FEMI OPABUNMI -- WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

[danfo driver]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43509272

Femi Opabunmi: World Cup record-breaker hoping others can learn from end to his football dream



Femi Opabunmi became the youngest player to represent Nigeria at a World Cup when he faced England in 2002. But just four years later his career was over, finished by an eye problem. Here he tells BBC Sport how the end of his football dream left him considering taking his own life.

I was 17 when I played for Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup - the youngest player at the tournament. I played against England - David Beckham, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, all of them. But three or four years later the story changed. One minute flying; the next minute down.

My eye problem started. I went for surgery. They said I have glaucoma. Everything changed. Things just got worse and worse and worse. I only see with one eye now.

I woke up one morning and found out that I couldn't see well. I just saw cloud and had to go the specialist to check. That's when they told me I had to have an operation. After the operation, the problem remained the same.

Now I can only see with my left eye. I can't see anything with my right. But I thank God that I can still see with one eye.

Giving up football is a very painful thing. Sometimes you think that maybe you should kill yourself. You think a lot, especially when your mates are still playing. You look at them and you shed tears. You feel bad. But in any situation, you have to be stronger.

Life is full of ups and downs.



I think back. I think a lot about when I was the second top goalscorer at the Under-17 World Championship in 2001 - and third best player. And I was the youngest player to play in the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Sometimes I think: "What is this life about?' I summon up the courage and I say: "When there is life, there will be hope one day."

I put my hope in God. I keep on going. There's nothing you can do.

Sometimes I will say: "I don't think there is God in this world." But my wife will give me the courage and say I should not say a bad word towards God, that God knows the perfect time and will answer everybody. Maybe God protected you from some dangers, you don't know.

The lowest moment for me is when I have my challenges - that I can't play football when I'm still active. It's a painful thing.

I've learned a lot of lessons because nobody knows tomorrow. You can say you can play this game for a long time - and something will come up and shorten our career.

I made a lot of money - true - but it's money I spent on my eye problem. I want to tell the young players coming up that they should always think of tomorrow in life, whatever they do.

And they should always invest - and take my own story as an example, to learn.

Femi Opabunmi was speaking to Oluwashina Okelegi for this week's World Football show, presented by Mani Djazmi.

[YemiBrazil]

[/video]

[YemiBrazil]

His exploits - *video quality poor

[/video]

[cic old boy]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

[YemiBrazil]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

Actually, he was not.

[danfo driver]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

You are quite an insensitive person, arent you? Seems you are drinking, quite early. I thought your alcohol ridden day will begin at mama calabar on Tuesday?

[cic old boy]

You are quite an insensitive person, arent you? Seems you are drinking, quite early. I thought your alcohol ridden day will begin at mama calabar on Tuesday?

Don't you have a Borinho pic to wank over?

[Eaglezbeak]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

And I guess you have proof of this?If he is saying something as serious as the loss of the use of an eye caused his retirement I'm sure you wouldn't be disingenuous in your accusation.

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

that would make him 33 during the WC, and 49 now. I doubt this o. That makes him older than Okocha, Yobo, Kanu, Taribo West, Finidi, Amokachi, etc.

[joao]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

Another beer palor gist being thrown around as public information.
Talk about rumor mongering.

[YUJAM]

He wasn't playing well even before his eye issues

[DIMKA76]

He wasn't playing well even before his eye issues

And when did you learn about his eye issues? Do you know anything about Glaucoma? You can't know the answer to this statement without knowing Okpabumi personally.

[tunde72]

What really happened for Papa Bunmi was ageing. He was 32 during the U-17 tournament.

that would make him 33 during the WC, and 49 now. I doubt this o. That makes him older than Okocha, Yobo, Kanu, Taribo West, Finidi, Amokachi, etc.

And how many people lose their sight at that age. Very insensitive.

[Kabalega]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43509272

Femi Opabunmi: World Cup record-breaker hoping others can learn from end to his football dream
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Femi Opabunmi and David Beckham
Femi Opabunmi was just 17 when he faced England and David Beckham at the 2002 World Cup
Femi Opabunmi became the youngest player to represent Nigeria at a World Cup when he faced England in 2002. But just four years later his career was over, finished by an eye problem. Here he tells BBC Sport how the end of his football dream left him considering taking his own life.

I was 17 when I played for Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup - the youngest player at the tournament. I played against England - David Beckham, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes, all of them. But three or four years later the story changed. One minute flying; the next minute down.

My eye problem started. I went for surgery. They said I have glaucoma. Everything changed. Things just got worse and worse and worse. I only see with one eye now.

I woke up one morning and found out that I couldn't see well. I just saw cloud and had to go the specialist to check. That's when they told me I had to have an operation. After the operation, the problem remained the same.

Now I can only see with my left eye. I can't see anything with my right. But I thank God that I can still see with one eye.

Giving up football is a very painful thing. Sometimes you think that maybe you should kill yourself. You think a lot, especially when your mates are still playing. You look at them and you shed tears. You feel bad. But in any situation, you have to be stronger.

Life is full of ups and downs.

Listen to World Football: The sad story of Femi Opabunmi
Nigeria
Nigeria failed to advance from the group stages in the 2002 World Cup, finishing bottom in a group containing Sweden, England and Argentina
I think back. I think a lot about when I was the second top goalscorer at the Under-17 World Championship in 2001 - and third best player. And I was the youngest player to play in the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Sometimes I think: "What is this life about?' I summon up the courage and I say: "When there is life, there will be hope one day."

I put my hope in God. I keep on going. There's nothing you can do.

Sometimes I will say: "I don't think there is God in this world." But my wife will give me the courage and say I should not say a bad word towards God, that God knows the perfect time and will answer everybody. Maybe God protected you from some dangers, you don't know.

The lowest moment for me is when I have my challenges - that I can't play football when I'm still active. It's a painful thing.

I've learned a lot of lessons because nobody knows tomorrow. You can say you can play this game for a long time - and something will come up and shorten our career.

I made a lot of money - true - but it's money I spent on my eye problem. I want to tell the young players coming up that they should always think of tomorrow in life, whatever they do.

And they should always invest - and take my own story as an example, to learn.

Femi Opabunmi was speaking to Oluwashina Okelegi for this week's World Football show, presented by Mani Djazmi.