I've trained my whole life to be a winner and if I know two things it's that to be the best takes passion and persistence.
Jay-Jay Okocha
Education from six-year-old to 14 is compulsory in Nigeria, but the simple fact is that a lack of resources, coupled with peoples' inability to afford books and uniforms mean the reality for millions of Nigerian children is a life without education.
It's always good to have more than one player who can take free-kicks or penalties.
I don't mind if we play ugly and win, as long as we win.
People in Nigeria weren't happy that I went to Qatar. They said 'why did you go there of all places?' They missed watching me on television but sometimes you have to think about yourself and your future as well.
I think the way I played, I would have suited Sundowns.
I think it's always easier to sit on the outside and act as if you have the best solution.
I love showing off my skills on the pitch. You can make opposing players look stupid.
I think I maximised my opportunity at Bolton, changing the mindset of the people from when I arrived till the time I left.
Preparing well for a tournament sometimes is not enough to win it as you also need a lot of luck in order to win.
Messi and Ronaldo have dominated world football for a decade and, given the nature of football, at a certain point the baton will have to pass to someone else. I think Neymar has a great chance of filling that role.
The way I learnt to play was to go out there and enjoy myself. I never thought I'd play professionally.
I pray a lot and it has helped me throughout my whole career to stay calm and focused.
It's a team sport but every player's ego will kick in at a certain point.
There were very few TV sets when I grew up... We could not see matches and did not know too many players. Only Pele was a household name and he was the one most children idolised.
I realized at a very young age that I had a gift to do special things with the ball.
I have been following the Premier League very closely because once you have been a footballer you have an affinity with the game.
I can't play football forever, I am not a greedy person.
Well of course, as a fan I think I'd love to see Neymar play.
I often come across Russians and they're all interested in football.
Leaving the stage would pave the way for younger players to come up too.
Aboutrika has done well with Egypt, winning the Nations Cup in Ghana, as well as helping Ahly win the Champions League for a record sixth time.
Nigerian footballers who have played in Russia improved their ability here.
I think sometimes players must have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football.
I always ask God if it is his will, and if so, then let it be. Whatever comes out of it I will accept it. That's the message I got and that's why I'm here at Hull.
My faith comes before anything. It has also taught me to respect and admire people for what they are and who they are.
I am very competitive.
I believe that it is not worth it to train from Monday to Friday just to have 20 minutes on the pitch or sit on the bench on Saturday.
Well, I think sometimes I am brutally honest.
You can come up with whatever tactics you want as a coach but if you don't have the tools to execute you will struggle, and if you don't have willing players that are ready to commit to the cause than you will struggle.
There always be rumours. That is also part of the game because it is a global game and a massive business.
I knew I was in charge when with the ball. But on the toughest defenders I faced, I would say that my African brothers were the ones. We have the same mentality and thought the same way. Osei Kuffour was the toughest of them all.
My biggest opponent was 'me.'
How can you be a giant of the sport when you are not consistent?
Football is a show and you have to enjoy what you are doing.
Maputo is a difficult place to play.
I know there are millions of football fans who love this game, but can see the world outside it.
I am grateful to God for that because people can still identify me with something in Germany.
I used to say that I got to Germany as a boy but I left as a man.
So, we know that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I still believe that is the good thing about Nigerian players. We can always spring up so many surprises.
I have got my pride to defend.
After playing in England, going to a place where you have 40, 50 people at the stadium was no fun.
Sometimes money is not everything.
I felt like a prisoner. In Qatar, you need a sponsor to get a work permit and you cannot leave the country unless you have an exit permit from your sponsor.
I wanted to play in the Premier League and Bolton offered me that opportunity at that time and that was why I signed for Bolton.
Bolton was one of the relegation candidates when I got there but we took the club to another level and even had the opportunity to play for the first time in the Europa League.
I think it is also the most demanding league; the pace of the game in the EPL is something else and rightly for me is maybe the best league in the world.
I'd be lying if I said I never had any issues with players but at some point you have to stamp your authority because if you're good at taking free-kicks, for example, they should let you take them.
It would be in my interest to have great players around me because, if you're playing with good players, it makes your job a lot easier.
Football has an important place in Russia.
