After his father was kidnapped in Nigeria over the weekend, Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has made a heartfelt plea for his father’s safe return.
On Friday, Michael Obi, Mikel’s father, was abducted in the central Nigerian city of Jos..CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
So far, no ransom demand has been made, prompting Mikel to address the situation on television in England.
“Please just let him go,” he stated during an appearance on Sky Sports News.
“He’s just an old man, he hasn’t harmed anyone to my knowledge, and I can’t understand why he’s been taken.”
The 24-year-old midfielder learned of his father’s abduction prior to the Barclays Premier League match against Stoke on Sunday, but he managed to complete the full 90 minutes.
“He was under immense stress, yet he displayed remarkable character and mental resilience to play against Stoke,” remarked Mikel’s manager, John Shittu.
Michael Obi operates a transport business in Nigeria and did not return home on Friday night. With no contact established and no ransom demand received, Mikel is reaching out for any information or assistance available.
“Nigeria is my homeland, and I’ve always aimed to assist my country in any way possible, whether by playing for it or through other means,” he expressed.
“Now, it’s time for me to seek support from my country. Whoever has my dad, or anyone aware of his whereabouts, please reach out to me so hopefully, he can be freed.”
Following training on Saturday, Mikel learned of the situation and chose to play against Stoke, with only Salomon Kalou being informed of the incident.
“I was actually getting a massage when the manager called for me,” Mikel recounted. “In his office, he told me, ‘There is a situation, your dad is missing.’ I was completely unaware, as my family had decided to wait until after the match to tell me.”
After discussing with his family, he conveyed to Villas-Boas his intention to play.
“I was taken aback,” he admitted.
“Villas-Boas inquired about my wishes—whether I still wanted to participate in the game. I told him I needed a couple of hours to confer with my family and my agent.
“I expressed my desire to play because I didn’t want to let my team, the club, or my family down. I believed that if I didn’t participate, my mum would be very disappointed. Prior to the match, I spoke with my mum, and she encouraged me to go out there and be strong.”
“I don’t think my teammates are fully aware of the situation right now,” he continued.
“I informed Didier Drogba today, and before the game, I shared it with Kalou since he is a close friend. However, I wanted to avoid everyone coming up to me saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ I just wanted to focus on the game...CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶”Source
