Etim Esin reveals why he represented Iwuayanwu Nationale instead of Abiola Babes
By Tosin Omojola
Nigerian ex-international Etim John Esin recently reflected on key moments in his football career, including why he chose to sign for Iwuayanwu Nationale of Owerri over Abiola Babes of Abeokuta.
At the time, Abiola Babes, Iwuayanwu Nationale, and Leventis United were Nigeria’s top clubs. Known as the “African Maradona,” Etim recalls that his decision to join the Owerri-based club was straightforward. Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, the club’s owner, won him over by giving him a car, while Chief M.K.O. Abiola was often unavailable.
Reflecting further, Etim recounted the incident when he was shot while driving the gifted car in Lagos—a consequence, he admitted, of his struggle with discipline, which he acknowledged as his biggest weakness.
“One of my pitfalls was indiscipline. You think you can get away with everything, but in the end, you’re just deceiving yourself,” he said. “If you can discipline yourself and stay humble, the sky will be your limit.”
Etim elaborated on his choice to join Iwuayanwu Nationale over Abiola Babes: “Iwuayanwu gave me a 505 Peugeot—a rare car for players at that time. I could have signed for Abiola Babes, but every time I met Chief Abiola, he was always traveling. Iwuayanwu, on the other hand, personally gave me a car.”
Etim also shared how his father, initially reluctant to support his football career, came around after the 1987 shooting incident that brought media attention to his family. “My father never wanted me to play football. He wanted me to focus on my education, like Adokie Amasiamaka and Segun Odegbami, who had academic backgrounds,” he explained. “It wasn’t until the shooting, when journalists filled the hospital room, that he finally accepted my career and blessed my path in football.”
Reflecting on his journey, Etim noted that only a few ex-internationals, like Oliseh and Owoblow, balanced sports with education, emphasizing that his father’s approval was a turning point in his career.
