West Ham's Angelo Ogbonna explains why he rejected Nigeria to play for Italy

By -

NoireTv Africa  
If you live in the USA, NoireTV now showing nationwide on Verizon Fios on channel 269. Press 269 on your remote control. NoireTV now on Verizon Fios Channel 269. Press 269 on your remote control. Follow us on Instagram @noiretvafrica and on Facebook ... www.facebook.com/caspennoire


West Ham of England and Italian national team defender, Angelo Ogbonna, has revealed reasons he chose to represent Italy instead of Nigeria.
The 31-year-old Ogbonna has 13 caps for Italy and represented the country at two major tournaments but decided that representing Italy was a better option than Nigeria.
Born in Cassino to Nigerian parents who are both from Owerri West in Imo State, Ogbonna's parents emigrated from the West African to Italy in the 1980s, before the player himself was born, settling in the town of Cassino in the southern province of Frosinone.
Ogbonna made his debut for Italy's senior national team in a friendly against Poland in November 2011, then played his first senior match for Italy when he started in a World Cup qualifier vs Bulgaria in September 2012.
Sharing his view on racism and why he opted to represent Nigeria, Ogbonna told West Ham's official website : '
"For me, I’m very, very proud to be a black man in 2019,”. 
“People can talk about a lot of things, and be racist, but you must understand that you cannot change your destiny." Ogbonna said.

“There is a lot of ignorance, racism and discrimination, whatever you want to call it. In Italy, there a lot of issues, both racial and regional, but these people are just trying to find excuses and to blame someone for not being good enough themselves. They just want to put you down.
“As black people, we are held back by our past, because in our past we were slaves and that can never be forgotten and never leave our minds. However, actions can be taken to change things.
“I grew up with Nigerian parents, but I chose to play for the Italian national team because I felt that was right.
“Whether you are black, Asian or whatever, you should be proud. I always say, we should be focused on the important things, which are not black or white. We are the same people. We all laugh and we all cry. For me, there is no difference.”
Ogbonna, also revealed that he has not forgotten his own heritage.
“Of course, African culture and Italian culture are different, when you compare them,” he continued. “And then you have Nigerian culture and English culture, which are different but related because Nigeria used to be a British colony.
“I was brought up with two different cultures, African and European, and I think I am totally open and I am always looking to learn more about other cultures.
“For example, I went with my family to Japan this summer, and then to China with the squad for the Premier League Asia Trophy, and I was so impressed with the Asian culture.
“There are lots of interesting things to know about the world.”


Also visit our  website:  www.noiretv.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characters In BBC’s Documentary On TB Joshua Unknown To Us – Synagogue Church

By -
Image
  The Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) has countered the BBC documentary on the late Temitope Babatunde Joshua, known as TB Joshua, founder of SCOAN. SCOAN described the documentary against TB Joshua as unfounded, and that the characters interviewed in the report were unknown to the church. The church, in a statement signed by its Public Affairs Director, Mr Dare Adejumo, said the statement was aimed at disabusing public minds from the report. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the BBC released a highly controversial and damning documentary on the late TB Joshua on Monday, accusing him of various crimes, including rape, against some members. SCOAN said, “BBC World Services investigative unit, code-named Africa Eye, came out this week with weird and strange episodes of atrocities against the late founder of SCOAN.” It said that to investigate and publish or broadcast reports was a central kernel of journalism, but to do so outside the ethics and fundamental principles
Read more

NBA Suspends Canada’s Joshua Primo For 4 Games For Exposing Himself To Women

By -
Image
  The NBA has suspended former San Antonio Spurs guard  Joshua Primo   for four games   ... after it says it found he exposed his private parts to multiple women. The league announced the ban on Friday morning ... saying an investigation into the free agent revealed he had "engaged in inappropriate and offensive behavior." NBA officials called his actions "conduct detrimental to the league." They did, however, note that they "did not find evidence that he engaged in any sexual or other misconduct apart from these brief exposures." "Primo maintains that his conduct was not intentional," the league said. Dr. Hillary Cauthen , Primo's former therapist, was the first to  bring the allegations  against Primo to light after she claimed last fall that he exposed himself to her on nine separate occasions. Dr. Cauthen's attorney,  Tony Buzbee , alleged the Spurs were aware of Primo's actions, but didn't take action. Cauthen went on to file
Read more

Sky Sports' On-Air Mix-Up: Chelsea Players Mistakenly Introduced as Axel Disasi Instead of Noni Madueke in Carabao Cup Semifinal

By -
Image
 Sky Sports were left red-faced after an on-screen graphic mistakenly introduced Chelsea defender Axel Disasi as Noni Madueke on Tuesday night. The pair were both the scoresheet as the Blues thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to boo their place at Wembley. But when Disasi spoke to Sky Sports after the game, an on-screen graphic introduced him as Madueke instead. Madueke is four years younger than his Chelsea teammate, plays in a different role and is English, while Disasi is French. Viewers immediately spotted the mistake and took to social media to flag up the glaring error.  Sky Sports with a huge mistake as that is Axel Disasi, not Noni Madueke,' another added, while a third described the gaffe as a 'howler'. A fourth commented: 'Sky sports calling Disasi Madueke. They’ve done it again.' Disasi scored Chelsea's third goal in the 6-1 rout, converting Raheem Sterling's cross at the far post after th
Read more