From private jets to life lessons: Former Nigerian striker Jonathan Akpoborie warns young footballers about the cost of living large
Former Nigerian striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, has cautioned young footballers against living lavish lifestyles.
Speaking in an interview with Elegbete TV Sports, the 55-year-old said: “I grew up in Ajegunle. I saw everywhere before I travelled from Nigeria. There is always a difference, you know, when you close your eyes. As I’m here now, in the evening, my friends might call me and I am in Ajegunle.
Sometimes, I am coming back from America, I drop my bag at home here, and I am in Ajegunle. That difference — you close your eyes and you are in Ajegunle. If you cannot learn from that, there is nothing that will be able to teach you.
The problem when you have money, it pushes you to do a lot of things. If you don’t get control, you will lose it, and when you lose it, it is a deep fall. That is why I am praying for these young ones that are playing now that they should be very wise.
I remember when I was in Stuttgart, we did so many things. Sometimes, after a game, seven or eight people would come together, and we’d take a private jet to Spain, rent a villa, stay overnight, and do whatever we wanted. The next morning, the jet would fly us back. That’s the power of money.
When I was in Stuttgart, every two weeks I’d be in Lagos, staying at the Sheraton Hotel. I’d be in the room, and by Sunday or Monday, I’d be back in Germany. My family wouldn’t know, nobody would know.
Money pushes you like that. That’s why I pray the young ones will be wise and start acting responsibly. When money pushes you, you’ll do things you won’t even believe you’re doing.”
