeback win against eternal rivals, Bendel Insurance of Benin in 2025/2026 NPFL Matchday 5 fixture in Aba, Completesports.com tracked the fair-skinned coach to his Aba residence.

Nduka revealed that critics accused him of “tribal” and “religious” bias in signing a young Mikel Obi in the big Nigeria Premier League club.

Nduka Recalls Early Backlash On Attempt To Sign Mikel Obi

“At that time, Aminu Zang was Chairman of Plateau United. That was when Mikel’s signing for Plateau United or not saga raged. Many saw him as a ‘little boy’ with nothing to bring to the table for the club,” Nduka began.

Also Read: Mikel: NFF Must Be Scrapped If Super Eagles Fail To Qualify For 2026 World Cup

“I faced so much harsh criticisms before I could convince the management to sign him. I remember the chairman then, Aminu Zang, wasn’t favourably disposed to give in because of pressure from outside.

“Did all I could to convince him, including telling him to ‘call me a mechanic if in two years’ time Mikel still remained in the Nigerian league’.

“Today, I’m proud that it came to pass. I’m happy for him, that what I saw in him then, has eventually manifested.”

Convincing Mikel Obi’s Family And Overcoming Doubts – Nduka

Coach Nduka, who has had coaching spells at Heartland, Taraba United and Rivers United before his current role at Enyimba, further revealed how he personally spoke to Mikel Obi’s mother for the youngster not to “disappoint” him after Plateau United eventually signed him.

“Before I signed Mikel at Plateau United then, I had earlier invited his immediate elder brother who happens to be a goalkeeper, Ebere Obi, to join us at Plateau United,” Nduka revealed.

“But his peers discouraged Ebere who felt he wasn’t going to stand any chance in between the posts in the presence of established goalkeepers like Cornelius Gopar (now 3SC goalkeepers’ coach) and Afeso Attah.

“Ebere Obi eventually went to sign for Mighty Jets, then in the lower league and from there, he moved to Rangers, and later to Heartland.

Also Read: Mikel: AFCON 2013 Win More Special Than Champions League

“So, when I invited Mikel, I had to personally speak with his mother for him not to disappoint me; that he shouldn’t fall for his peers’ discouragement. And today, the rest is history, as they often say.”

Mikel Obi’s Love for School and the Breakthrough That Changed Everything

Asked how he discovered Mikel Obi, Coach Nduka drew a long breath and began:

“One Chief Alphonsus Umeh used to sponsor a tournament called ‘Enyimba Football Competition’ back then in Jos. I watched him in several matches and I became convinced that he’s a player with amazing talent and I had to invite him to Plateau United. That was also how I invited James Obiorah.

“At that time, Mikel was still in secondary school. I can remember one question he asked me then. He asked, ‘Coach, what will I do about my school?’

“I told him that he should be coming to training only in the evenings after his school. And that was it. Because of his school, he wasn’t travelling to away matches with the team.

‘The Miracle’ In Mikel’s Career ‘ – Nduka

“What I can call ‘miracle’ in Mikel Obi’s career happened when the NPFL banished Plateau to Abuja after an incident in Jos when we played 1-1 draw with Bendel Insurance. After the match had ended 1-1, and everyone had left the Rwang Pam Stadium, some overzealous miscreants went and broke Bendel Insurance bus glasses and Bendel Insurance petitioned to the NPFL. The league body punished Plateau United by banishing the team to Abuja for their remaining home matches.

“That gave Mikel opportunity to be travelling with the team on Friday evenings after school, play on Sunday and return with the team on Monday and continue his school programme. From that moment, he never looked back with his fantastic performance.

“One journalist even asked me if Mikel was another Jay Jay Okocha. I said no; that Mikel is a different specie of a footballer and that he was just ‘Mikel Obi’, not a player in the likeness of another player.”

Mikel Obi’s U-17 National Team Breakthrough

56-year-old Nduka also narrated how Mikel Obi’s journey to national and international limelight began, first with U-17 national team assignment.

“Sometime in 2001/2002, the Under-17 National Team were camped in Ibadan under coaches Ganiyu Salami and Aloysius Atuegbu [now late],” Nduka recalled.

Also Read: Chelsea Fans Wanted Osimhen, Not Delap — Mikel

“One Bright Okafor, a player agent based in Jos, took Mikel to Ibadan for the screening exercise. At that time, there was strong media campaign that no player in the Nigeria top league could be under the age of 17.

“So, in Ibadan, when Mikel was discovered to be a player of Plateau United, a Nigeria top league side, he was dropped.

“I went to the coach of JC Raiders FC, Jos, Urukalor, to intimate him on convincing his boss, Hon Lumumba Dah Ade, a member of the House of Representatives then, to help bring U-17 Golden Eaglets to Jos for friendly matches with JC Raiders and Plateau United.

“This worked out. After the Golden Eaglets match with JC Raiders, they faced Plateau United and we won 4-0. Mikel Obi scored twice and had two assists.

“There and then, he was invited to the camp, alongside Omo Attah and Friday Ibeji. But I told them that Ibeji was above the 17 years age bracket. They wanted to go back to Ilorin [at this time the team had moved camp from Ibadan to Ilorin] but I said no, because I wanted to discuss this with the management of Plateau United.

“So, I presented Mikel’s invitation to the management and we deliberated on it and next, he moved to the National U-17 Team Camp.”

Mikel’s Botched Manchester United Move

The Mbaise, Imo State-born coach told Completesports.com all that he knew about Mikel Obi’s botched Manchester United transfer.

He disclosed that it all started when the Golden Eaglets participated in the then UEFA–CAF Meridian Cup in Egypt prior to the 2003 CAF U-17 Nations Cup in Swaziland.

Also Read: ‘African Football Is Massive’ –Mikel

“When the Golden Eaglets were in Egypt for the Meridian Cup, I received a call from someone, a European who identified himself as Frank Lord, a Manchester United Scout in Africa,” the soft-spoken tactician said.

“He commended me for identifying and bringing up such a wonderful talent [ John Mikel Obi].

“In fact, there was a time when Mikel was travelling to the United Kingdom where he trained with Manchester United Youth Teams. When he trained with one category, they moved him up to the next category.

“Manchester United captain at that time, Rio Ferdinand, spoke highly of Mikel’s talent. Ferdinand commended Mikel’s quality and talent at that time.

“Mikel was potentially Manchester United bound until John Shittu came onto the scene. Well, he was in the UK and may have known certain things those of us here in Nigeria may not know.”

‘Mikel Obi’s Early Retirement Still A Surprise To Me’ – Nduka

Coach Nduka disclosed that John Mikel Obi’s decision to quit the game when he did in 2022 at the age of 35 years was a surprise to him.

“It’s his choice to make. It’s his personal decision and we have to respect it. But truly speaking, the Mikel Obi I know would have played up to 40 years or more.

Also Read: Mikel Deserved To Win 2013 African Best Player Award — Yaya Toure

“I don’t know why he decided to retire so early. He had talent, mentally and physically strong, technically gifted. He’s tactically balanced, as a player, Mikel is always difficult to be dispossessed whenever he has the ball.

“I’m always proud of playing a part in his illustrious career. I’m happy that what I saw in him decades ago—talent, quality—all came to reality and manifested for public, national and international acclaim.”

Mikel Obi’s Glittering Laurels With Club And Nigeria

From the moment his golden talent burst through the initial gloom of uncertainty, Mikel John Obi rose to stardom and carved out one of the most illustrious careers in Nigerian football history.

With the Super Eagles, he featured at two FIFA World Cups – Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. He also inspired Nigeria to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2013 under late coach Stephen Keshi, while adding three AFCON bronze medals (2006, 2010, 2019) to his collection. Earlier in his youth, he won a FIFA U-20 World Cup silver medal in 2005, claiming the prestigious Silver Ball award behind Lionel Messi, and later secured an Olympic bronze medal at Rio 2016.

At club level, Mikel enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League (2011/12) and UEFA Europa League (2012/13). Domestically, he lifted the Premier League twice (2009/10, 2014/15), the FA Cup four times (2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12), the League Cup twice (2006/07, 2014/15), the FA Community Shield (2009), among other trophies and individual honours.

By Sab Osuji